The City of London owns and manages
over 10,000 acres of open spaces in and around London for the
recreation and enjoyment of the public and as breathing spaces
from built-up developments.
Find out more about your nearest open
space (84kb)
Most of these Open Spaces are maintained from private funds at
no cost to the community. Read more about
how some of London's favourite leisure spots came to be under the
City of London's care.
If you notice any faults or problems
- such as damaged signs, fences or stiles, fly-tipping,
excessive litter or obstructions on footpaths - in our open
spaces you can now
report them
online.
For general open space enquiries please call 020 7332
3505
Sports activities in our open spaces
You can play a number of different sports in our open spaces,
from the ever popular summer bowling games at Finsbury Circus, to
swimming in the lido at Hampstead Heath.
Download a full list of our sporting
facilities (95kb)
Publications
Open Spaces annual report (3.3mb)
Open Spaces WMV movie (14mb)
Nature of the City front cover
(1.61mb)
Nature of the City (5.60mb)
Nature of the City back cover (425kb)
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Grazing land
- Open land owned by the local authority which may be used by the
public for grazing animals. The precise use of the land (e.g. for
horses, cattle etc.) may differ according to location and the local
authority may issue grazing permits to limit the number of animals
on the land.
-
Licence - caravan
site
- The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 requires
that land owners must not allow their land to be used as a caravan
site unless it holds a valid site licence other than for certain
exemptions such as; incidental use within the boundary of a
dwelling house; sites approved by certain organisations i.e.
caravan club etc; building and engineering sites; travelling
show-people sites and sites occupied by the local
authority.
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Parks and
open spaces - information and advice
- Information about parks in the local area including location,
facilities, opening times, events etc.
-
Parks
and open spaces - landscaping
- Design and maintenance of cultivated areas, open areas and
woodland in public parks and open spaces
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Tree management
- The local authority is responsible for the efficient management
of trees in their ownership within urban and rural environments.
This includes the application of tree preservation orders and the
protection of other trees on council owned land.
-
Tree
preservation orders
- Tree Preservation Orders are made by a Planning Authority under
Part V111 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in England and
Wales or Section 160 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland)
Act 1997 in Scotland and within the procedures set out in the Town
and Country Planning (Trees) Regulations 1999 (England and Wales)
or the Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order and Trees
in Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 1975-84. They are an
effective means of protecting individual trees, groups of trees or
woodlands whose removal would have significant impact on the public
amenity of an area. They form a legal constraint permanently
attached to the title of the land where the trees are
located.