Palaces and Parks

One of a series of free walks from the Westminster Guides supported by Inside Out to celebrate open-air arts and culture in Westminster!
About this Event

A delightful walk through Green Park and St James’s Park exploring the histories of the adjacent St James’s Palace, Buckingham Palace and the old Whitehall Palace.

Please meet at the Diana Foundain in Green Park just outside Green Park Station (Green Park/ Buckingham Palace exit- SW1A 1RN). Plan to arrive 15 minutes before the start. The walk finishes at Queen Mary's Steps, close to Embankment Station (SW1A 2ES).

Palaces have always existed in proximity to parks which served variously as hunting preserves and pleasure gardens. In this walk, we explore the history of Green Park from Charles II’s pleasure garden to George II’s queen Caroline of Ansbach who built the Queen’s Walk alongside the Ritz. Passing Spencer House, we detour onto Cleveland Row. From there it’s a short walk to St James’s Palace, built by Henry VIII. We head down Marlborough Road and cross the Mall into St James’s Park where we explore its early history as a Tudor deer park. We pause at the Blue Bridge for a view of Buckingham Palace across the lake and recount the story of John Nash’s redevelopment of the earlier house. Bearing left across the bridge, we pause by Duck Island with its famous pelicans. We follow the Princess Diana Memorial Walk to Horse Guards Parade with a brief survey of the surrounding buildings and the site’s history. Walking through the arch we come on to Whitehall where we talk about the Banqueting House as the sole remnant of the original palace. After a brief overview of what the old Palace of Whitehall looked like, we head down Horse Guards Avenue to identify the site of the original Great Hall and Chapel . From there, we continue onto the Embankment to look at the remains of Queen Mary’s Steps.

This is one of 25 "A Wander through Westminster" Walks offered by the City of Westminster Guides in conjunction with the Inside Out Programme that celebrates open-air art and culture in Westminster. Why not join in other Inside Out activities on offer: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/leisure-libraries-and-community/arts-and-culture/experience-inside-out-westminsters-free-outdoor-arts-festival?

Some Practical Details:

Please dress for the weather, with light, breathable attire, a hat, sunglasses, fan, and sunscreen in the case of hot weather and an umbrella and rainwear should the weather be inclement. Wear sensible shoes or sandals and carry a bottle of water with you.

All walks are led by trained City of Westminster Guides who love to share their knowledge of the borough with residents and visitors. Please respect their time and efforts by cancelling your place should you not be able to attend to allow someone else to join.