Brighton Center and Oak Square are two of the historic commercial and civic hubs of Brighton, a neighborhood in the western reaches of Boston. Brighton Center, clustered around Washington Street, has long served as the area’s main street, lined with independent shops, restaurants, banks and the landmark St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center nearby. It retains a walkable, village-like Main Street character that reflects Brighton’s roots as a once-independent town annexed by Boston in 1874.
A short distance to the west along Washington Street lies Oak Square, a residential crossroads named for a great oak that once stood there, where Tremont Street merges into Washington Street. Together the two squares form the everyday heart of Brighton, offering a glimpse of a working Boston neighborhood away from the tourist core. The area is served by MBTA buses rather than the subway, with frequent routes connecting it to Kenmore Square and downtown.
Good to know
- Brighton Center is the neighborhood’s historic Main Street commercial district along Washington Street
- Oak Square is a nearby residential square where Tremont Street meets Washington Street
- Reached mainly by MBTA bus rather than the subway; the Green Line B runs along Commonwealth Ave to the north
- Brighton was an independent town until annexed by Boston in 1874
Getting there
- Address: Brighton Center: Washington St near Market St; Oak Square: Washington St & Tremont St, Brighton, Boston, MA 02135
- Neighborhood: Brighton
- Nearest T: Served by MBTA buses (routes 57, 64, 65 and others); no subway station directly in Brighton Center — check mbta.com