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St James's Park, London

St James's Park is one of the oldest public park in Britain, opened to the public by Charles the Second in the 1660s. The park came into being in 1532 when Henry the Eighth acquired an area of water meadow near Westminster as a royal chase. The name came from St James's Hospital, a hospital for leprosy, built here in the thirteenth century. On the site of the hospital Henry built St James's Palace, originally as a hunting lodge, to provide accommodation. Henry's daughter Elizabeth the First also enjoyed the park, holding various celebrations and entertainments here. Most of them involved treatment of animals that is not attractive to modern sensibilities, and "comedy" routines, which often involved portrayals of "common" people saying silly things and falling over. After James the First improved the drainage of the area, it was Charles the Second who had the park designed in a formal French manner, based on royal gardens he had seen during his exile. He then opened St James's to the public. Here he would indulge his fondness for socialising, talking to his subjects, and flirting with the ladies. The great diarist and naval administrator Samuel Pepys often came here. One bright February morning in the 1660s, a planned meeting in Whitehall did not happen, so Pepys finding himself with some free time walked in St James's Park, enjoying the sunshine: "Up and by water, it being a very fine morning, to Whitehall, and there to speak with Sir Ph.Warwicke, but he was gone out to chappell, so I spent much of the morning walking in the park." (Wednesday 24th February 1663) But just in case you were thinking this was a more innocent time, when monarchs could wander around the park talking to people without the need for any bodyguards, it should be remembered that Charles had units of the Household Cavalry stationed throughout the park. Today, the Cavalry Guards are confined to their sentry boxes at Horse Guards Parade at the edge of the park.

It was in the nineteenth century that St James's took on the appearance that we see today. John Nash set about transforming St James's into a romantic naturalised landscape. This was the age of the Industrial Revolution, and parks were being created as small pockets of idealised countryside in the new industrial towns and cities. John Nash carried out his naturalistic transformation of St James's Park in 1827. The long straight centre-piece pond was turned into a natural looking lake, and straight avenues were replaced by winding paths. During this remodelling the Mall was turned into a grand processional route.

Today St James's Park continues as that idealised countryside refuge designed by John Nash. Facilities include a children's playground, the Inn the Park restaurant, refreshment points, and deck chair hire from April to September. There are lunchtime and early evening band concerts from late May to late August. The pelicans are fed everyday at 3pm, and there are tours of Duck Island. The pelicans are a reminder of a gift of birds by the London Ornithological Society in 1837. The post of bird keeper, and the bird keeper's cottage date from that time.

 

Opening Times: opening is daily, 5am to midnight.

Directions: St James's Park is in central London close to Whitehall and Buckingham Palace. Click here for an interactive map centred on St James's Park.

Access: There is no car parking of any kind available in the park. Drop off is by arrangement with the Park Office, on 0207 9301793. Adapted toilet facilities are provided. The park is level and there are many well maintained paths. There is level access to the Inn the Park restaurant.

Contact: St James's Park Office, Horse Guards Road.

telephone: 020 7930 1793

web site: http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/st_james_park/