London - St James's Park

St James's Park, London's most attractive park, is a masterpiece of landscape architecture by John Nash, aimed at achieving the unspoiled natural effect of an English park, like those to be found in the counties of Kent, Hampshire or Sussex. Originally a marshy area of meadowland, it was drained in the reign of Henry VIII and made into a deer park. The French landscape gardener Le Nôtre laid it out as a pleasure ground for Charles II. In 1829 Nash gave the park its present aspect, forming a lake with islands which provide nesting places for many species of waterfowl. The birds to be seen here include pelicans. From the bridge over the lake there are fine views of Buckingham Palace to the west and the buildings lining Whitehall to the east.