St. James’s was developed originally as an aristocratic residential area with a grid of streets centered on St. James’s Square. Home to many of the best private gentlemen’s clubs in London – Boodle’s, Brook’s, The Carlton, Pratt’s & White’s are all based there. Home to fine wine merchants including Berry Brothers & Rudd & some of the most famous cigar retailers in London. At 57 acres she is the oldest of the Royal Parks & is bounded by Buckingham Palace to the west, The Mall & St. James’s Palace to the North, Horse Guards Parade to the east & Birdcage Walk to the south, Picture-postcard St James’s has a prestigious reputation for art where Bury Street, Duke Street & Mason’s Yard contain a large concentration of private galleries, including the strikingly modern White Cube, representing both Damien Hirst & Tracy Emin. From oriental landscapes to medieval tapestries; illustrative prints to large modernist sculpture; St James’s is the veritable treasure trove with Christie’s as its jewel in its crown.
In times-gone-by President Dwight D Eisenhower & British Prime Minister’s Sir William Gladstone & William Pitt could be seen walking down the famous streets of St. James’s such as Pall Mall & Haymarket.
ST JAMES’S PARK PROPERTY – With conservation areas on all sides the area retains important elements of early developments, most notably the Tudor palace of St James’s. St James’s Square & the surrounding 17th century grid-pattern of streets which contribute significantly to the character of the area. Within this overall framework are many buildings of note dating from the 18th & 19th centuries including surviving mews developments tucked away behind the larger scale residential terraces. In contrast to the hard urban form at its core are the soft green edges provided by Green Park & St James’s Park as well as important landscaped gardens and squares. To live in St. James’s is to live the aristocratic lifestyle.