The Great Reclamation: Radical Changes to London’s Streetscapes
Schedule
Mon Mar 30 2026 at 06:30 pm to 08:15 pm
UTC+01:00Location
Temple Bar | London, EN
About this Event
From Knightsbridge to the City, ambitious plans are afoot in London to challenge traffic domination and severance, welcome families and tackle climate breakdown.
In her talk, landscape architect, Sophie Thompson, director at LDA Design, will take you to three contested and historic parts of the city to share exciting next steps on the practice’s streetscape projects and show the difference intervention can make through progressive approaches.
When places change people use them differently. Streets that feel unrelenting this year can feel playable next year. It all lies in the ambition. Discover plans to create Greyfriars Square, opening in spring 2027, part of the £19 million St Paul’s Gyratory transformation, it will replace 1970s highway infrastructure with a green piazza inspired by the site’s historic monastic gardens.
Holborn is steeped in history and has the potential to feel special. What does realising that potential at scale look like? The Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood is a £40m Camden Council programme designed to make streets and spaces healthier, safer and inclusive, including the pedestrianisation of Great Russell Street in front of the British Museum and a reimagined New Oxford Street.
Strand Aldwych is now a treasured public space for interaction, picnics and activities including yoga. But not so long ago, people were resigned to it being four lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic. Find out what it takes to make change happen.
Speaker bio:
Sophie is a landscape architect and Director at LDA Design. She leads the design and delivery of some of the UK’s most ambitious and high-profile public space projects, including the City of London’s largest new public square near St Paul’s Cathedral, the Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood and four kilometres of transformed coastal seafront at Southsea.
She led on West End Project, a reimagining of central London spaces such as the ‘road to park’ Alfred Place Gardens and Princes Circus scheme. This went on to win the Civic Trust’s top prize for sustainability.
Sophie sits on the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Design West Quality Review Panels, is an examiner for the Landscape Institute and lectures on progressive approaches to streets and public space, including women’s safety, car-free cities, green infrastructure and co-design. She is the author of the forthcoming title, Wilding the City – Designing for People, Biodiversity and Climate Resilience, RIBA’s first book on biodiversity and urban public space.
Resource links:
LDA Design:
https://www.lda-design.co.uk/
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/sophie-thompson-51b4748
www.linkedin.com/company/lda-design
Instagram:
@ldadesign
@_sophiejthompson_
....
The talk is chaired by Lucy Bullivant Hon FRIBA, Trustee, Temple Bar Trust.
Please note: Temple Bar will be open for ticket holders from 18:05, please arrive in good time to be checked in and seated by 18:20. Our public talks start at promptly at 18:30.
Where is it happening?
Temple Bar, First Floor, Paternoster Lodge, London, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 16.96
