Purchased by King Henry VIII, landscaped by King James I, and redesigned in the French style by King Charles II, St. James’s Park has had a royal pedigree since its founding. In addition to its lawns, pond, and two small islands, the park also comprises the Mall (a grand processional thoroughfare) and Horse Guards Parade (a formal parade ground used for ceremonial events). Other highlights include its Blue Bridge, Memorial Gardens, and the soaring Queen Victoria Memorial, made from Carrara marble.
St. James’s Park is a popular, year-round destination in London; as it offers a prime vantage point on the Changing of the Guard ceremony, it is frequented by out-of-towners eager to take in the spectacle. The park can also be seen during hop-on hop-off bus tours, bike tours, walking tours, and other excursions.