The First London Squares
The great period of London square building started in the 17th century and came to an end in the early 20th century. Soho Square, Kensington Square and St James's Square are some of the earliest squares. St James's used to be a very fashionable address in London and was at one time occupied by six dukes and seven earls. The buildings surrounding the square have had many famous residents, including generals De Gaulle and Eisenhower, but nowadays there are no longer any private houses on the square.
Residential Squares
In the 18th century more squares were laid out in Mayfair, Bloomsbury and Westminster. These squares were planted with trees and shrubs to lend them a residential feel. London squares with their fine buildings, iron railings, trees and plants are often seen as the paragon of civilized urban living.
Garden Squares
Original London squares are also referred to as garden squares and they are well suited to London's moderate climate. The squares had private communal gardens for use by inhabitants of the surrounding houses and mansions. Some of these gardens are now open to the public while others remain private. Some examples of typical garden squares are Grosvenor Square, Belgrave Square, Bedford Square, Sloane Square and St. James's Square. Russell Square's garden, which is open to the public, is one of the largest in London and has a nice Italian café.
Landmark Squares
Some of London's squares are also famous landmarks. Parliament Square has many statues of famous statesmen, the most notable being Winston Churchill. Buildings around the square include Westminster Central Hall and Westminster Abbey.
Trafalgar Square is the main venue for outdoor public meetings and is also a popular place for celebrating New Year's Eve. The square was built in honour of Admiral Lord Nelson after his victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. Dominating the square is Nelson's Column, with his statue on top, and alongside it are the National Gallery and the St Martin-in-the-Fields church.
The Covent Garden piazza with its open-air cafés, stylish shops and markets is now a huge tourist attraction. It has also been a fashionable place for theatre and opera throughout the years. When the central market for fruit and vegetables moved elsewhere in the 1970s, the covered market building, with its glass and iron roof, became the home of small shops and stalls selling arts & crafts, books, decorative items and antiques.
Nearby Leicester Square is surrounded by buildings housing some of London's largest venues for film premieres, including the Empire and Odeon. It used to be a fashionable place to live and one of the square's early residents was the scientist Isaac Newton. Today it is a pleasant but rather crowded meeting place for tourists.
