At Inn the Park you can enjoy a million pound view over a five pound drink.

The Venue
Could you ask for a more glorious setting? Inn the Park is the jewel in the crown of St James's Park, one of the loveliest of the royal parks. Inn the Park is a Scandinavian modern design bar and restaurant nestled off in the corner leading to Whitehall. All blonde woods and clean lines it allows the views through the floor-to-ceiling windows to be the star attraction. And what a view it is. Past the pond and ancient trees lie the top of period buildings with the London Eye peeking over the top. Before you go, check their opening hours, which are a bit erratic.

The Atmosphere
From one extreme to the other - calm and serene, or packed out and manic. It depends a lot on the weather and the season and Inn the Park is definitely best avoided on a sunny Sunday afternoon in July if you hate crowds at the bar; however, it is a delightful spot for a Tuesday lunch in February. In the summer, there is an outdoor terrace where you can enjoy the sun and have a fantastic perch for bird watching (animal or human).

The Food
There is a full service restaurant at Inn the Park serving classic British cuisine, but there is also a more reasonably priced cafe that offers tasty fresh sandwiches and salads, not to mention tempting cakes, biscuits and squares.

The Drink
Inn the Park has an interesting, small collection of bevvies. There are plenty of juices and artisan colas and sodas, which are more interesting than your usual Fanta and Coke selection. The alcohol on offer is equally eclectic. Guinness, Budweiser, Budvar and Old Speckled Hen come in the bottle alongside small bottles of red and white wine. Mr Whitehead's single variety cider made from Russet apples is wonderful - crisp, not too sweet and fantastically refreshing on a warm day. Prices are in keeping with the self-serve style.

The Last Word
St James's Park is wonderful to walk around. Feed the ducks and then drop in to Inn the Park to feed and water yourself.