St. James Park is considered by many to be the most beautiful of London’s Parks. The land was originally a marsh, but King Henry VIII ordered the land to be drained and transformed into a Deer Park for the nearby St. James Palace.
In the seventeenth century the Deer Park was converted into Gardens by French landscape gardener Andre Le Notre under command of King Charles II. Along the southern border of the Park an aviary was built- this area is still known as Birdcage Walk. In the nineteenth century John Nash was commissioned to landscape the gardens further by the Prince Regent.
The area is popular with bird lovers, with Ducks and Pelicans making their home here. The lake is now a bird sanctuary and it has its own geese and black swans as well as ducks and pelicans. From the bridge that crosses the lake, there is a glorious view of Buckingham Palace. There is also a magnificent view of the rooftops at Whitehall.
Throughout the summer months a band entertains the city's workers who use the park as a tranquil oasis during lunch. The park has a children’s play area and its own café within the grounds.
St. James Park
Park in Westminster
rated 10 / 10 from 1 review
St. James Park Picture Gallery
Deckchairs in St James Park
Lake in St James Park
Pelicans in St James Park lake
User Reviews
Susie
from Surrey
from Surrey
Jul 16, 2014
I was in St James' Park this morning in glorious sunshine with my 18month old.. we ambled along amongst the tourists, headed deeper into the park where it was quiet and calm and then ended up in the children's play park on the corner of Birdcage Walk and Spur Road whilst listening to the band in Wellington Barracks, that was playing great music throughout ... what a perfect couple of hours :-)
TheMog
Jan 22, 2005
The wildlife in St James's Park is amazing, I don't know how they can thrive in the centre of a smogfest like London.
It gets very busy around the pond/lake area in the summer, if you want more space to kick a ball around head over to Green Park, it's not far away.
It gets very busy around the pond/lake area in the summer, if you want more space to kick a ball around head over to Green Park, it's not far away.