St James’s Park in London comprises Horse Guards Parade and The Mall and is encircled by some of Britain’s most famous landmarks, including Whitehall, Clarence House and, of course, Buckingham Palace. Of all the Royal Parks in London, it’s probably most famous for its flowerbeds that sit in front of Buckingham Palace, which are enjoyed by millions during ceremonial occasions, such as Trooping the Colour.

St James’s Park boasts a stunning scenery, containing a lovely lake and an impressive fountain. In fact, the park is a great location to spot pelicans, as the species has lived there for almost four centuries. This is because they were initially gifted to King Charles II by the Russian Ambassador. Discover more about the 57-acre park below.


The Lake and the Blue Bridge

As previously mentioned, St James’s Park is home to a lake that’s been enjoyed by pelicans for hundreds of years. In order to travel across this bridge as a pedestrian, you can make use of the Blue Bridge, which provides stunning views of the park, the London Eye, Big Ben, the Horse Guards Parade, and Buckingham Palace.

The Lake and the Blue Bridge

The low-arched concrete bridge that we know today is the third to sit in its place, with the first being designed by John Nash. The original bridge was then replaced by an iron bridge in 1857 before the current bridge was built in 1957.

The Mall

The Mall is a grand processional route in honour of Queen Victoria and has been the setting of various historic royal processions, from coronations to state openings of parliament. In 1660, King Charles II commanded the redesign of St James’s Park to include a centrepiece. This centrepiece comprised a 38-metre wide and 780-metre-long straight canal that ran between an avenue of trees.

Meanwhile, The Mall got its name from a game introduced by King Charles, called Pelle Melle, which was traditionally played in St James’s Park. 1887 saw traffic being permitted on The Mall, and since then, various royal events and ceremonies have taken place here.

The Mall

Discover St James’s Park on a Westminster and Changing of the Guard Tour

St James’s Park is one of the two Royal Parks we’ll venture through on our tour. Learn more about the tour here and plan your trip for a fuss-free day.

London’s Royal Park FAQs

Since St James’s Park is one of London’s royal parks, it raises questions about these spaces as a whole. Discover more about the Royal Parks of London below.

How Many Royal Parks are in London?

London is home to eight Royal Parks.

What are the Royal Parks in London?

London’s Royal Parks include:

  • Hyde Park
  • Kensington Gardens
  • Richmond Park
  • Bushy Park
  • St James’s Park
  • The Green Park
  • The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill
  • Greenwich Park

Which is the largest of London’s Royal Parks?

Richmond Park is the largest of London’s Royal Parks, boasting 2500 acres of land that’s home to 650 free-roaming deer.

Private Tours

We can accommodate groups of all sizes on our Westminster and Changing of the Guard Private Tours. From corporate groups to GCSE and A-level students, we can tailor our tours to suit you. To book a private tour, simply email us with your requirements (group size/date/time) and we will gladly send you a quote and get you booked in! No group is too small or too large for our talented guides. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, why not include pub stops along the route at no extra charge!

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  • Duration
  • 2 Hours

  • Ticket Price
  • Adults - £18.00
    Children - Go Free
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