London: St. James Park

Kerry, I don't think you'll generally find playground equipment or picnic tables in the London parks like we sometimes picture when we say "public park" here. Instead think of a public garden or arboretum, with many trees, birds, a scenic lake, and walking paths for people to stroll. I can't give specifics about St. James' Park, however, as I cannot recall it well. On recent visits to London, I've seen more of Green Park and Hyde Park. Maybe others can give you more info specifically on your park choice. There is a website, royalparks.gov.uk, but I can't get the page to come up this morning.

St. James Park is beautiful, your kids will have fun feeding the birds and squirrels. As for play equipment, there isn't. Kensington Gardens has a play ground, also Holland Park does. I think you should plan a walk thru Hyde Park on into Kensingston Gardens....then you could stop and have tea at The Orangery...yum!! Hyde Park ande Kensingston Gardens are both beautiful as is Holland Park.

No play equipment in St James Park. But with the ducks and geese on the pond, flowers etc one of our favorite parks- and close to Horse Guards.

Thank you! It sounds lovely, we will definitely make it part of our plans! Beautiful parks and gardens are high on my list of places I want to see.

Also consider Kensington Gardens - a wonderful play area for kids very near the palace with a mock-up of a tall ship our kids loved!
http://www.royalparks.gov.uk/Kensington-Gardens.aspx

Thanks, Glenn. We really enjoyed watching our daughter (then 7) playing in the parks in Spain and France when we visited in 2009; especially the great playground at Luxembourg Gardens. It was so much fun to see her interact (if not speak to) the local children.