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St James's Park is London's oldest Royal Park. It is next to Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the House of Parliament and there are free concerts at weekends during the summer. One of the most popular sights are the pelicans on the lake.
St James's Park History
- In 1531 the land was acquired by Henry VIII who created a deer park nearby and built a hunting lodge that later became St James's Palace.
- The deer park stayed largely the same until 1603 when James I became king. King James kept a collection of animals in the park that included camels, crocodiles and an elephant. There were also aviaries of exotic birds along what is now Birdcage Walk.
- In 1660 the park was re-landscaped for Charles II in a formal French style.
- In 1664 a Russian ambassador presented a pair of pelicans to the king. Pelicans are still offered to the park by foreign ambassadors and remain one of the most popular sights in the park.
- In 1827 John Nash was appointed to carry out the present landscape in a more informal style for George IV.
Local Attractions
St James's Park is next to Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the House of Parliament so is an excellent central location.
Horse Guards Parade is actually in St James's Park and is where the annual Trooping the Colour, Queen's birthday parade, takes place each June.
Other attractions include:
How to Get to St James's Park
Nearest Tube Stations: St. James's Park, Charing Cross, Westminster, Green Park
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