Golden Square

Looking for somewhere nice to sit at lunchtime? If you chose Golden Square, I can only say: good luck!
Of course it gets very busy during the week, given the proximity to loads and loads of offices. Go early if you want to enjoy the grass and statues or the benches and beat the rush. It is quite pleasant when quiet, given it is far enoigh off the main roads of Regent St and beyond.
Those are the good parts. Unfortunately during those busy times you are left on the wall spaces or concrete. And with high levels of busy comes high level of messy. By the middle-​to-​end of the lunch period the bins are overfilled, trash spills everywhere or has just been left lying. Disgusting. Everyone in this square/​park/​garden smokes apparently so the place is filthy with cigarette butts, and the whole area has a stench of smoke and vibe of folk too busy to care.
Basically: go when it’s quiet, else it’s not worth the effort.

I love a good London square.
Trafalgar.
Leicester.
Albert.
Sponge-​Bob.
I’m not sure that the last one has been built yet. But a man can dream. Right?
I will always remember my first visits to Golden Square because it used to be the home of London’s oldest drum shop, Foote’s.
Foote’s was unfortunately closed down last year after many many decades of serving some of the biggest names in the music world. Did you know that the Oasis drummer, Alan White used to be a shop assistant here? No? Well there you go. Every day is a school day with me.
So for me, nothing is better than a walk through Golden Square and take some time in the gardens on a sunny London afternoon. With or without my shrine to shiny drumming loveliness. I will always love Golden Square and its gardens.

A spot of solace nearby crazy-​busy Piccadilly Circus? I’m in.
Golden Square is a not-​too-​hidden but easy-​to-​miss park area on the western fringe of Soho; a 30-​second walk south of the square and you’re in the thick of traffic and an army of tourists. While there’s many squares throughout London, this one has more of a young and hip vibe compared to others. The surroundings are pretty, there’s plenty of enticing food options along its perimeter (I tried Nordic Bakery, much to my delight), and is quite un-​touristy (I’m looking at you, Soho Square).
Worth a trip if you’re around Soho/​Piccadilly/​Oxford Circus and want a retreat amongst the madness.

A very small but pleasant spot to stare off into space, play table tennis (yes they have ping pong tables), or eat your lunch. On a recent sunny day every bench was taken, apparently it’s a big deal to get a bit of sun in London.

All the people
So many people
They all go hand in hand
Hand in hand through their parklife
Know what I mean?

Golden Square is a great spot to stop and relax or have your lunch break in. Though this is not a park like many other squares it has its charm and one is that quite a few nice places to get food and drink from are just around the corner. For example, Whole Foods Market, the Nordic Bakery and Wagamama.
So, just sit down and have a relaxing time either in the shade or the sun, on the benches or the grass and calm down for a moment in this usually quite hectic surrounding!

This is one Central London location that I like to head to when the sun comes out.
Considering you’re in the middle of Carnaby Street and Piccadilly Circus when you’re in Golden Square, it feels surprisingly peaceful and intimate.
The is a paved area with benches surrounding in the centre and grass around the outside where it is nice to sit and chill out, there are also a few trees to provide shade if necessary.
Interestingly too there is a table tennis table for people to use which in my book is always good!
There are a lot of good places to grab food at nearby to then enjoy whilst sitting in the Square.
A short walk from Piccadilly Circus tube station, Carnaby Street and Soho.

I never actually stopped to take a break here, not until last week anyways. I’d always rush through towards the hubbub of carnaby street but golden square is definitely an oasis between, soho and oxford street.
Chilled here with a froyo for a bit last week (that is until it got a bit chilly due to London’s moody weather…) It’s also good to be away from the hipster crowd in carnaby street for a while, y’know before, you get a bit loony from trying to understand hipster fashion. (I know, I don’t understand either.) Although I can’t guarantee you still won’t be confused by the people, for example, I was sitting across from a photographer trying to get a close up pic of a SPECIFIC tulip in the flower beds. He was LITERALLY in the flowerbed…
Yeah, great place to people watch.

Very nice in the summer for a lunchtime treat with co-​workers, but i much prefer the ambiance of Soho square. Golden square is well placed for getting lunch from Carnaby street.
About 5 mins walk from Regent Street, and 10mins walks from Oxford Street

My office has recently moved so we overlook Golden Square and we’re now neighbours with M&C Saatchi, Clear Channel, Paramount pictures, Absolute Radio and others.
Although it’s been cold lately, when the sun is out it this place is a perfect spot for eating your lunch outdoors. It’s quiet (ish) with little road traffic and the surrounding buildings protect you from cold winds.
Last week Golden Square played host to a Welsh Farmers Market which was great with lots of yummy foods to try such as lamb, bacon and cheese.

Golden Square falls b/​w Orford n Piccadilly tube. This is one of the busiest places arnd, and u get to see a lot of ppl jus gaze arnd sittin on the green floor ! Corporate point (I too work frm here) but also a place to unwind ovr coffee !!
Stone throw distance to Regent strt, Oxford tube station.

Fresh air, like a drug to me! During the hot, summer months office workers leave their desks and make a beeline for Golden Square. This place is truly an oasis in central London. A small ‘paved’ square, it is surrounded by benches and places to perch with your takeaway lunch.
Trees surround the square, so you get a nice shade if you are a pale specimen like myself or else bake in the sun in the centre. You can find me there most days during the next few months, woot sun!

Golden Square is a historic square in Soho.
The Square is largely paved with a statue at the centre. Around the edge of the square are some flower benches. It is not particularly attractive but is surprisingly quiet given its central London location and consequently is a nice place to relax when the weather is good. Due to its location it is very popular with the local media crowd at lunchtimes
Additionally, the Nordic Bakery is positioned on the square and Fernandez and Wells are in easy walking distance so there is no shortage of good food.
Golden Square is aesthetically dull but is worth visiting for its central, yet quiet, location.

If you work in the area or just passing through after escaping the crowds of Carnaby Street and Soho, this is a great little Square to come and unwind. In the summer people flock here to eat their lunch on the grass and soak up some rays. It’s usually pretty quiet too, especially out of the summer months, so a great spot to come and take some time out. It’s surrounded mostly with offices, but there are a few places to eat or grab a nice coffee. Right near Brewer Street too, so if the lunch places are overflowing there, get take away and come here!

A hidden refuge slightly away from the hustle and bustle of Carnaby Street or even Piccadilly Circus. If you go to the end of Carnaby Street and go directly behind the buildings you can see, you’ll find a patch of beauty. You can sit and relax on a bench, soak up the rays and take whatever you got for lunch here and eat it in peace.
It does get very busy of a lunchtime, but if you can’t find a bench there is plenty of grass and walls to perch on. A lovely patch of tranquility.