Green Park is one of the eight Royal Parks in London, and it is famous for being one of the quietest parks in the city, with no lakes or buildings, which makes it popular for sunbathing and picnics, especially when the weather is nice. The parks’ paths are also greatly appreciated by joggers and runners all year round.

As mentioned, the park is very peaceful and doesn’t host as many activities as some of the other Royal Parks, like the adjacent St James’s Park and the nearby Hyde Park. The only monuments in the park are the Canada Memorial, the Diana of the Treetops Fountain, and the RAF Bomber Command Memorial.

Instead, Green Park’s 40 acres of land are mostly occupied by vast open lawns often shaded by large mature trees, with minimal flower planting (exclusively narcissus) and lots of benches.

According to popular legend, the minimalistic landscaping of Green Park finds its roots in an act of revenge and jealousy. Queen Catherine of Braganza saw her husband, King Charles II, picking flowers in the park for a woman in an attempt to seduce her. Thus, the Queen promptly decided to have all the park’s flowers removed and forbade any new planting.

As for the history that we can attest for sure, we know that the first mention of Green Park dates back to 1554, when the area was meadowland used for hunting and duelling. Over the centuries, the park accumulated its fair share of buildings and monuments, including a library, lodges, and temples. Unfortunately, none of them survived the test of time.

The park, then known as Upper St James’s Park, was enclosed by Charles II (the same Charles as the legend) in 1668. It was only in 1746 that it would be renamed Green Park, probably in reference to its natural landscape. Almost one hundred years later, in 1826, it was opened to the general public.

Location

Green Park, London SW1A 1BW.

Green Park is located in the heart of ceremonial London. It occupies a stretch of land between Mayfair (northwest), St James’s Park and its neighbourhood (east and northeast respectively), and Buckingham Palace Garden (south).

The surrounding area is rich in landmarks and famous monuments, including Wellington Arch and Apsley House (to the west), Buckingham Palace (south), and Hyde Park (northwest). Not far from Green Park, towards the northeast, is the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, National Portrait Gallery, and Leicester Square.

Green Park schedule and entries

Green Park is open every day of the year from 5:00 am until midnight, with no exceptions. Entry to the park and its monuments is always free.

Transport

Green Park is not among the biggest parks in London, but it still covers a big enough area that you can get off at different stops to enter it from its different sides. The Tube stop Green Park, located at the northern corner of the garden, is serviced by lines Jubilee, Piccadilly, and Victoria. If you prefer to enter the park from its southwestern edge, you should stop at Hyde Park Corner, along the Piccadilly line.

If you want to get the bus, lines 6, 9, 14, 19, 22, 23, and 38 all drop you off along the western side of the park. You can find a summary of the public transport options in the table below.

Nearby sights

St James’s Park - across The Mall from Green Park, just east of it.

Buckingham Palace - immediately south of the park.

Apsley House - 300 m (0.2 miles) west, 4-minute walk.

Hyde Park - 350 m (0.2 miles) northwest, 5-minute walk.

Piccadilly Circus - 650 m (0.4 miles) northeast, 9-minute walk.

Trafalgar Square - 950 m (0.6 miles) northeast, 12-minute walk.

National Gallery - 1 km (0.6 miles) northeast, 13-minute walk.

National Portrait Gallery - 1.2 km (0.7 miles) northeast, 15-minute walk.