St James's Park

St James’s Park is a 23-hectare royal park in the City of Westminster. It sits at the southern end of the St James’s area, named after a medieval hospital. The park began as a deer enclosure for Henry VIII in the 1530s. Today it links Green Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens in a continuous green chain. The Mall runs along its northern edge, with Buckingham Palace to the west and Horse Guards to the east. Birdcage Walk marks its southern boundary, meeting Green Park at Queen’s Gardens. The park’s small lake holds two islands, West Island and Duck Island. Duck Island once housed a bomb disposal unit at the end of the 19th century. A pelican colony has lived here since 1664, when a Russian ambassador gave six birds to Charles II. The pelicans sometimes fly beyond the park and have been known to hunt other birds. The Blue Bridge offers a framed view west to Buckingham Palace. Eastward, the Swire Fountain and Horse Guards Parade can be seen across the water. Visitors find winding paths through London planes, scarlet oaks and mulberries. A children’s playground with a large sandpit sits near Pelican Rock. The Tiffany Fountain stands on the rock, while the Foreign Office overlooks the eastern shore. The lake’s fountains and pumps are hidden on Duck Island. The park’s Grade I listing recognises its historic design and royal connections.