London Guide
St James's
An exclusive little enclave sandwiched between St James's Park and Piccadilly, St James''s was laid out in the 1670s close to the royal seat of St James's Palace. As a result, regal and aristocratic residences overlook nearby Green Park and the stately avenue of The Mall; gentlemen's clubs cluster along Pall Mall and St James's Street; and jacket-and-tie restaurants and expense-account shops line Jermyn Street. Hardly surprising, then, that most Londoners rarely stray into this area, though plenty of folk frequent St James's Park, with large numbers heading for the Queen's chief residence, Buckingham Palace.
If you're not in St James's for the shops, the best time to visit is on a Sunday, when the traffic is quieter, the nearby Mall is closed to traffic, and the royal chapels, plus the one accessible Palladian mansion, are open to the public.