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St
James's Park Official Web Site |
Buckingham
Palace from St James's Park |
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St
James's Park is the oldest Royal Park in London and is surrounded
by three palaces. The most ancient is Westminster, which has now
become the Houses of Parliament, St James's Palace and of course,
the best known, Buckingham Palace.
For the purposes of this page we also treat Green Park as St James's
Park, both seamlessly merge into one another with Green Park occupying
the segment of park at its northern end.
The park is open from 5am to midnight all year round
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For
many people St James's Park is the most scenic of the royal parks.
With Buckingham Palace and Horseguards its also the scene of much
pomp and ceremony including of course the Changing of the Guard.
St James's Park also lies very close to many of the major sights including
Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and of course Buckingham Palace. Its a
great place for a quiet break in the middle of a hard days sightseeing.
We have a self guided walking tour, (see bottom of the page) that
covers a lot of London's A1 sights and walks you through St James's
Park.
Along the eastern boundary of St James's Park is Whitehall. At its
southern end is Parliament Square with Big Ben, Houses of Parliament
and Westminster Abbey. |
Horseguards
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Along
Whitehall its mainly government buildings all the way to Trafalgar
Square. Along here you will find 10 Downing Street, Mansion House
and the Cabinet War Rooms.
Horseguards here has a lower key, and for many a much more satisfying
Changing of the Guard than at Buckingham Palace.
Once inside St James Park at its eastern end the centrepiece is the
lake that attracts many birds. The lake has boards so you can try
and identify some of the birds that can include Pelicans and much
more commonly ducks and geese. The Pelicans are fed each day by wardens
between 14:30 and 15:00.
There is a large cafe at the eastern end of the lake looking over
the activities of the lake. The lake is left to the birds, there are
no pleasure boats here like neighbouring Hyde Park. |
At
the north eastern tip of St James's park is the Citadel Building,
pictured right.
This windowless building is part of the Admiralty and was built in
the 2nd World War to withstand a 1,000lb bomb.
Underneath the ground you are standing on is a web of underground
tunnels connecting government departments, Buckingham palace and Downing
Street. |
The Citadel |
It is thought there is a branch of the Victoria Line Underground between
Green Park and Victoria stations that goes to Buckingham Palace in
case of a high security event.
The Mall, the broad avenue that goes dead straight from Trafalgar
Square to Buckingham Palace through St James's Park is thought to
be earmarked for use aa landing strip if the nations elite need to
be pulled out from London quick.
The Mall is closed to traffic on Sundays and Bank Holidays |
Buckingham
Palace |
At the
western end of the lake in St James's Park is Buckingham
Palace. Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence
of Britain's sovereigns since 1837.
It evolved from a town house that was owned from the beginning of
the eighteenth century by the Dukes of Buckingham.
Today it is The Queen's official residence, her favourite palace though
which she thinks of as home is Windsor
Castle. |
Getting
to St James's Park:
There
are a number of Underground Stations that are on the borders of Green
Park / St James's Park.
Green Park and Hyde Park Corner are on its northern border.
Westminster, St James and Victoria are along the southern border and
require s short walk.
Another popular entrance place is Trafalgar Square. |
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| Self
Guided London Icons Walk Including St James's Park |
Join
us on our step by step self guided walking tour of many of London's
major sights within a very compact area around Westminster.
Its fairly short in distance, but you'll be doing well to complete
the walk in a single day, there is so much to see and experience including
Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye.
Simple to follow instructions and street map and best of all its FREE!
London
Icons Walk Details |
Trafalgar
Square Fountains & National Gallery |
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