Tourist Attractions in London-St. James’ Park London

London's St James's Park is the oldest Royal Park in the city and the site of many special events. The 23-hectare (58 acre) park boasts beautiful gardens, a lake that's home to local waterfowl,

and lots of wide open space.

The Park's History

The land on which pristine St James's Park lies was acquired by Henry VIII in 1532. At this site, he built St. James’ Palace. Later, Elizabeth I, who loved pageantry, held many special events in the park, and her successor, King Charles II, made many additions to the park, including more trees and grassy areas. He was the first to open the park to the public.

Throughout the centuries, the park was used as a Royal Zoo, a reservoir, and even a bowling alley, all of which took their toll on the park in one way or another. In the 1830s, John Nash redesigned the park, making it more romantic in style and revitalising the trees, lawns, and gardens.

The Park Today

St James's Park provides habitats for a variety of different species of fauna. The park's lake is home to 15 different species of waterfowl; including pelicans, which were introduced to the park in the mid 1600s.

The park welcomes more than 5.5 million visitors per year; and has become quite popular with the movie industry. Visitors can often view film crews shooting Buckingham Palace. In addition to St James’ Palace, another palace skirts the park –Buckingham Palace, where monarchs have resided since 1837.

Visiting St James's Park

St. James's Park is located in the heart of London, right near Whitehall and Downing Street. Nearby are popular sights like the Horse Guards, Trafalgar Square and Westminster Abbey.
Most visitors simply enjoy strolling through the park, watching the wildlife. There's also a children's playground for the little ones and deck chairs for relaxation, in the warm summer months. Ceremonial parades and important national events are often held at the adjoining avenue known as The Mall.

Are you considering visiting London and the U.K.? Then contact the London official visitor agency-Visit London and Partners at: 08701 566 366  visitorinfo@londonandpartners.com     

You can also contact the City of London Information Centre: Opposite St Paul's Cathedral:

City of London, Guildhall, PO Box 270, London, EC2P 2EJ     pro@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Telephone: 020 7606 3030

They can offer you credible, pursuable and realistic information and advice on the following fronts: Cheap flights to London, hotels in London, cheap hotels in London, boutique hotels in London, bed and breakfast in London, guest houses in London, holiday apartments in London, timeshare accommodation in London, youth hostels in London, transportation in London, bus tours in London, river tours in London, coach tours of the U.K., entertainment in London, tourist attractions in London etc.