St. James's is an area in the City of Westminster, London. It is bordered to the north by Piccadilly, to the west by Green Park, to the south by The Mall and St. James's Park and to the east by The Haymarket.
The district of St. James's was once part of the same royal park as Green Park and St. James's Park. King Charles II allowed it to be developed it to Henry Jermyn, the 1st Earl of St Albans, in the 1660s, and it became a predominantly aristocratic residential area. Up till the Second World War, St James's was the most exclusive residential areas in London, and included residences such as St. James's Palace, Clarence House, Marlborough House, Lancaster House, Spencer House, Schomberg House and Bridgewater House. Today it is a predominantly commercial area with one of the highest rents in London and, consequently, the world. Among the corporations with their global headquarters in St. James's include BP and Rio Tinto Group. The auction house Christie's is also located in King Street, in St James's along with a great number of upmarket art and antique dealers.
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