St. James’s Park is a sparkling green-and-blue jewel right in the royal heart of London's pageantry. Buckingham Palace gleams to the west, the avenue of the Mall – where kings and queens, princesses and princes have ridden – runs along its north, while to the east sits the military glory of the Horse Guards Parade. You'd be hard-pressed to find a park more connected to the ceremonial splendour of the British royal family than St. James’s Park.
The park is in fact the oldest in London, once an area of marshland that was bought by Henry VIII. It was drained by King James I in 1603. He had it landscaped, with lakes and gardens created, and space made for his collection of exotic animals – including crocodiles, camels and even an elephant. It's now home mainly to walkers, joggers, picnickers, and occasional horse-riders, who come to enjoy long rides surrounded by its tree-speckled lawns, quiet ponds and lakes.
It is still famous for its wildlife inhabitants, too. As well as a profusion of ducks and geese and bright waterfowl, it is also home to pelicans – all descended from birds gifted to the king by the Russian ambassador in the 17th century. Duck Island, with its quaint cottage, is one of the most famous landmarks here, a place for walkers to admire, boaters to row around, and ducks to waddle on.
June is one of the best times to come here. You'll get to see the Trooping the Colour on Horse Guards Parade – held to mark the Queen’s birthday – with its bands, marching soldiers and proud cavalry. And you'll also be able to catch the precision drilling, and military spectacle of Beating the Retreat, acted out for 2 evenings of the month. But whether with, or without the excitement of ceremony and parade, St. James’s Park is still a wonderful way to get close to the colour of London's regal past, present and future.
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