Exploring the award-winning St James Square Gardens, a lunchtime find!

A perfect Lunch hour walk if you work in the West End, St. James Square Garden lies just off busy Lower Regent Street.

This tranquil, newly accessible garden square celebrates its 300 year anniversary this year and boasts sculptures by Marcus Cornish (The Stag), and Rebecca Hawkins (Mother & Child.)

The St. James Square Trust are active in creating and maintaining these award winning gardens, their latest trophy from 2025 can be seen on the wall of the gardeners' shed.

They also provide the rules for this private garden, which is now open to the public on weekdays. 

Rules no. 2 and 4 read;

No ball games or personal fitness  - completely agree no Park Runs here please!

It is forbidden to climb over the railings -a perilous pursuit!

The gardens were conceived following an Act of Parliament in 1726 following a petition presented to the House of Commons by residents to hide an unsightly Coach Builders shed.

Promenade gracefully, Bridgerton style, taking a circular route around a bronze statue of King William III with the air of a Roman Emperor by John Bacon, installed in the gardens in 1808.

Rules not withstanding these are beautiful gardens, full of wildlife from fat London pigeons, and Blackbirds to Instagram-ready squirrels who do 100% pose for photos.

There are sculptures, Shakespeare performances in Summer and 3 new raised vegetable beds to pay homage to WW2 and VE80. We are looking forward to what else is planned for the vegetable garden aside from Spring onions. 

To celebrate the 300 year anniversary the Trust planted a second Mulberry and three Apple trees to tie in with the 1986 record of trees.

Pride of place sits a Summer House (Grade II listed) by Architect John Nash to the South of the square, perfect for a sandwich on the central bench seat between the two Ionic columns.

Being February, and the wettest winter in history, we visited without high expectations and found a plethora of Spring flowers. Snowdrops, Daffodils and Hellebores were all in flower and Tulips well on the way.

Bright yellow Mimosa flowers grace the Western gate, where later in the Summer you will see palms alongside banana plants. We also loved the white and pink flowering Camellias and the fragrant canary yellow Paperbush flowers much loved by bees; head for the Mimosa, Paperbush is on the right.

Perhaps our favourite find was the exquisite wooden Fortnum & Masons Bee hotel, don't miss this.

For Spring inspiration visit St James Square to admire the garden and the awards of the St James Garden Trust and have a look at Storm Flowers Garden spring range:

Hand-forged trowels from £35 in recycled steel	Gardening Gloves £32	Pots from £10

We loved our visit, St James Square garden is open to the public Monday to Friday until 4.30pm.