Queen's Walk Gardens, Green Park

In 1755 the first Earl Spencer purchased land for his new town house here, a fashionable area with uninterrupted views of the Green Park. Spencer House was built in 1756-60 and survives intact as a palatial private mansion. The first Earl was succeeded by his son, and the garden dates from his time, becoming one of the largest in Piccadilly. It was planted by July 1798, designed by Henry Holland possibly in collaboration with Lavinia, Countess Spencer, wife of the second Earl. The family remained at Spencer House until 1895, and again briefly in the C20th, but it was let continuously from 1927. Now leased to RIT Capital Partners the house and garden have been restored under the chairmanship of Lord Rothschild. The paths, lawn and perimeter beds have been reinstated using plants and shrubs appropriate to the late C18th/early C19th.

Lancaster House was built in 1825-29, the grandest and only free-standing of the mansions in St James's, set in a large garden. It was designed as York House by Benjamin Wyatt for the Duke of York, who died in 1827 before it was finished. It was taken over and completed by the 2nd Marquess of Stafford, later 1st Duke of Sutherland, and became the focus of the family's social and political life. In 1913 the lease was purchased for the nation by Sir William Lever, who renamed it Lancaster House. From 1924 it was used by the London Museum, but in 1952-3 it was restored by the Ministry of Works for conferences and government hospitability, a use that continues today. The gardens are surrounded by wall and railings of 1833, behind which is a thick yew hedge and shrubbery, the garden front giving onto a broad terrace from which steps descend to the lawn. Flanking the carriage entrance against the east garden wall are 2 huge stone statues of Sculpture and Architecture by E H Baily of 1828, which came from the east front of Buckingham Palace.

* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

Green Park was enclosed as a deer park by Charles II after the Restoration, prior to which it was open land. Initially called Upper St James's Park, it was called Green Park by the mid C18th. In c.1730 a private walk was laid out for Queen Caroline, who had a summer pavilion built, and a canal or reservoir was enlarged, known as the Queen's Basin, later filled in. It was used for military parades and celebrations in the C18th, but was reduced in size when Buckingham House gardens were enlarged, and also lost land to the east. It opened to the public in 1826. The park today has undulating areas of grass crossed by paths, with avenues and scattered trees. Mature trees are principally planes, with some lime, chestnut and hawthorn. The lack of formal flower beds is reputedly due to Charles II's wife, Catherine of Braganza, who ordered all flowers to be removed having discovered the king had given flowers picked here to another woman. However, the park is known for its annual daffodil display.