please empty your brain below
Smith Square, SW1, Plenty of history: church in the middle (now concert hall), streets named after former Westminster Abbey deans, former CCHQ (now EUHQ) in the corner, appeared in recent hit films (Napoleon, Rush, An Education), etc.

muthecow | 09.01.25 - 7:20 a.m. | #

If you haven't written about Central Square in Hampstead Garden Suburb before, that might work for Barnet.

MOTB | 09.01.25 - 7:22 a.m. | #

As Tredegar Square is in your/our 'hood, I struggle to imagine that you have not written about, but I cannot remember.

MartinG | 09.01.25 - 7:24 a.m. | #

Fellowship Square in Walthamstow. It didn’t exist (in its current form) when Waltham Forest came out of your jam jar in 2009.

Dan | 09.01.25 - 7:26 a.m. | #

Enfield Town has just gained a new square: Saddler's Square, part of a pedestrian and cycle friendly reshaping of the roadscape (I think that's how you are supposed to refer to it). It also gives you Saddler's Mill Stream, a very lost watercourse.

steve | 09.01.25 - 7:30 a.m. | #

Winchester Square behind Borough Market - must be one of the older squares in London - based on the footprint of Winchester Palace.

Michael Bull | 09.01.25 - 7:49 a.m. | #

Walked through Bloomsbury, Russell and Bedford the other day so they would make a nice bunch.

Jaco | 09.01.25 - 8:05 a.m. | #

Great plan! I used to volunteer at Open Garden Squares weekend, but I discover they have dropped "squares" from the title. Nonetheless there should be some lesser-known garden squares you can add to your bag that weekend. I know you have visited several in previous years.

Lucy Garden | 09.01.25 - 8:07 a.m. | #

All tediously central, but Red Lion Square is very lovely, Mecklenburgh Square is underknown, and Bloomsbury Square is the oldest, I think. And I discovered Golden Square recently.

The Banbury Man | Homepage | 09.01.25 - 8:10 a.m. | #

I hope you'll consider Windrush Square in Brixton. It's got some interesting features including a special tree, a statue of Henry Tate, an african-caribbean war memorial, a memorial to Cherry Groce, and it does get used as a town square.

Susan Whitaker | 09.01.25 - 8:27 a.m. | #

Pond Square in Highgate Village used to have actual ponds in it, until someone drowned. More of a triangle, it boasts (IITC) the Highgate scientific and literary society, Swains Lane, the Prince of Wales pub, Francis Bacon (the frozen chicken one)

Mark B | 09.01.25 - 8:27 a.m. | #

Here's a challenge: Cobblestone Square (E1W).

MartinG | 09.01.25 - 8:28 a.m. | #

I’ve been to the Open Gardens weekend in June a few times and it’s certainly a great opportunity to visit the quite large gardens in that aren’t open to the public such as Eton Square and Belgrave Square

Brian | 09.01.25 - 8:30 a.m. | #

Selfishly, I'd like to read about squares that I couldn't visit on Open Gardens weekend.

toby | 09.01.25 - 8:33 a.m. | #

Beresford Square, Woolwich

Michael T | 09.01.25 - 8:36 a.m. | #

I stand to be corrected, but I cannot think of a single Square in the London Borough of Havering.

dg writes: there are six

Daniel | 09.01.25 - 8:38 a.m. | #

The London Borough of Havering Libraries have published this very helpful history of placenames, which lists Malan Square, named for an South African pilot. It is, appropriately, just off Bader Way.

Adam | 09.01.25 - 8:48 a.m. | #

Brunswick Square please.

daveid76 | 09.01.25 - 8:49 a.m. | #

I've always been a big fan of Mecklenburgh Square - big and grand but just obscure enough to be a bit of a backwater

Johnny Topaz | 09.01.25 - 8:53 a.m. | #

I was going to suggest Albert Square, but that's in Hertfordshire...

Gunnersaurus | 09.01.25 - 9:00 a.m. | #

Great idea. The smaller ones dotted about my bit of inner north London might not be worthy of much comment individually but each is an oasis of space and relative calm. I'm thinking of Albion, De Beauvoir, Fasset, Canonbury (one famous ex-resident), Arundel, Barnsbury, Milner and Gibson for example. Small, unremarked and undiscovered compared to the Trafalgars and Leicesters.

Peter T | 09.01.25 - 9:06 a.m. | #

There's an Albert Square in Stockwell, and another in Maryland that doesn't seem to be a square.

dg writes: I've done the Alberts.

paul robert draper | 09.01.25 - 9:12 a.m. | #

Euston Square, as I struggle to understand which bits actually make it up. I'm not sure there's even a street sign saying Euston Square. The tube station is clearly not on it.

ap | 09.01.25 - 9:13 a.m. | #

In Hammersmith, St. Peter's Square is a nice one with some history, notable residences (current and past) and a lovely sculpture.

Greg | 09.01.25 - 9:13 a.m. | #

Trinity Church Square, off Borough High Street,is gorgeous.

