Savills Portugal

More than 200 private garden squares will take part in the Open Garden Squares Weekend on June 8-9.

Organised by the London Parks & Gardens Trust, the weekend offers the chance to visit central London’s hidden green spaces.

That they exist today is largely down to the London Squares Preservation Act, which came into being in 1931 to protect and limit their use to ‘ornamental pleasure grounds or grounds for play, rest and recreation’. But what makes them so special?

As well as helping to foster a sense of community, they provide a feeling of bucolic tranquillity, while being minutes away from transport and shops.

Not surprisingly, the convenience of direct access to green space makes properties located on garden squares highly desirable. Savills research shows that there is a clear premium for living on a square. Buyers in prime central London can expect to pay an average of £1,902 per sq ft, compared with £1,691 per sq ft for a home on a private or gated road.

Garden squares vary in terms of size and amenities. There are several squares, for example, with their own tennis courts (although sometimes separate permission is needed to use these facilities.)

Each garden square has a different character, so it’s all about finding the right one for you. Potential buyers should also look into the rules of each square as they can differ in such matters as whether dogs are permitted or ball games are allowed.

Here are some of the finest garden square properties currently on the market.