The City of London Corporation owns and maintains open space in and around Greater London. They have mainly been acquired since 1878, when two Acts of Parliament entrusted the management of Epping Forest and several other areas within a 25-mile (40 km) radius to the corporation: these areas laid the foundation for the Green Belt in the 20th century. On dedicating the opening of Epping Forest on 6 May 1882, Queen Victoria said "It gives me the greatest satisfaction to dedicate this beautiful forest to the use and enjoyment of my people for all time."[1] ## Contents * 1 Within the City * 2 Outside the City * 3 References * 4 External links ## Within the City[edit] Finsbury Circus, the largest public open space, seen from Tower 42 The city has no sizeable parks within its boundary, but does have a network of a large number of gardens and small open spaces, many of them maintained by the corporation. These range from formal gardens such as the one in Finsbury Circus, containing a bowling green and bandstand, to churchyards such as St Olave Hart Street, to water features and artwork in courtyards and pedestrianised lanes.[2] There are 150 smaller areas within the square mile of the City of London, including: * Barber-Surgeon's Hall Garden, London Wall * Cleary Garden, Queen Victoria Street[3] * Churchyard at St Olave Hart Street * Courtyard of St Vedast Foster Lane * Finsbury Circus, Blomfield Street/London Wall/Moorgate * Jubilee Garden, Houndsditch * Portsoken Street Garden, Portsoken Street/Goodman's Yard * Postman's Park, Little Britain * Seething Lane Garden, Seething Lane * St Dunstan-in-the-East, St Dunstan's Hill * St Mary Aldermanbury, Aldermanbury * St Olave Hart Street churchyard, Seething Lane * St Paul's churchyard, St Paul's Cathedral * West Smithfield Garden, West Smithfield * Whittington Gardens, College Street ## Outside the City[edit] The total managed area is 4,200 hectares (42 km2 (16 sq mi)). Included in the open spaces are: * Hampstead Heath 274 hectares. Located in the boroughs of Camden and Barnet * Epping Forest, 3,188 hectares. Largest public open space in the London area. * Burnham Beeches, 218 hectares. An area in Buckinghamshire purchased 1880. * Stoke Common, 83 hectares in Buckinghamshire. * The City Commons, seven green spaces in South London and Surrey managed by the corporation:[4] * Ashtead Common, 200 hectares * Farthing Downs, 95 hectares * Coulsdon Common, 51 hectares * Kenley Common, 56 hectares * Riddlesdown Common, 43 hectares * Spring Park, 20 hectares * West Wickham Common, 10 hectares * Highgate Wood 28 hectares Purchased in 1886 * Queen's Park in northwest London, 12 hectares. Purchased 1886, having been the site of 1879 Royal Agricultural Exhibition * West Ham Park, 31 hectares. Purchased 1874 It also has an interest in the Downlands Countryside Management Project in South-east London. ## References[edit] 1. ^ Hagger, Nicholas (3 May 2012). A View of Epping Forest. John Hunt Publishing. p. 93\. ISBN 9781846945878. 2. ^ "Gardens of the City of London". Gardens of the City of London. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011. 3. ^ "The History of the Bay Trust, Fred Cleary – Founder". baytrust.org.uk. 2013. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2013. 4. ^ City of London, City Commons ## External links[edit] * City of London open spaces * Gardens of the City of London * v * t * e City of London * City of London Corporation * Parks and open spaces Wards| * Aldersgate * Aldgate * Bassishaw * Billingsgate * Bishopsgate * Bread Street * Bridge * Broad Street * Candlewick * Castle Baynard * Cheap * Coleman Street * Cordwainer * Cornhill * Cripplegate * Dowgate * Farringdon Within * Farringdon Without * Langbourn * Lime Street * Portsoken * Queenhithe * Tower * Vintry * Walbrook Enclaves| * Inner Temple * Middle Temple Localities| * Barbican * Bishops Square * Blackfriars * Broadgate * Farringdon * Holborn * Minories * Smithfield * Temple Attractions| * 20 Fenchurch Street * Bank of England Museum * Barbican Centre * Clockmakers' Museum * College of Arms * Dr Johnson's House * Finsbury Circus * Guildhall Art Gallery * Leadenhall Market * London Mithraeum * London Stone * Mansion House * The Monument * Museum of London * One New Change * Prince Henry's Room * Royal Exchange * St Paul's Cathedral * Smithfield Market Notable structures| * 2 Hare Court * 2 King's Bench Walk * 30 St Mary Axe * Aldgate Pump * Bank of England * Bevis Marks Synagogue * Golden Boy of Pye Corner * Guildhall * Heron Tower * Holborn Circus * Lloyd's building * London Stock Exchange * Merchant Taylors' Hall * National Firefighters Memorial * Old Bailey * Old Billingsgate Market * Tower 42 Civil parishes| * List of civil parishes in the City of London Bridges| * Blackfriars Bridge * Blackfriars Railway Bridge * Cannon Street Railway Bridge * Holborn Viaduct * London Bridge * Millennium Footbridge * Southwark Bridge Rail and tube stations| * Aldgate * Bank–Monument * Barbican * Blackfriars * Cannon Street * City Thameslink * Fenchurch Street * Liverpool Street * Mansion House * Moorgate * St Paul's * Tower Gateway Topics| * Coat of arms * Flag * History * Listed buildings * at Grade I * at Grade II* * Livery companies * Lord Lieutenants * Lord mayors * Lord Mayor's Show * Public art and memorials * Sheriffs * Street names * Category * Commons *[v]: View this template *[t]: Discuss this template *[e]: Edit this template