St James's Park

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.