If you’re searching for a peaceful green space in Mayfair, Brown Hart Gardens is one of the neighbourhood’s most delightful surprises. I visited a few times while reviewing the area, and each time I found something quietly special about this elevated terrace. This rooftop square is perched atop an electricity substation, offering a calm, open-air escape in the heart of London W1. Blending early twentieth-century architecture with soft landscaping, it’s the kind of place you stumble across once, then return to again and again. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a quiet spot to sit near Bond Street station.
Brown Hart Gardens Is An Elevated Public Space In Mayfair
The story of Brown Hart Gardens begins in 1905 with the construction of the electricity substation that still hums below the surface. To make up for the loss of the original street-level garden, architect Sir Stanley Peach was commissioned to design a raised Italian-style terrace. With its domed pavilion, elegant balustrades and grand staircases, it gave the local community a new public square high above the infrastructure powering the city.
After falling into disuse, the gardens were thoughtfully restored and reopened in 2013, thanks to Grosvenor and BDP architects. The limestone terrace was resurfaced, drainage was improved, and flexible elements like moveable benches and planters were introduced to let the space adapt to the seasons.
You can access the terrace via the wide stone staircases on Duke Street or Balderton Street, or by using the discreet lift next to the western entrance. Once above, you’re greeted by a handsome stone deck surrounded by the red-brick mansion blocks of the late 1800s, now managed by the Peabody Trust.
Long wooden planters run through the centre, many doubling as benches so that you can perch among the blooms. With a lovely mix of greenery and colourful seasonal planting, it’s a charming spot to enjoy some sunshine or simply sit and watch the world go by. At the edges, more planters house trees and a few sweet little bee hotels, which add a dash of whimsy and a nod to local biodiversity.
Though the café that once operated from the glass pavilion at the western end is now closed, the structure remains. Its glazed walls and angular design provide a modern contrast to the more classical features, anchoring the terrace with a quiet focal point.
While you can’t buy coffee or lunch directly from the gardens anymore, you’re surrounded by excellent takeaway options from nearby cafés and food spots on Duke Street and North Audley Street. It makes Brown Hart Gardens an easy destination for a quiet outdoor lunch or a change of scene on a sunny day.
Set just behind Oxford Street and close to Grosvenor Square, Brown Hart Gardens manages to feel surprisingly removed from the bustle. It’s not large, but it’s elevated, both in location and atmosphere. A thoughtful, tranquil place with trees, seats and sky above, it offers something easy to overlook in the centre of the city: stillness.
Helpful Information About Brown Hart Gardens
Brown Hart Gardens is just off Duke Street, Mayfair, London W1K 6TD. It’s open daily to the public from 8 am to 8 pm. The nearest station is Bond Street (Elizabeth and Central lines), with Marble Arch, Oxford Circus and Hyde Park also nearby. Though the local streets are constantly evolving with new developments and shops, this tucked-away garden remains a peaceful constant. For more information about its history and restoration, visit the Grosvenor website.
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Written by Homegirl London. Photographs by Homegirl London.