Compared to some of London’s other parks, St James Park is a doddle!! It’s easy to navigate, not overwhelming at all.
St James Park pretty much centres around a duck and bird filled lake – dotted with an abundance of trees (especially willow trees) and a whole lot of friendly and inquisitive bushy tailed squirrels.
The park is London’s oldest Royal Park, surrounded by three palaces.
Passing the Time
One of life’s simple pleasures – sitting in a park, thinking about everything or nothing, feeding the ducks, the squirrels or simply people watching.
Whatever you’re doing it’s probably something very simple – like the elderly couple who had fallen fast asleep against each other on a bench one afternoon, oblivious to the smiles of amused passers by. 😊
Things to Admire

Trees are amazing!!

Contemplating…
Duck Island Cottage
For some reason ‘The Hobbit’ sprang to mind the minute I set eyes on this cute little plot.
In 1841 Duck Island Cottage was built primarily as a home to the park’s bird keeper – plenty of peace and quiet here!!

Duck Island Cottage
Star of the Show – the Pelicans
Don’t let the photographs fool you. These birds are huge – really big!!
Everyone wants a picture of the pelicans, and everyone’s pretty much in awe of them because they’re massive, beautiful and not something we see very often living freely in a public UK park, especially not in central London.
The wingspan when these birds spread their wings is pretty unbelievable.
The pelicans are of Russian decent, first brought to the park as a gift to Kings Charles II from a Russian Ambassador in 1664.

Is it a tree, a den, a tree house or a collapsed tree….possibly all of these combined, the child in you will love it. Inside, is where I had my surprising squirrel encounter – a squirrel trying to climb up my leg. I guess that’s what you get for poking around in someone else’s house, it’s only right that the host would want to come and say hello!! 🐿
I saw someone feeding the ducks with monkey nuts – didn’t know they liked nuts, maybe they were leftovers for the squirrels.
London is not short on parks, its surprisingly green for a concrete jungle, very green indeed if you head to the right places. 🌳 I suspect most parks have been busier than usual under the circumstances – people want to get out, feel uplifted, stretch their legs, crunch some leaves, connect with nature and feel free – while social distancing of course. 🤗
Nearest tube stations: St James’s Park, Green Park, Victoria, and Westminster
Opening times: 5am – midnight
Sustain blog
Absolutely beautiful! I twice went to the park but haven’t seen the photos you took. Thank you 😊
Cherryl
Thanks, yes it’s a lovely park, and probably changes with the seasons too 🤗🔆
Sustain blog
You are welcome! Yes. It does change 😊
Ellen Hawley
Nice photos. Thank you for the tour.
Cherryl
You’re most welcome 🌳
Enviroart
Love everything about this place, Might have to paint this cottage one day 😉
Cherryl
It would make a lovely painting – so quaint ✨
equinoxio21
I remember the tree, the Hoobit house on a London trip 2-3 years ago.
And the parrots! Or parakeets?
Miss London.
Stay safe.
Cherryl
Stay safe too Mr Mexico, I hope things are improving out there…its all a bit ‘topsy turvy’ over here 🙄 😷
equinoxio21
I see the news about the UK. Between Johnson and Covid, you guys are faced with too many rocks and hard places… 😩
Cherryl
Too painful to talk about..not to mention embarrassing.🇬🇧 Classic case of what must the neighbours (around the world) be thinking!! 🤦♀️
equinoxio21
True. But sad really. I did many posts on Brexit a few years back before and after the referendum by “Dummy” Cameron. Being a “quarter English” (meself) I really feel very sorry for what’s happening. But I’m sorry, I “talk about it”. We’ll just have to see what happens.
Best of luck my dear.
Cherryl
Lol thanks – the show will go on!! 🤡
equinoxio21
It’s the only war. But please get rid of Johnson… 😉
kagould17
We first visited St James on our honeymoon in 1977and have been back several times since. A great place to walk and sit and to watch bird life. Allan
Cherryl
Awww wow – your honeymoon, that’s such a lovely and special memory to have each time you visit 💛✨…and a beautiful place to take wedding photographs too.
m11bna
Beautiful pics. You have captured it so well ♥️
Cherryl
Thank you – glad you enjoyed them 🙂
sunisanthosh
What a lovely place !! 💌
Cherryl
A little Oasis 🔆
(Mrs.)Tara Pant
Oh what a beauty ,heaven is no where but only here.I visited the sight with your blog .My eyes and soul saying thanks to you
Cherryl
Wonderful – so glad it had that effect 🤗 🔆 thanks for taking a look.
(Mrs.)Tara Pant
🌻🎉🎉🎉🙏
darellphilip
Thanks for passing by and liking one of my blog posts! The photos you’ve captured here are amazing along with your write-up! Blessings to you! 😊🙏💛👊🎉
Cherryl
Blessings to you too Darell – and thanks for stopping by too💛 A walk in the park gives us so much to enjoy for free – glad you liked the photos 🌳🦜🔆
darellphilip
Thanks Cherryl and that’s so true – parks are great spaces to keep mentally and physically well! 😊🙏💛👊🎉
Maggie
What a beautiful place! I loved seeing all the pictures 💕 Thanks for sharing!
Cherryl
Thanks for stopping by – yes it’s a lovely park😊🔆
shazza
What a lovely post. 🙂 I have been to st James park but didn’t manage to see the pelicans so close up. They are amazing aren’t they. Did you see any of the green ring tailed parakeets that live in the London parks? I saw some in Green Park when I visited London about 3 years ago. They were a surprise!
Cherryl
Yes 🤗 there was a particular tree where a lot of them seemed to be – and of course there were quite a lot of people all gathered/crowding to get a look/photo. I’ve seen them randomly in other parts of London too (not parks – just streets with trees) and remember wondering whether they were escaped exotic pets 🤔 I didn’t realise at the time that these birds live freely in the city🌆which is surprising, but lovely 🦜
Jyothi
Beautiful pictures!! Loved it!
Cherryl
Thank you – it’s nice to have these green spaces to enjoy 🌳
SueT
This post brought back lovely memories of my London visit three years ago. I loved this park and Kensington Gardens. Stunning. And yes they little house is just gorgeous and its gardens…so beautifully English.
Cherryl
Glad to help bring back some nice memories Sue – yes the little house is very beautiful, fairy tale pretty! 🏡✨
Lookoom
A very comprehensive post on a park that I have often crossed with delight but without guessing all these historical subtleties and depths. Thanks for that research.
Cherryl
No worries, I just got a bit curious, thanks for having a read 😊🌳
Capturedbydartis
WOW, these are breathtaking sights .. Great Read
Cherryl
Thanks for reading 🔆 glad you liked St James Park!
Monkey's Tale
What a gorgeous peaceful park and in the middle of London! Wow! The white pelicans are really pretty. Thanks for sharing this Cheryl!
Cherryl
Lol yes the pelicans were a nice surprise – very pretty. Thanks for reading 😊