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Green Park, London

Green Park was created by Charles II after his return from exile in 1660. Charles enjoyed parks, and quickly ordered the laying out of a huge French style formal garden in St James's Park. He wished to walk through royal parks all the way from Hyde Park to St James'. So land was purchased lying between the two, and this became "Upper St James's Park". Charles would take his "constitutional" walks here, a regular event which is now remembered in the name of Constitution Hill which runs past Buckingham Palace.

In 1746, Upper St James's Park was renamed Green Park. This name may recall Charles II's way with the ladies. He had many mistresses, and there is a story that when his wife, Catherine of Braganza, found out that Charles had been in the park picking flowers for one of his women, she ordered that all flowers be removed from the park and no more planted. This story sounds unlikely: early on in their marriage Charles made it perfectly clear that he would have mistresses if he wished to, and once Catherine accepted that, he was as pleasant and sunny with her as ever. Nevertheless Green Park still has no formal flower beds.

 

The official renaming of Green Park coincided with its use as a place of national celebration by the Hanoverian monarchs. There was a party here in 1746 to celebrate victory at the Battle of Culloden. This marked the end of the Stuart threat to the Hanoverian monarchy. There was another party in 1814 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Hanoverian royal family. On both occasions ceremonial buildings were accidentally burnt to the ground. In the 1746 event 10,000 fireworks exploded in the fire, and three people were killed.

By the 1820s the Industrial Revolution had created a need for idealised patches of countryside in industrial towns and cities. John Nash remodelled Green Park as part of a bigger project in which the formal St James's Park was recreated as fanciful countryside. During this development all buildings within the park gradually disappeared. Public opening took place in 1826. Green Park, in common with the other great public parks, continues in this role of an idealised rural refuge.

There are refreshment points at Ritz Corner and Canada Gate, and toilets are located close to Green Park Underground station.

 

Opening Times: There are no limitations on opening.

Directions: Green Park is on Constitution Hill, close to Buckingham Palace. The nearest Underground stations are Green Park and Hyde Park Corner. Click here for an interactive map centred on Green Park.

Access: There is no car parking in the park. A drop off point is provided at Canada Gate. The park does not have steep gradients, and there are many well maintained paths. Staff at the park have disability awareness training.

Contact: The Store Yard, Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2BJ

telephone: 0300 061 2350

fax: 020 7839 7639

web site: http://www.royalparks.org.uk/display_images/green_park/title_top.gif

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