Three people share a wooden bench.
Quiet enjoyment at Whitfield Gardens. A shady bench in the middle of the day is much sought after.

It was a hot day in central London and at lunchtime people sought some greenery away from the shops, their desk jobs and the traffic on nearby Tottenham Court Road. In Whitfield Gardens all the wooden benches were occupied by people seeking a place to sit.

When the benches are full people grab a perch wherever they can — on a wall, on the edge of steps, or sometimes they have to make do with standing.

Public open space in Fitzrovia is in short supply and can often become heavily used as many people escape the hustle and bustle of Monday to Friday life in the neighbourhood.