Belgrave Square

Belgrave Square is a garden square in the Belgravia district of Westminster, London. The site spans roughly 650 feet on each side and is framed by cream-colored stucco terraces containing eleven or twelve townhouses along each of the four sides.

Work started in 1826 under builder Thomas Cubitt and architect George Basevi for the expansion of the second Earl Grosvenor's holdings. The layout of gravel paths within the garden followed in 1854, after the surrounding construction had already been completed.

Bronze statues of South American liberators and European explorers stand at the corners, reflecting the diplomatic connections of the surrounding embassies. Visitors can view these sculptures from outside the garden, as they rest on publicly accessible plinths at the crossroads.

The central garden remains closed to the public and is reserved for residents, but the statues and facades are clearly visible from the pavement. A walk around the entire perimeter takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes and offers good photo opportunities in daylight.

Several embassies and high commissions occupy buildings around the perimeter, including the representations of Portugal and Ghana. This diplomatic presence lends an international character to the area that is rare in other residential parts of London.