The oldest of the eight Royal Parks, St James's Park is one of
the largest open green spaces in central London, its 57 acres of
space containing a large lake, a large number of closely packed
trees, and in the summer a large open space that is invariably
filled with deckchairs. Buckingham Palace sits on the western tip
of the park, Horse Guards Parade on the east, with The Mall running
along the northern side and Birdcage Walk and Wellington Barracks
along the south.
The land the park sits upon was originally purchased by Henry
VIII in 1532, and was principally marshland. James I drained the
landscape in 1603, and the space became home to a menagerie of
exotic animals, including an elephant. Of the unusual non-native
wildlife to inhabit the space from that era, only one type remains
- following their introduction in 1664 as a gift from the Russian
ambassador, a colony of White Pelicans continues to reside by the
lake, and the large birds are notable for their interaction with
visitors to the park. Often they are photographed sat on the
benches around the park alongside their human guests.
In The Sign of Three, Sherlock and John are seen to cross St
James's Park Lake over The Blue Bridge, affording a spectacular
view of Whitehall and the London Eye to the east and Buckingham
Palace to the west.
If you go in search of the bench the pair sit upon on Birdcage
Walk opposite the entrance of The Guard's Museum you are likely to
be disappointed, as it was placed there only for the purposes of
production. The spot on the grass verge where it was sited is of
course easily found.
The closest Tube line is St James' Park [ Circle/ District] Head
out of the main entrance, across the pedestrian crossing on Petty
France and down Queen Anne's Gate, which will lead to you Birdcage
Walk. To your left is Wellington Barracks, but continuing straight
across Birdcage Walk will lead you along a path that directly leads
over The Blue Bridge and connects to The Mall.
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