West Square

West Square is a historic garden square in south London, just south of St George's Road. Georgian terraces from the turn of the 19th century surround it, and a small garden sits at its centre. It makes a quiet stop for a short walk away from the busier parts of the city.

Where is West Square?

The square lies in the London Borough of Southwark. Because its postcode is SE11, though, it is often described as being in Lambeth. The Imperial War Museum stands immediately to the west, so the two are easy to combine in a single outing. The surrounding streets are calm and residential.

How did the square come about?

The Temple West family owned the land and leased it for building in 1791. The terraced houses went up in stages between 1794 and 1810, and the central garden was laid out by 1799. Some of the houses were built to accommodate staff of Bethlem hospital, which had moved to nearby St George's Fields. The former hospital building is now the Imperial War Museum.

How has the garden changed?

By 1813 the garden had a formal layout, but it had been greatly simplified by 1870. In the late 19th century the site faced the threat of development. The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association saved it as public open space, and its landscape gardener Madeline Agar designed the new garden. The cruciform layout was restored at that time. Sources disagree on the exact opening date, but all place it in the early 20th century.

What is there to see?

At the centre is a rose garden with a sundial. The garden is also known for its mulberry trees. Accounts describe three reclining black mulberries whose branches rest on props, reportedly since the Great Storm of 1987. There were once four trees. It is a pleasant place to sit in the shade for a while.

Who will enjoy it?

• Fans of Georgian architecture who like uniform late 18th-century terraces.
• Visitors to the Imperial War Museum looking for a calm place for a break.
• Photographers and walkers who enjoy quiet, lesser-known corners of London.

Frequently asked questions

Is West Square in Southwark or Lambeth? Administratively it is in Southwark, but the SE11 postcode leads many people to say Lambeth.

What is next to the square? The Imperial War Museum stands directly to the west, in the former Bethlem hospital building.

When was the square built? The land was leased for building in 1791, the terraces went up between 1794 and 1810, and the garden was laid out by 1799.

What is in the middle of the garden? A rose garden with a sundial, plus old black mulberry trees.

Who saved the garden from development? The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association, with Madeline Agar designing the new garden.

Is it a large site? No, it is a small square. A walk around takes a few minutes, best combined with other sights nearby.