Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Car-Free Parks

London’s Trafalgar Square Goes Green… Literally.

trafalgar.jpg

A once traffic-heavy part of Trafalgar Square, now open only to pedestrians, just received a green, grassy face lift from London's city government. Could New York City's Times Square be next? (If not, we'd settle for three months-worth of car-free Central Park this summer.) The BBC reports:

More than 2,000 sq m of turf has been laid as part of Visit London's campaign to promote green spaces and villages in the city. The grass will cover the square for two days during which visitors will be able to soak up the sunshine in specially laid-out deckchairs or enjoy a picnic.

The turf, which has been sourced from the Vale of York, will then be moved to Bishops Park in Hammersmith and Fulham.

Chief executive of Visit London James Bidwell said: "From the rural feel of areas like Bexley Village and Wimbledon, to urban villages like Marylebone and even Canary Wharf, the campaign will help everyone discover Village London."


As recently as 2004 Trafalgar Square was dominated by automobile traffic.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Heastie Undecided On Gov. Hochul’s Uber-Backed Push to Lower Car Insurance Rates

The Assembly Speaker is definitely not sold on Gov. Hochul's effort to reduce car insurance costs by lowing payouts to victims.

January 22, 2026

From the Top: Eric Adams Directly Ordered Cars Back Inside Staten Island Park

The former mayor got the city to move at warp speed for cars.

January 22, 2026

Amtrak Quietly Fast-Tracking Trump Penn Station Transformation

Amtrak won't say whether it will make public its criteria for picking a contractor for its Trumpified Penn Station revamp.

January 22, 2026

Thursday’s Headlines: Affordability-Washing Edition

Gov. Hochul is pushing an Uber-backed campaign to lower car insurance costs at the expensive of victims. Plus more news.

January 22, 2026

Queenshorror Bridge: Two Days After Minor Storm, Span Was An Ice Sheet (But It’s Better Now!)

Bike riders are angry about conditions on the Queensboro Bridge bike lane more than two days after a fairly insignificant snowfall ended.

January 21, 2026
See all posts