St James's Park is the oldest of the London parks and is bordered by Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace, and the tree-lined Mall, which make it the site of numerous royal ceremonies and traditions. St James's Lake, with its two islands, as well as plentiful walking paths, wildlife, and refreshments, make the park an appealing natural respite in the middle of London city.
View of Buckingham Palace from St James's Park. Courtesy of Pete Symonds
Getting to the Park
Surrounded by famous landmarks and located in the heart of London, the park is accessible via multiple underground points (St James's Park, Victoria, Green Park, or Westminster stations) or by bus lines throughout the city. Detailed information is available at the
park's website or by consulting
tube and bus maps. There are no parking facilities.
Duck Island and St James's LakePelicans are by far the most famous bird in St James's Park; however, Duck Island is home to hundreds of ducks, swans, geese and other rare and wild breeds of waterfowl. The quaint Duck Island Cottage serves as the office of the London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust and limited tours of the island and cottage are available by
contacting the park directly.
Duck Island Cottage. Photo by Erin Connelly
Wildlife attendants feed the pelicans every day from 2.30 to 3.30pm outside Duck Island Cottage. The park makes an effort to be child-friendly and offers a chance for children to be photographed with a pelican during the feeding times. There is also a playground near the Australia Gate entrance to the park with accompanying refreshment stand.
The lake in the centre of the park contains Duck Island and West Island. The Blue Bridge spans the lake and offers views of Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the London Eye, which are particularly stunning on a clear, blue day.
Intriguing waterfowl on Duck Island. Photo by Erin Connelly
RefreshmentFour refreshment points serve sandwiches, ice cream, and hot or cold drinks. These are located throughout the park at Marlborough Gate, Horse Shoe Bend, Artillery Memorial, and the playground. Alternatively, walking along the park paths will naturally bring the visitor into contact with one of the refreshment points. The park also contains a celebrated restaurant,
'Inn the Park', which is located west of the Horse Guards Parade on St James's Lake. The restaurant provides indoor and outdoor seating as well as a take-away service.
Her Majesty's ice cream. Photo by Erin Connelly
Opening TimesThe park is open from 5am to midnight all year round. The refreshment points are open from 9am to 8pm in the summer and from 10am to 4pm in the winter. Inn the Park restaurant is open Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 11pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 10pm.
