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St James's Park, London

St James's Park first came into being in 1532 when Henry VIII acquired an area of water meadow near Westminster as a hunting park. The name came from St James's Hospital for leprosy, built here in the thirteenth century. Henry had the hospital demolished, and built a hunting lodge - St James's Palace - in its place. Henry and his guests would stay here when they came to hunt in the park. Henry's daughter Elizabeth I also enjoyed st James's, holding various celebrations and entertainments here. After James I improved the area's drainage, it was Charles II who had the park designed in a formal French manner, based on royal gardens he had seen in exile during the 1650s when Parliament abolished the monarchy. After Charles's remodelling of St James's Park he took the rather revolutionary step of opening it to the public. Here Charles would indulge his fondness for socialising, talking to his subjects, and flirting with the ladies. 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 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 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 redesign 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 deckchair hire from April to September. There are lunchtime and early evening band concerts from late May to late August. The pelicans are fed every day 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.

The park is sometimes used as a film location. Scenes for The Young Victoria and The Ipcress File were shot here. .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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. St James's Park Underground station is a two minute walk from the park via the Mall.

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/

 

 

 

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