St. James Square

I’ve been here just a few times, usually by accident. What I love about London is not walking the path most taken, but the side streets that lead to small parks like this. It takes two minutes to get from end to end with two circular paths, one inside the other. Not many benches, but all are spaced far enough away from the next that you can have a peaceful lunch, tea, or private conversation. The road that loops around the park is not to busy to begin with, so it’s fairly quiet.

If the city were a desert, St. James Square would be an oasis. A real oasis though, cool water giving respite from the sandpaper of thirst, leafy palm tree offering shelter from the staggering heat. Except St. James Square is no figment of optical illusion or the heat oppressed mind. In the middle of the ritzy West end, buried among zipping cars and hurrying pedestrians lies this isolated green area.
The has a ring road around it, but bordering this road are rows of carefully sculpted houses that block out the noise of the bustling city. Finely arrange foliage and trees dapple the green of the grass. Benches are placed along the walkways give rest to weary feet or to provide comfort for those who wish to picnic or admire the scenery. At centre, thrust mid action onto a pedestal stand William II and his horse lunging for into some shimmering unknown.
An island of calm among the waters of ruckus.