St James's Park

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The resident pelicans are fed daily by the park keeper and are descendants of the original gift from the Russian ambassador to Charles II.

2. 2

   The park's lake was originally a canalized drainage feature that was redesigned into its current naturalistic shape by John Nash.

3. 3

   During the 17th century, the park contained a private menagerie including camels, crocodiles, and an elephant housed by King James I.

4. 4

   The Blue Bridge provides one of the few vantage points in London that captures a clear sightline of both Buckingham Palace and the London Eye.

5. 5

   The park served as a communal dairy during the 18th century, where people would go to drink fresh milk from cows kept on-site.

Overview

St James's Park is the oldest of London's eight Royal Parks, framing the ceremonial route of The Mall. It is uniquely distinguished by its proximity to three major palaces: Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace, and the Palace of Westminster. The park features a central lake home to a resident colony of pelicans, a tradition dating back to 1664 when a Russian ambassador gifted the birds to King Charles II. It serves as the primary ceremonial backdrop for the annual Trooping the Colour military parade. The landscape includes a formal flower bed arrangement known as the Flower Garden, situated opposite the Horse Guards Parade. The park occupies 57 acres of land drained and landscaped under the direction of John Nash in the 1820s. Visitors can access the Blue Bridge, which offers elevated views of the London Eye and Buckingham Palace simultaneously.

Insider tips

• Walk the perimeter at dawn to see the pelicans during their daily feeding session.

• Use the deckchairs provided for hire during summer months to view the lake from the south bank.

• Visit the Inn the Park café for outdoor seating with direct views of the lake wildlife.