St James's Park Facts for Kids

St James's Park is a beautiful and historic park located in the heart of London, England. It's one of the oldest parks in the City of Westminster. This lovely park covers about 23 hectares (which is like 23 football fields!) and is surrounded by famous buildings. These include Buckingham Palace, the official home of the King, and Horse Guards, a historic building used by the British Army. The park is open every day and is visited by over 5 million people each year!

Inside the park, you'll find a pretty lake called St. James's Park Lake. This lake has two small islands: West Island and Duck Island. Duck Island is a special place that helps protect ducks and other birds.

What Makes St James's Park Special?
- Wildlife in the Park
- Famous Landmarks Nearby
History of St James's Park
- How the Park Began
- Changes Over Time
Visiting St James's Park
- Things to Do
Images for kids
See also

What Makes St James's Park Special?

St James's Park is known for its stunning views and peaceful atmosphere. It's a great place to relax, have a picnic, or watch the many different types of birds.

Wildlife in the Park

The park is home to a wide variety of birds, especially around St. James's Park Lake. You can see many kinds of ducks, geese, and swans. There are also pelicans, which are fed every day in the afternoon – it's a popular event to watch!

Famous Landmarks Nearby

The park offers amazing views of several important London landmarks:

Buckingham Palace: You can see the front of the palace from the park, especially across the lake.
The Mall: This grand road runs alongside the park and is often used for royal parades and national celebrations.
Horse Guards Parade: This large parade ground is next to the park and is where the Trooping the Colour ceremony takes place each year.

History of St James's Park

St James's Park has a long and interesting history, dating back hundreds of years.

How the Park Began

The land that is now St James's Park was originally marshland. In 1532, King Henry VIII bought the land to create a deer park for his new palace, St James's Palace.

Changes Over Time

Later, in the 1660s, King Charles II redesigned the park to be more like the fancy gardens he had seen in France. He added a long, straight canal where the lake is now. Over the years, the park was changed again to look more natural, with a winding lake instead of a straight canal. This is the design we see today.

Visiting St James's Park

The park is easy to get to and is a wonderful place for families and visitors of all ages.

Things to Do

Walks: Enjoy a peaceful walk around the lake or along the tree-lined paths.
Bird Watching: Bring your binoculars and try to spot all the different bird species.
Picnics: Find a nice spot on the grass and enjoy a meal outdoors.
Pelican Feeding: Don't miss the daily pelican feeding, usually in the afternoon!

Images for kids

This old drawing shows how the park looked in the time of King Charles II, with a straight canal instead of the lake we see today.
People enjoying St James's Park around the year 1745.
A map from 1833 showing both Green Park and St James's Park.
Duck Island Cottage, a small building on Duck Island.
St James's Park Lake, looking towards Buckingham Palace in the background.