Your saves are on this device only.
Your browser may clear them at any time. You won't be able to see them on other devices. Create a free account or sign in to keep them safe in the cloud.
Ideal for a sunny day. And for a cold rainy day: "There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing".
The best view in London from a footbridge, and a colony of pelicans that predates every building in it.
Parks & commonsWildlifeViewsFree
Also in Royal London.
Two parks either side of The Mall, and the pair works as one walk. St James's has the lake, and the Blue Bridge across it gives the two views everyone comes for: Buckingham Palace at one end, and at the other the roofs and turrets of Whitehall stacked up behind the water in a way that looks nothing like England. Go at dusk. Green Park, on the other side, is the plain half — no lake, no flowerbeds, just plane trees, deckchairs and grass — and it is the better one to lie down in.
Pelicans have lived on the lake since 1664, when the Russian ambassador gave a pair to Charles II, and around forty have followed them. They are fed fish daily at about half past two near Duck Island Cottage, which is worth timing a walk around: they are large, entirely unbothered by people, and given to sitting on benches. In 2026 chicks hatched here for the first time in over 360 years.
It is the most walked-through park in London and the stretch between the palace and Horse Guards is busy most of the year. The south side of the lake and the far end of Green Park are where it goes quiet.
| Monday | 05:00 – 00:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 05:00 – 00:00 |
| Wednesday | 05:00 – 00:00 |
| Thursday | 05:00 – 00:00 |
| Friday | 05:00 – 00:00 |
| Saturday | 05:00 – 00:00 |
| Sunday | 05:00 – 00:00 |
Hours from the page that lists them, checked 4 September 2026.
Submit a correction for this listing.
Data is compiled from public sources including OpenStreetMap, under the ODbL. Hours change often, so check before making a journey.