Right across from Buckingham palace, but far enough away from all of the hustle and bustle of that part of London. It is simply beautiful here. The trees, the flowers, and oh my! all of the birds!! They have signs posted in the park which will help you identify the birds if you are in the mind to do that. There are lawn chairs about, but if I did it, I would prefer a loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and hubs on a blanket enjoying the scenery. Hubs and I just walked around the park just for the sole purpose of seeing it (that is, after we saw the changing of the guard) and it was a truly peaceful experience. Plus, it was in the 60's and sunny! Score!!! read more

This was a lovely park adjacent to Buckingham Palace. I loved strolling through here as I wondered how many generations have walked the same paths I did. There's a large avian population, some cute and some not so much on the cute side but the "give me food right now!!!" side. I do love the lakeview this park provides. We sat down at one of the benches, just cuddling and watching the tree branches sway. Of course, going on Sunday after the Changing of the Guard happens, the park was filled to the brim with tourists. But it's interesting to see who comes to watch and how they interact with their fellow travelers. I'd love to come here on a quieter day next time. read more

St James Park is amaze! With its humongous open space and world-famous regal surroundings it really reminds me of something out of a Legend of Zelda games! That said, the view towards Waterloo on the West side reminds me more of the NiGHTS into Dreams franchise. Especially at night time. This particular view, featuring the Horse Guards Parade, the London Eye, and an endless starry sky, is easily one of the most pleasant in London, and I always feel creatively inspired after experiencing it. Yes, even after the umpteenth time (I've been fortunate in that I used to actually live close by). This park has everything really. Deckchairs, an awesome playground (not that me and my friends have per-used it... honest ;) ) and ducks of all kinds. The Duck Island Cottage is the cutest little house I've ever seen, and I remember being literally awed as a kid by the flowers up by Buckingham Palace. I've since seen even more awesome flower arrangements at places like Regent's Park, but I'm not going to dock St James' a star for that! That's like deciding not to give a genius pupil an A grade just because there's another pupil in the class who's an even bigger genius! Sillyness. If you haven't been here (and there are, remarkably, Londoners who still haven't) then get your butt down to Westminster and check it out! read more

The Horse Guards Parade, a ceremonial area, and the grounds and lake in St. James's Park in London are stunning. The park is bounded by Buckingham Palace and The Mall. The park has a lake with the Blue Bridge that offers a nice view of Buckingham Palace. The lake is famous for the Pelicans that where donated by the Russian Ambassador in 1664 who live near Duck Island. This park is a peaceful treasure in the middle of a big hectic city. www.royalparks.org.uk read more

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Great park, gets busy and has loads of birds. This is a nice park to walk about in after strolling past Buckingham or on your way to Buckingham as opposed to walking on the Mall. The views of the eye and the palace are also quite enticing. The entire park itself is quite beautiful, though the copious amounts of birds make it a little hazardous as they fly over! The birds are also what make it special, I think. There are over 40 types of birds in the park - even pelicans - so you'll see quite a few. Also, it can get really packed with tourists, so there's that too. Visited January 2013 read more

I was lucky enough to be staying at a hotel across from Buckingham Palace and was able to get in a few afternoon runs at St James Park. It is absolutely beautiful and a great place to take an evening stroll, walk your dog, or just wander around the impeccably kept gardens. I only wish that I lived across the street (probably muchos $$$$$$) so that I could look upon this park every day! People do feed the squirrels, which did not seem like a good idea to me lest someone be bitten by a rabid one, but those doing it seemed to be having fun! read more

Absolutely beautiful. One of my favorite places to take a walk when I am staying at the Conrad. Opens onto Buckingham palace.

A perfectly lovely place to spend an afternoon in the sun after a day exploring (or working) in the nearby galleries ... or at least relish in a lunch hour and pretend you're not in the hustle and bustle of London. A stone's throw away from Buckingham Palace and other related central London attractions, a sense of calm envelopes you as you meander your way through the paths, across bridges, spotting all sorts of winged fowl wandering about. My favourite bit? The cute little cottage! By far, my favourite central London park. read more

This is one of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen. Even better, as we walked though, we over heard two young local girls discussing their love of Harry Potter movies and magic. Could it get more perfect than that?! Ducks, swans, geese, water, squirrels and green green trees......this place is truly a paradise within a city and a must see for anyone. read more

