Saint-James Park

We’re currently in the Parc Saint-James, and let me tell you, this park is far from an ordinary park. Not only does it take us straight to Buckingham Palace, one of the most famous palaces in the world, but it’s also part of the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk. This memorial to the princess is an 11km walk through Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park and St James’s Park, four of the capital’s eight royal parks. Every year, no fewer than 5 million visitors come to this park, nestled right in the heart of London! There’s a good reason for this: the park is surrounded by three of the city’s most famous palaces: the Westminster Palace, St James’s Palace and Buckingham Palace. This former marshland became King Henry VIII’s hunting ground in the 16th century, before being converted during the reign of Elizabeth I into a festive venue, where the court would gather to enjoy walks and royal events. In the 17th century, Charles II transformed it into a formal garden bordered by trees, large lawns and a romantic canal. The park was so romantic that it became a rather… naughty meeting place! Two centuries later, the canal was transformed into a lake and the park was opened to the public, much to the delight of Londoners. Nowadays, it’s a popular spot for Londoners wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a moment in the midst of the many birds and squirrels that inhabit the park. You might even come across some of the pelicans that have lived here since 1664! Enjoy a fully-deserved break in the capital’s oldest royal park…