St James's Park is a Royal Park situated in the very heart of London covering 58-acres of land and providing a green oasis in an often clogged up city.

The park is the oldest Royal Park in London and is surrounded by three palaces, Westminster (now the Houses of Parliament), St James's Palace and Buckingham Palace. Originally the site of a leper hospital; Henry VIII acquired the land in 1532 for a deer park where he and his court could hunt; his daughter Elizabeth I also used the park to indulge her whims, throwing fetes and events. James I drained and developed the land on the park when he took to the throne. He managed to create the first incarnation of the road we now know as the Mall and used the park as his own private zoo housing elephants, crocodiles and camels! The park really started to change however when Charles II had it redesigned planting lawns and avenues of trees before opening the park to the public.

In the early 1800s John Nash was commissioned to again change the look and feel of the park, hanging the park to look more naturalistic which was a popular look of the day, transforming the canal into a lake and introducing birds, bird keeper and bird keeper cottage to the park. He also built Clarence House which has remained as a royal residence ever since. It was during this time that Buckingham House was given a major facelift enlarged to create a palace and the Mall was turned into a grand processional route to the new palace.

The former canal that is now a lake is today home to geese, ducks, swans and pelicans! Facilities include a children's play area, a popular cafe and deck chairs in the summer months. Many events take place in the park and the adjacent Mall these events take the form of parade, march, concerts, guided tours and much more.

The park is open from 5am to midnight all year round. Find out more about St James's Park.

How to get there

The closest tube stations are at St James's Park, Charring Cross, Westminster, Green Park and Victoria.

If travelling by bus the 3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 53, 77a, 88, 91, 148, 159, 211 and 453 all serve the area.

Greenwich Park is the oldest enclosed Royal Park in London that boasts fantastic views across the River Thames to Central London.

This 183-acre park is not only a beautiful greenspace; it is also a World Heritage Site host to the Prime Meridian Line and home to the Royal Observatory, the Royal Naval College, Queens House and the Maritime Museum. Its royal connections date back to 1427 when the land was inherited by the then Duke of Gloucester. Henry VIII was born in Greenwich and it was he who introduced deer to the park, his daughters and future Queens Mary I and Elizabeth I were also born there. James I built a brick wall around the park before bestowing it upon his wife Queen Anne, she then commissioned Inigo Jones to build her a house, she died before the building was complete and the house was passed over to the wife of Charles I Henrietta Maria; it has since been known as the Queen's House. Charles II put the park on the map when he founded the Royal Society in 1661, commissioning Sir Christopher Wren to build the Royal Observatory.

Charles the II set about changing the face of the park by demolishing the Tudor palace; he then commissioned a new palace to be built and remodelled the park to a formal design inspired by Frenchman Andre Le Notre. The design incorporated a series of grass terraces lined with hawthorn hedges, an avenue of chestnut trees and some small woodlands. The royal interest in the park diminished in the 18th century when the daughter of James II, Mary, turned the palace over to be used as a hospital for sailors.

Like many Royal Park's, Greenwich Park is home to deer and other animals including foxes, rabbits and many types of birds. Facilities in the park include Mary's Gate Café, a children's play area and a bandstand. There are also many sporting facilities available for use and hire including tennis courts, a putting green, crickets and rugby pitches and a children's boating pool.

The park is open to pedestrians from 6am every day and closes at dusk. Find out more about Greenwich Park.

How to get there

The closest mainline station is at Greenwich. The closest DLR stations are at Cutty Sark and Greenwich.

If travelling by bus the 53, 54, 177, 180, 188, 199, 202, 286, 380 and 386 all serve the area.

Or if you are feeling particularly adventurous you can take a boat from Westminster, Embankment or Tower Pier to Greenwich Pier.