One of my favourite places in London! I always go there when I need some time for myself because this park makes me feel calm and safe. Lots of ducks, swans and squirrels are around demanding some food, so there is no time to be bored as well :) Plus, it is very close to amazing Buckingham Palace. read more

What a beautiful park! Perfect for an improvisational picnic. Bring along a blanket, some wine, bread, cheese and you're set. read more

The oldest royal park in London just right smack dab between Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square. It has lovely arrangements of flowers, tons of squirrels and people everywhere. A great place to stop and relax on the lawns and take photos. FEES TO KNOW : - The deck chairs that are out during the summer cost money. Attendants will walk around to collect money. It is by an hourly fee (1 hour - £1.60, 2 hour - £2.60, 3 hour - £3.60, 4 hour - £4.60) or you can rent one out for the entire day (£8). - Bathrooms also cost money to get into, but a lot of people just wait until someone comes out and walk right in. They're also not the cleanest but oh well. - Stalls sell ice cream and drinks all around the park WHAT TO SEE : - Pelicans: Yep, they've got their own colony of pelicans on "Duck Island" - Ducks & Squirrels: Everyone seems to love feeding them - which I thought was strange being from the US. So bring some bread if you want to toss crumbs at birds and have a giant crowd of birds around you. - The Tiffany Fountain read more

One of my favourite London parks plus it links Buckingham Palace with Westminster. It is a good place in which to sit and relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There is also a great view of Westminster with the London Eye in the background from the bridge over the lake. read more

I don't know how but somehow St James' is never ridiculously busy or crowded, and taking a walk through in the evening on my way home is delightfully relaxing. Makes a nice walk between Covent Garden/Trafalgar Sq area and Buckingham Palace, if you happen to be going that way. Also - I found out the other day that there is one bird there (possibly a Pelican but I am not entirely sure) that has its own bodyguard. A man walks 3 paces behind it constantly crazy! read more

I love that however long I've lived in the capital there's always more to discover. Early to meet a friend for lunch one day I started wandering in to St James' Park and was surprised by just how gorgeous it all looks in there. I thought I'd been there and done that with all the major parks but I think I accidentally skipped this one before! Just walking in to the park for 5 minutes from The Mall was a lovely respite from a busy day, and I saw a few nice things I'd like to return for when I have more time. The cafe, Inn The Park, looked and smelled wonderful, all wooden floors and walls, loads of seating in different areas (including the roof!) and deliciously rich food smells, all overlooking the calm beauty of the lake. Near that, St James' Park allotment is open every day at the moment, seemingly to encourage people to grow their own vegetables at home. It looked like there might be people there to get hints and tips of so that could be very useful. Ten years on from moving to London I think it's time to do a tour of the parks again - what else might I have missed?! read more

St. James Park was used by King Henry VII as a hunting garden, which means that he used to hunt deer here in the early days. This is certainly the park with the most wildlife in London. You can spot birds you never saw before, and there are squirrels everywhere you look. This park also gives you amazing views over Buckingham Palace and the London Eye, the best spot is on the small bridge over the lake. This is absolutely my favorite park, along with Hyde Park! read more

Beautiful park to forget about the hustle and bustle of London. Well maintained and kept. Great for walking the dog or for a jog. Lovely in summer for a read against a tree with some snacks! If you are visiting London its worth a visit. read more

Such a lovely park right in the middle of London, definitely one of London's best. Always a good excuse to walk through it on your way back from meetings instead of taking a quick taxi around it. Gorgeous flowers everywhere, a lake with very cute ducks, beautiful old trees, views across to the Queen's house, people chilling out - everything most of London isn't! It's a heaven for office workers in the summer escaping their air conditioned rabbit hutches. A great place to spend a couple of hours reading a book or the paper on a Sunday. London I love you for having green areas as nice as this :) read more

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St James's Park is located very centrally in London and has the distinction of being right outside Buckingham Palace. It is quite beautiful with a lake and many mature trees. The Mall runs along one side too. It's very popular with people working in the area taking a break, along with all the tourists. There is certainly enough grass to enjoy an hour or too sitting around if the sun is out. There are some deck chairs available for rent too, and ocasionally a band playing. read more

This park is in between trafalgar sq and buckingham palace, and while it lacks the size of other parks such as Hype park it certainly makes up for it in splendour. This park is fit for a queen and has so much to do and so many different amusements. I have the luxury of walking through the park every day on the way to work and I find it very therapeutic, especially after a hangover. I brought my girlfriend there who loves it too and I have to say my favourite thing about the park is the ducks - especially the swans and pelicans. Until i visited this park, I did not know that there were black swans! So i guess it is true that you learn something new everyday. read more

