Plan Your Visit
01.06.2023 – 31.08.2023

Urban Playground

Sit, play or wonder. Visit the City of London's first Urban Playground.

Though not a traditional playground, this installation brings an element of the unexpected into the City, inviting people to interact with one another and their surroundings in new ways. The design is inspired by wooden children’s toys which contain multiple elements which slot together, the design for this installation starts with a block, from which the various shapes are ‘carved’ from. The pieces created from the block make up the modular installation, each with a unique shape that creates the opportunity for seating, play or wonder. By looking at design in the City of London from an unusual perspective – that of a child’s – designers McCloy + Muchemwa see the opportunity for bringing in a more playful or even contemplative atmosphere to the spaces in the Eastern Cluster which can engage families, visitor and city-workers alike.

 

Blue and Grey outdoor sculptures - the Urban Playground

© Mickey Lee for EC BID

Listing location

Urban Playground – commissioned by EC BID in partnership with London Festival of Architecture 2023

Large gold letters E and C, logo for EC Bid.

More Green Spaces in the City

Seething Lane Garden
Seething Lane Garden is a green space in the City of London - a perfect spot to relax with a formal lawn, seating and pergola.
Carter Lane Gardens
A perfect lunch spot in the City with the best views of St Paul's cathedral.
Festival Gardens
This popular lunchtime spot has benches which surround a central lawn and adjacent to a peaceful fountain.
St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate
18th-century church, designed by James Gould, with regular choral performances and a churchyard
St Andrew Holborn Garden
This City Garden features an often sunny central lawn area, surrounded by benches, planted beds and bordered by a yew hedge.
Exchange Square
Discover 1.5 acres of green space at Exchange Square with its vibrant mix of planting, seating and a running stream, blending nature with the energy of London and promoting physical and emotional wellbeing.
Fen Court
A public space with a quiet churchyard garden, and the Gilt of Cain outdoor artwork, located next to the Garden at 120.
Aldgate Square
Relax and enjoy this green space on the eastern side of the City. Aldgate Square is a publicly accessible landscaped garden.
Common Ground
11.06.2023 31.08.2023

Common Ground

St Mary-le-Bow
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Aldgate Sounds
04.07.2023 29.08.2023

Aldgate Sounds

Aldgate Square
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The Herbalist’s Plant Press
A pop-up urban garden with evergreen, scented and medicinal plants. Inspired by 16th century herbalist John Gerard and the area’s history of printing. Part of LFA 2023.
Green spaces to relax in the City of London
Whether you’re looking for a tranquil picnic spot or somewhere for quiet contemplation, here are some of the City’s greenest spaces to seek out.
Inner Temple
City of London Secret Spaces Trail
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The Inner Temple Garden
The Inner Temple Garden is one of London’s oldest gardens, with the first recorded gardener of the Inn in 1307.
The Garden at 120
Visit the City of London’s largest public rooftop space - free to visit and no booking required. The Garden at 120 is located atop the Fen Court building at 120 Fenchurch Street.
St Dunstan in the East Church Garden
St Dunstan in the East Church Garden is a truly unique space set within the ruins of a Wren church. This green oasis has benches and a fountain with greenery draping the historic walls.
Sculpture in the City
Sculpture in the City is an annual sculpture park that uses the urban realm as a rotating gallery space.
Tower of London
Discover London’s castle – a secure fortress, royal palace, infamous prison and execution site where you can explore 1,000 years of history.
Guildhall Yard
Guildhall Yard is an outdoor space used for public and private events throughout the year.
Barbican Lakeside Terrace
The Lakeside is the perfect place to relax, soak up the sunshine and enjoy a cup of coffee surrounded by iconic architecture.
Barbican Conservatory
Visit the spectacular Barbican Conservatory and explore this hidden tropical oasis in the heart of the City of London.
The Charterhouse
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The Guild Church of St Dunstan-in-the-West
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Sky Garden
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