Richard | 09.01.25 - 9:17 a.m. | #

This will certainly be a series I'll be looking forward to. Unfortunately I can't think of any squares, aside from the more famous ones, so I can't suggest much, so maybe I'll learn something too!

All Over 2a | Homepage | 09.01.25 - 9:18 a.m. | #

Does "Times Square" Sutton count? :D

A3Warrior | 09.01.25 - 9:18 a.m. | #

This is a great idea but I think it will be inner London centric. I can think of a number of squares in Islington and Camden but in the outer southern boroughs I can only think of Warminster Square which is next to South Norwood Lake and which you will, for good reason, have probably overseen recently.

dg writes: there are seven Squares in Croydon, six in Sutton and fifteen in Bromley.

There are squares of housing with green in the middle in these boroughs but the naming appears to have adopted the "something" Green convention more. That might be something worth counting to make a comparison in a future blog.

Keith the Kraut | 09.01.25 - 9:33 a.m. | #

How about squares that are actually square? I think there aren't that many.

Tony | 09.01.25 - 9:37 a.m. | #

Bloomington Square and Cleaver Square in Vauxhall both offer layers of interest.

Rod | 09.01.25 - 9:41 a.m. | #

My maternal forebears lived in Highgate on Pond Square in the 1870/80s. I doubt they ever could have imagined how desirable it would become.

Steve | 09.01.25 - 10:04 a.m. | #

Palace Square SE19

Jimmyleaks | 09.01.25 - 10:05 a.m. | #

Battersea Square's an interesting one. A story of contrasts - lots of history with several very old and much-recycled buildings, an icon of early gentrification (for some years it was a real enclave of regeneration within a struggling area), and still a largely preserved rural village in the middle of an area that went full-on industrial (St Mary's Church's old parish map is worth a look), then got completely redeveloped again on a high-rise estate basis, and then got the same again with expensive riverside flats. And it's triangular.

David | 09.01.25 - 10:23 a.m. | #

It would be remiss of me not to encourage you to return to SE20 after recently visiting Penge High Street and SE25 - but Waterman's Square is the centre of our rather fine Almshouses.

Jack T | Homepage | 09.01.25 - 10:23 a.m. | #

You should try Dolphin Square - lots of stories and shenanigans abound. Quite a few books written about it too ...

BillyG | 09.01.25 - 10:27 a.m. | #

Tredegar sq, where a BBC TV drama featuring Dan Stevens was filmed.

Kim | 09.01.25 - 10:32 a.m. | #

Looking forward to this series!

Cornish Cockney | 09.01.25 - 10:34 a.m. | #

I suspect today you're going to the large square that covers the same footage as the Great Pyramid of Gaza

David | Homepage | 09.01.25 - 10:38 a.m. | #

I wonder if Rod meads Bonnington sq in Vauxhall - Trinity Sq SE1 is often used for filming period dramas

Ackshley | 09.01.25 - 10:44 a.m. | #

Above recommendation should have read Bonnington Square, Vauxhall. Auto 'correct'...

Rod | 09.01.25 - 10:44 a.m. | #

Prince's Square and Leinster Square, which oh-so-amusingly back onto each other so the road down the middle belongs to both.

Also Oval Square in the Greenwich Millennium Village, just for the geometrical impossibility. It has nothing else to recommend a visit at all.

HTFB | 09.01.25 - 10:49 a.m. | #

Sutherland Square SE17
Rust Square SE5
Windrush Square SW2

All are close to the 45 bus route. Possible subtitle: Square route.

JonathanC | 09.01.25 - 10:51 a.m. | #

Excellent idea, I'm looking forward to it.
Harrow Square is a newly named development next to Harrow-on-the-Hill station. Just the sort of place you love to hate!!

MikeK | 09.01.25 - 10:57 a.m. | #

Nightingale Square, Balham. A secure square for for the upmarket residents and a Homeless Families Unit. In the same square of Balham. And a Catholic Primary School.

south london lad | 09.01.25 - 11:12 a.m. | #

General Gordon Square Woolwich

RogerEssex | 09.01.25 - 11:18 a.m. | #

May I suggest Oregon Square, 200m or so west of Orpington Station?

Its quirk is that it's not a square that has public space within its squareness, but a residential road that just happens to be three sides of a square and was given a frankly inappropriate name.

Darren G | 09.01.25 - 11:51 a.m. | #

Townfield Square, Hayes, Hillingdon. My Gran lived on Central Avenue, nearby.

Richard Morris | 09.01.25 - 11:56 a.m. | #

Lyon Square is a 2020 housing development in Harrow HA1...

Kartik | 09.01.25 - 12:05 p.m. | #

Arena Square, Wembley Park

Kartik | 09.01.25 - 12:09 p.m. | #

My vote is for Theatre Square Stratford- you can lament whatever is happening to the cinema, try to figure out what's up with 'Stratford Circus' aka 'The Source', etc.

There is a query here for everything in OSM that is a 'highway area' or a defined landuse with a name ending in "Square". It'll tend to miss normal streets called "Square", but you could remove ["area"="yes"] to grab those too.