St.James park isn't the biggest park in London or even in the area. There's much to see and do considering the size of the park. It has wild life, snack stands, and a few ponds. To the west you'll find Buckingham palace and to the east you'll find Big Ben. read more

I'm walking along a path through St. James's Park. It's daytime. A few tourists meander nearby. And something's following mea tiny patter of feet. I turn and seea squirrel. Right behind me. It's been chasing me for 20 yards. It stops and sits up. Food. It wants food. And so began my affair with the squirrels in St. James's Park. Tame, bold and seemingly always hungry, they are the cutest, coolest, furry bunch of food lovers. Go in there with some good nuts (hazelnuts or monkey nuts work best) and wander round the trees or bushes and they'll soon come-a-running! Hold out your hand and they'll snag the goods right from your fingers then run off and wolf down the booty. So if you're in town, head to the park for a 30 minute diversion and give our friendly rodents a meal. (I'd give 5 stars if they could talk). read more

great park, wonderful on a sunny day just take some food along have a picninc and relax with the nice views. They also have lots of ducks and swans which you can feed bread too which kids love. There are lots of benches to sit down on and the park is well maintained and clean so great place for children to run around and play in. read more

My favourite London park by far. Located opposite Horseguards parade on one side and Buckingham Palace on the other. Full of wildlife & pesky squirrels who are very tame, a stroll through the park (which takes about 10 minutes) is the perfect way to wind down the day. Highlight of the park is the footbridge accross the lake which offers absolutely stunning views of Horseguards with the London Eye towering above it or from the other, with a great view of Buckingham Palace. One bizarre thing to tourists is the sight of hundreds of deckchairs for visitors to lounge in - very British! St James Park has a cafe and several drinks outlets if you are hungry. The park always seems busy even at night. read more

This is a beautiful park that is right in the heart of London. It stretches all the way from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square and if you are prepared to do a lot of walking you will really enjoy the sights. There is a lake in the park which houses many ducks and swans, which are very tame and will quite happily eat out of your hand! There are also lots of squirrels scampering around. There is also a fantastic bridge that allows you to cross the lake which gives you a fantastic view of the London Eye! It is a great place to unwind or have lunch after a day's sight seeing or shopping due to its proximity to Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus. read more

Still an enthusiastic tourist, St James's Park rates high on my list of favourite London sights. It's hard to pick the best bits - the myriad breed of birds (pelicans, pigeons, ducks, swans, seagulls to name but a few!) clustered around magnanimous bread distributors, the gorgeous lake, the bridges, the never-ending passing parade of park worshippers, Buckingham Palace looming in the background ... ! It's quite the spot for a picnic accompanied by cheeky cider or ale (BYO of course!) and a meander that will take you through to some of London's best tourist haunts - Westminster, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden. Divine! read more

Beautiful park with many squirrels who are not shy, if you have some peanuts, they come eating in your hand ! read more

St James's Park - Parks Near Me

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This beautiful royal park is good for walking, relaxing and enjoying the green colours of trees and plants. It has a small lake and Buckingham palace is identifiable adjacent. The park is crowded and of course because of tourists like us^^ I think it's a usual thing in a big city park. I experienced the same in other big cities parks too. read more

St James's Park - Parks Near Me

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Strolled through the park on our way to Buckingham Palace. Lovely park with lots of huge trees. Everything was well cared for and fortunately we didn't get lost. Not too many people around as it was lightly raining. read more

I sat here for hours once and stared at the water and ducks from a bench while my family toured the war museum (don't ask). It was autumn, not nearly as lush as it is in summer. It was overcast, very gray and gloomy. Too bad I have such a negative memory of it, alone and moody. I much prefer this park on a sunny summer day when it's very green and flower beds are in full bloom. It's a great place to enjoy a stroll along with the many ducks, swans, geese, squirrels and tourists. And there is plenty of grass for a killer picnic. read more

St. James' Park is the most beautiful park in London in my opinion. The surrounding area includes Buckingham Palace, the ICA and the Mall, Westminster and Churchill's old war quarters. It is stunning to go on a Sunday afternoon on a romantic walk with the pond and swans, especially beautiful during the Spring season. Highly recommended for peace and quiet from the London buzz. read more

