Open:

Sunday 11:00–17:00

Description:

Brunswick Square was one of the gardens flanking the Foundling Hospital (now demolished), a charity set up in 1739 to cater for abandoned children. The square was built from 1795 and the gardens were originally laid out and railed in 1799.

In Jane Austen's Emma, Mr. and Mrs John Knightley make their home in Brunswick Square, then on the edge of London, commending its healthiness: ‘Our part of London is so very superior to most others. The neighbourhood of Brunswick Square is very different from almost all the rest. We are so very airy!’ Virginia Woolf is one of several famous former residents of this square.

The original houses surrounding the square have been replaced by the University School of Pharmacy and the Foundling Museum to the north, the Brunswick shopping centre to the west and International Hall (a University hall of residence) to the south. The children's charities, Coram Family and Coram's Fields are off the square. Mecklenburgh Square is a similar square to the east of Brunswick, linked by a path.

The square’s large old London plane tree has recently been recognised as one of the great trees in London. The square won a Green Flag award in 2009.

Gardener:

John Brown

Activities:

Display on medicinal plants in conjunction with the School of Pharmacy.

Buses:

7, 59, 68, 91, 168, 188

Station:

Russell Square

Dogs:

Dogs on leads

Further information:

• Street Map
• Map of nearby gardens
• Printable version