The oldest and prettiest Royal Park, free, with a lake full of pelicans, a bridge with the best free view of Buckingham Palace and the London Eye behind you.
The lowdown
St James's Park is completely free to enter, the oldest of London's Royal Parks and probably the most beautiful, a slim ribbon of lake, willow and flowerbed running from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards. It is central and somehow still feels like a secret despite sitting in the middle of official London.
The lake is the star. It is home to a long line of pelicans, here since a Russian ambassador gave some to Charles II in 1664, and they are still fed by the keepers most afternoons. The flowerbeds are some of the best kept in the country, changed with the seasons.
Then there is the bridge across the middle of the lake. Stand on it and look one way for a fairytale view of Buckingham Palace across the water, the other for the towers of Whitehall and the London Eye. It is the best free photo in central London and most tourists rushing between sights walk straight past it.
The insider tip
The bit we only tell the people on the list. Join free and every insider tip unlocks on this device.
More like this
Get it in your inbox
One email a week with the best free things to do in London this weekend. Before everyone else finds them.