Grosvenor Square, a 300-year-old park in Mayfair and the West End's second largest green space, is set to reopen on July 20 after a £25 million upgrade funded by property giant Grosvenor. The park had been closed since June 8, 2025, for what Grosvenor called 'the most significant private investment in West End public green space in a generation.'
Biodiversity and climate resilience at the core
The refurbished park now features 150,000 plants, bulbs, and new trees, along with two new wetlands designed to create wildlife habitats. According to Grosvenor's website, the goal is to 'tackle biodiversity loss, urban flooding and rising temperatures.' The landscape can absorb up to 1.4 million litres of stormwater, reducing pressure on local drainage systems.
Amenities for visitors
Beyond environmental benefits, the park offers public toilets, water fountains, improved lighting, CCTV, and a new café kiosk serving sandwiches, ice cream, cakes, and coffee. A new education centre will host London Wildlife Trust programmes for children and adults, funded by The Westminster Foundation.
Historical nods and memorials
The design retains oval-shaped gardens from the 1720s and integrates existing memorials honouring Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Eagle Squadrons, and 9/11 victims. James Raynor, chief executive of Grosvenor Property, said: 'We challenged ourselves to consider not only what looks good, but also what the city actually needs. The result is a public garden where climate resilience, biodiversity and access are built into every part of the design. It is both a response to the climate challenges cities face today and a gift to the people of London.'
Mayor Sadiq Khan supports reopening
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan welcomed the transformation, stating: 'I'm delighted to celebrate the reopening of Grosvenor Square following its transformation into a vibrant new green haven for London. It's amazing to see Grosvenor Square revitalised with dozens of new plant species and wildlife, providing a space where both Londoners and visitors can reconnect with nature.'
Public excitement and green space access
On Instagram, users expressed enthusiasm. @ellarobertson_ wrote: 'Ooh so exciting it's reopened!!!' while @growing_green_london added: 'Fantastic work! Always nice to see a new green space popping up; we are losing too many.' The reopening comes amid a report from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (EFRA) indicating that in some London boroughs, less than half the population lives within a 15-minute walk of nature. London overall performs nearly 10% below the national average for accessibility to green and blue spaces.
