London's Oldest Royal Park
St. James's Park is the oldest of London's eight Royal Parks, covering 23 hectares (57 acres) of beautifully landscaped gardens in the heart of Westminster. Bordered by Buckingham Palace to the west, Whitehall to the east, and The Mall to the north, it offers one of the most spectacular settings in London.
The park's romantic landscape, with its sweeping lawns, ornamental lake, and stunning floral displays, provides a peaceful retreat from the bustle of government buildings and tourist attractions that surround it.
The land that is now St. James's Park was originally a marshy watermeadow, drained by Henry VIII in the 1530s and enclosed as a deer park for hunting. James I commissioned improvements in 1603, including the creation of a menagerie and aviary (from which Birdcage Walk takes its name).
Charles II made the most significant changes, employing French landscape gardener André Le Nôtre (designer of Versailles) to create a formal garden with a long canal. The park was opened to the public during his reign, and Charles himself was known to walk through it, mingling with his subjects.
The park's current romantic appearance dates from the 1820s, when architect John Nash redesigned it for George IV. Nash transformed the formal canal into the curving lake we see today, created naturalistic plantings, and designed the sweeping lines that make the park feel much larger than its 57 acres.
Nash also designed The Mall as a grand processional route from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square, bordered by the park's magnificent trees.
One of St. James's Park's most beloved features is its colony of pelicans, which have resided here since 1664, when the Russian Ambassador presented the first birds as a gift to Charles II. The tradition continues today, with the current pelicans often seen sunning themselves on Duck Island or being fed by park keepers each afternoon.
"The pelicans are fed daily at 2:30 PM near Duck Island—a spectacle that delights visitors of all ages."
Despite its central location, St. James's Park is home to an remarkable variety of wildlife. The lake supports over 15 species of birds, including swans, geese, ducks, coots, and moorhens. Rare species occasionally visit, and the park is an important site for conservation.
Duck Island, an artificial island in the lake, provides a protected habitat for nesting birds. The park's mature trees, some over 100 years old, support woodpeckers, owls, and other woodland species.
The bridge crossing the lake offers one of London's most photographed views. Looking west, you see Buckingham Palace framed by weeping willows; looking east, the towers of Whitehall and the London Eye create a stunning cityscape. It's particularly magical at sunset when the buildings are bathed in golden light.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to midnight daily
Admission: Free
Facilities: Cafés, deckchair hire (summer), toilets
Nearest Tube: St. James's Park, Westminster, Green Park
