Finsbury Circus

Finsbury Circus is a small park in the City of London, covering two acres. It sits in the Coleman Street Ward, surrounded by streets and buildings. The space has an oval shape, like the circuses of ancient Rome. It was created in 1812 on land that once held the Bethlem Royal Hospital. The gardens were designed by William Montague under architect George Dance the Younger. The park has a history tied to merchants, lawyers and institutions. The London Institution once stood at its northern end, designed by William Brooks. A Unitarian chapel, led by William Johnson Fox, was built in the 1820s. The gardens were private until the early 20th century, when Alpheus Morton campaigned to open them to the public. Britannic House, designed by Edwin Lutyens, overlooks the northwest side of the oval. Visitors find a quiet green space with lime trees planted in a circle. A lawn bowls club operated in the centre until 2024. The park has hosted events like the Miglia Quadrato race. Nearby are Moorgate and Liverpool Street stations, making it easy to reach. The gardens are now being transformed into a sustainable multipurpose space with a new garden pavilion.