Even in winter, this park is still beautiful. It's probably one of my favourites in London, not only for the lake and trees, but for its variety of wildlife (swans, pelicans, waterfowl, ducks, squirrels). Once I was sitting there, under a tree, and a squirrel came from around it and climbed my shoulder! Also, it's pretty central, walking-distance from Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, so it's a good place to seat and chill after strolling around the hectic West End. read more

What a beautiful and peaceful place in the centre of London! This royal park offers a beautiful view of Buckingham Palace from the bridge that spans the lake. The lake has a wide collection of ducks, geese and pelicans that are very funny to observe. Kids will love it! Apart from that, you can meet squirrels while walking and feed them with some nuts. St James's Park is without a doubt one of the most stunning parks in London, especially in spring or summer when it's full of flowers. read more

Lovely park in London, very centrally located & close to all these sites: Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Westminster, Buckingham Palace or Green Park. Has a beautiful large free form lake in the middle with different breeds of waterfowl. They also feed the pelicans at 2:30pm each day & offer a guided tour of the duck island. Pretty flower beds throughout the park & the summer months it's great fun to feed the roaming squirrels that seem to be everywhere! Also lovely to have a picnic here. Does have public toilets on the edge of the park towards trafalgar square end & there's also a nice cafe with outdoor seating when weather permits, with a turf roof! Enough ice-cream sellers dotted around the edges of the park to also snack on as a cheaper alternative. Great find for all tourists & Londoners alike. read more

I just love St James Park. It's big enough to have a good stroll around and there's always plenty of life and energy in this park. It always has tourists and city workers and dwellers walking through, or sitting down and taking a break from the city - and this is part of what gives it life. It has a lovely water area in the middle, full of different breeds of ducks and a few swans and pelicans, which are great. And the squirrels!! I love these squirrels. They're so used to having humans around that they feel safe enough to run up your leg if you have fruit or nuts to feed them. They're so cute! This is definitely a wonderful park for me, right in the centre of the capital, a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. read more

A beautiful park and right in the centre of London. Whilst I am a bit hopeless when it comes to gardening matters I was assured by those I was with that the plants and flowers were very impressive. From my perspective they were beautiful and interesting to look at. However, what really distinguishes the park for me is the wildlife. A huge variety of birds are fun to watch but best of all are the squirrels. Certainly not fit or fast because of how much they get fed, they are however highly entertaining. They are so tame that if you take something with you to feed them with then they will come right up and take it out of your hand! A great place for a stroll anytime of the week. Take family or friends or just go alone for a bit of time to yourself. read more

St. James' park not many words can describe it, but if you are in need of peace and quiet i'd recommend this park for a quiet stroll, sitting under a tree with a good book a place to mull over thoughts and watch everyday life pass by, it relax's you with its many flowers and there sent in the air a place to dream, a place where couples walk cuddle on the grass, and children where they can feed the ducks at the riverside and an on a hot day a nice ice cream. And of course for your site seeing side buckingham palace is the other side of the park a site every tourist must see, the horse guards is the other side of the park at the admirality which is also must see. But all in all St. James' park is a beautiful site to see whether you need a bit of quiet from busy london life to read a book stroll with a lover, time with your family or even to paint you'll never forget your visit, every sent of a flower will remind you of it's beautiful walkways all the different colours all the sounds of nature. read more

I had some foreign friends visit me for the holidays and of course, we made the whole tour. Their time was limited and we had to squeeze everything in a day. Excited at first, their tiredness grew and they asked for a place to relax a bit and let it all sink in. Luckily, the lovely St James Park was there for us. I hadn't thought of taking them there. They were surprised to see such beautiful and serene place in the middle of the busy and noisy London. And I asked myself why I didn't come here more often. It's quiet, clean and perfect for a stroll or a good read in the sun. It's great to feel so close to nature - something I thought I had been deprived of living in London. read more

St James' Park is my favourite London park. My boyfriend and I always take a bag of monkey nuts to feed the squirrels, most of whom are completely tame. Last week we watched a squirrel run up a tree with a rose head and pick the petals off one by one - "she loves me....she loves me not...she loves me!" We also like to go and see the pelicans. They are absolutely huge and pretty ruthless - we saw one eat a moorhen once - just swallowed it whole. They come and wander round the paths sometimes which is a lot of fun. Last week I saw my first baby birds of the year - some of the unusual brown ducks and 3 fluffy ducklings which was lovely. I recommend a visit! read more

Strange how this is not as popular as other parks though even more central. This is a great place for all those picnic needs! read more