It's found some big ones I've never heard of, like "Forum Magnum Square" behind County Hall. And some intriguingly-named little ones like "Prodigal Square" near Clapton Bus Garage.

ken | 09.01.25 - 12:09 p.m. | #

what about sutherland Sq Garden for a bit of poshness well hidden in camberwell or cleaver square for some boules

Or Walthamstow town square.. which isn't remotely square and isn't officially called that. (is e17 the only postcode with no streets named "square" in it (probably not)

Then finish on the Square Mile.

Alistair Twin | 09.01.25 - 1:25 p.m. | #

Not squares, but maybe also worth a series (if not already done)…

dg interrupts: already done

MilesT | 09.01.25 - 1:30 p.m. | #

Fellowship Square in Walthamstow probably not worthy of a revisit or a post. Walthamstow Village Square even less so.

Gunnersaurus | 09.01.25 - 2:20 p.m. | #

In my neck of the woods, as well as St Peter’s Square there is also Westcroft Square in Hammersmith - both are very lovely. And what about Chiswick Square? Very small, but some interesting buildings. W4 2QG

Helen | 09.01.25 - 2:51 p.m. | #

Dorset Sq had an unusual start, plus a few blue plaques.

scrumpy | 09.01.25 - 3:29 p.m. | #

Chiswick Square - smallest of the lot

LS | 09.01.25 - 5:08 p.m. | #

I'm sure you've already written about Grosvenor Square, but we Deadheads can't help but be drawn to it.

Adam B. | 09.01.25 - 5:10 p.m. | #

Finsbury Square, where you might still spot one or two signs for the long-gone Borough of Finsbury. And someone already mentioned Golden Square, which features in Nicholas Nickleby.

James Webber | 09.01.25 - 7:07 p.m. | #

What about Hampden Square in Osidge? It probably wins a prize for the least squarey square, being a back alley behind a roundabout. Not sure how much you could write about it though.

TheOwl | 09.01.25 - 8:21 p.m. | #

Hanover Square, especially now that it has given its name to one of the entrances of the Elizabeth Line station at Bond Street.

Carllo | 09.01.25 - 10:36 p.m. | #

Another vote for Bonnington Square. There’s a whole history of squatting (oh that reminds me, Tolmers Square, there’s a great photographic book about it) and then housing cooperatives. Plus it’s filled with reisidents’ pot plants etc.

More votes for Fassett Square (but I’d imagine you’ve covered it) and Cleaver Square.

Mecklenburg Square is great too, but you need to know someone who lives there to access the gardens.

Albion Square mentioned, is home to Iain Sinclair. IIRC he bought his gaff there in the 60s or 70s for a few thousand pounds,

Lorenzo | 09.01.25 - 10:58 p.m. | #

2025 is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth so it might be nice to visit some squares she's mentioned in her novels or where she stayed at when she was in London.

Bob | 09.01.25 - 11:41 p.m. | #

Courtenay Square in Kennington has very distinctive buildings and featured in Roisin Murphy's "Move Star" video.

Basil Jet | 10.01.25 - 4:53 a.m. | #

West Square SE11, Lambeth. Near the Imperial War Museum. It's just perfect!

Brian Lee | 10.01.25 - 8:08 a.m. | #

Come to The Square in Ilford, at Gants Hill near Valentines Park. This is the location of some of the more up-market houses in the area and was once part of the fledgling Ilford Garden Suburb, linked to the early 20th century garden cities movement.

Alan S | 10.01.25 - 9:10 a.m. | #

A yomp through Beresford's 1907 History of the Squares of London (thanks, archive.org) has been entertaining me. So. many. squares. He gets five pages out of tiny Salisbury Square, alone.
Bloomsbury is widely said to be London's oldest square, but Morgan's 1682 map shows it only developed as an arrangement of 'Rows' (like the significantly earlier Lincolns Inn Fields) - while St James's Square is clearly named. And Bloomsbury was first Southampton - just as Soho Square was originally King. So if re/later named Squares count, I'd be tempted to give the nod to Charterhouse, née Yard. A claim from Trinity (Tower Hill remnant) or surviving fragments of the Roman Forum might be going a tad too far.

jpmac | 10.01.25 - 11:43 a.m. | #

I was in Sloan Sq last night and there can’t be many other squares that are so attractively lit at night at this time of year.

Brian | 11.01.25 - 7:45 a.m. | #

I'd like to propose Mortgramit Square,Woolwich (before the area gets redeveloped out of all recognition).

H SE18 | 11.01.25 - 11:35 a.m. | #

St Peter's Square (Hammersmith not the Vatican) - not sure if you've blogged about here before. Interesting, pretty, and part of a conservation area

Luke H | 11.01.25 - 11:56 a.m. | #

How about Kelsey Square in Beckenham? Very small but looks as if it should have a lot of history. Strangely doesn't show up on Google Maps, but is on the Street Gazetteer. It's on OSM as "Kinsey Square" but it's clearly Kelsey Square on the street signs.

Adrian | 12.01.25 - 9:55 p.m. | #











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