John Frost Square

John Frost Square sits at the heart of Newport, connected to Kingsway by stone steps and featuring multiple open areas where people gather and events take place. The square is structured around tiered levels and provides access to shops, restaurants, and the adjacent shopping centre.

Completed in 1977, the square honours John Frost, a leader of the 1839 Chartist movement that fought for democratic rights. Its creation was part of a broader urban renewal effort in Newport's city centre.

The step inscriptions display six political demands from the Chartist movement, keeping alive the memory of people who fought for democratic rights. You can read these carved words as you walk through the square.

The square is easily walkable with multiple entry points, particularly via the steps from Kingsway leading down to the lower levels. Since the 2015 renovation, you can comfortably eat, shop, or access the adjacent shopping centre from here.

From 1992 to 2010, an unusual mechanical clock from the National Garden Festival stood here, dismantling itself every hour with moving figures. This quirky artwork became known for its hourly deconstruction, drawing regular crowds of curious onlookers.