St. James' Park - Good Omens

SCREENSHOT from Good Omens Episode One when Crowley and Aziraphale meet to discuss the birth of the Antichrist.

The camera is slowly moving down for the second scene featuring both Crowley (David Tennant) and Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) in Good Omens episode one. The first time we see them together is after Adam and Eve leave the Garden of Eden. Thousands of years later, they meet in St. James' Park to discuss Armageddon now that the Antichrist has been born. In response to the angel Aziraphale’s staunch believe that Heaven will win the war, the demon Crowley happily taunts Aziraphale with the idea that if Heaven wins then all of the good composers will exist no more. “Only celestial harmonies.” And old bookshops will be gone too, a thought that has a great effect on Aziraphale, who owns an old bookshop in Soho.

If I hadn’t already been drawn into the series, then I can honestly say that this scene would have reeled me in. Partially because of the location, mostly because Michael Sheen and David Tennant are magic together on the screen.

PHOTO by author in St. James' Park looking toward Buckingham Palace, 2009.

A quick history lesson

St. James' Park is within sight of Buckingham Palace, and is the oldest of the royal parks. The name comes from the leper hospital founded there in the 13th century. Since then, it has been improved upon over the years to become the beautiful park it is today. Charles II made the most significant improvements, adding the walkways and grassy areas that he opened to the public. He would even visit to feed the ducks. Later, John Nash redesigned the canal into the natural-looking lake we see now.

St James’ Park is a popular spot for anyone needing a bit of country within the city. There are plenty of places to sit on the grass in the sun, benches to have lunch on or read for a while, and of course there are the ducks waiting for a bit of attention and maybe a nibble of whatever snack you wish to share.

SCREENSHOT from Good Omens Episode 3, St. James' Park 1862.

What it means to me

While St. James' Park has appeared in other films, including the James Bond film Die Another Day, it is Good Omens that makes it so special to me now. I visited the park in 2009, and so when I saw the Amazon adaptation of the book by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman I felt a connection to the scene when I remembered passing by the bench where Aziraphale and Crowley have their meeting. Considering how many people are in the park on any given day, it must have been a bit of work to have the area cleared in any way. I would definitely have been trying to watch from afar!

The voice-over by God (Frances McDormand) talks about how the park has been used for secret meetings for years, to the point where the wildlife had begun to anticipate certain foods from secret agents. Crowley and Aziraphale meet here not only 11 years before the End of the World, but also in 1862 and in the present day.

I love the idea of secret meetings at St. James' Park because it is a busy place, and I’m sure anyone could get away with arranging a rendezvous here to swap intel with no problem. Even an angel and a demon.

SCREENSHOT of St. James' Park using Google Earth.

Best way to virtually visit

It is best to use Google Earth for "walking" through the park.

1. Open the Google Earth app or go to https://www.google.com/earth/ (Click "Launch Earth)

2. Click the magnifying glass icon to search and enter “St. James' Park”

3. Use the + (plus) icon to zoom in

4. Click on the little figure icon to see the blue lines and dots show up indicating a closer view in Street View

5. Click on the blue line to enter Street View

The 3D option will help get a better feel for the trees and paths and will pan around to get a 360 degree view of the area. You can go back to the 2D view anytime.

SCREENSHOT of St. James's Park from Google Earth.

When you enter the Street View Photo Sphere to get right into the park it becomes very obvious just how busy the park really is. For those who like pictures with few people in them, you might not like this, but on the other hand it is pretty neat to be a part of the crowd, so to speak. The bench, maybe not THE bench but maybe, is occupied so I took a screenshot from as close as possible to what Aziraphale and Crowley might have been seeing as I could. Minus the various people also enjoying the view of the lake and wildlife.

I wonder how early you would have to arrive at the park to get a picture in this area without other people in it...