Description
The royal residences of Clarence House and St James's Palace share this large garden, which is on the site of the late C17th royal pleasure grounds. It is hidden behind an C18th (?) brick wall with a stone coping on top of which is a lofty wooden fence and behind this a high hedge of laurels. A number of fine old plane trees are visible over the wall. An area of formal planting at the front of Clarence House was designed in 2004-5 by The Prince of Wales in memory of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The scheme was laid out by members of The Prince's School of Traditional Arts.
Practical Information
| Site location | St James's |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SW1 1BA |
| What3Words | ///crunch.models.ruins |
| Type of Site | Private Garden |
| Borough | Westminster |
| Open to Public | Occasionally |
| Opening Times | Clarence House is usually open for tours in summer months, including visits to the garden, but not in 2012 due to the London Olympics. |
| Special Conditions | Admission charge (for information see www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/clarencehouse) |
| Public Transport | Tube: St James's Park (District, Circle), Green Park (Victoria, Piccadilly, Jubilee). Bus: 8, 9. 14, 19, 22, 38 |
| Research Updated | 1 May 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
St James's Palace, originally known as St James's House, was built by Henry VIII between 1531-36 on a site that was previously that of the Hospital of St James, Westminster. Part of the original Tudor fabric remains, including the Chapel Royal, fine gatehouse, a number of turrets, and rooms in the State Apartments. The palace site encompasses four courts, Ambassadors' Court, Engine Court, Friary Court and Colour Court. Since 1536 St James's Palace served as a royal residence for successive monarchs until 1837, when Queen Victoria took residence at Buckingham Palace (q.v.). It remains a working palace and provides offices for numerous royal organisations and functions, and its State Apartments are used for entertaining state visitors, ceremonial and formal occasions as well as receptions for charities. The Palace is also the London residences of The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra.
Clarence House was designed by John Nash and built in 1825-27 for Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence. He later lived here as King William IV from 1830-1837. It was the London home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1953 - 2002 and also of The Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, and The Duke of Edinburgh following their marriage in 1947. Today it is an official residence for The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince William and Prince Harry.
Clarence House was designed by John Nash and built in 1825-27 for Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence. He later lived here as King William IV from 1830-1837. It was the London home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1953 - 2002 and also of The Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, and The Duke of Edinburgh following their marriage in 1947. Today it is an official residence for The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince William and Prince Harry.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ293800 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | The Crown |
| Dates | C16th |
| Listed Structures | LBI: St James's Palace; Clarence House. |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Westminster |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | St James's |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
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.
Marlborough House Garden was built as a town mansion by Sir Christopher Wren, and still possesses much of the extent and layout of its original garden. It was commissioned by the first Duke of Marlborough but the idea for a town house was that of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, who secured the lease of the site from Queen Anne. The Dukes of Marlborough had the house until 1817, after which it became a royal residence, last used by Queen Mary, who had a revolving summerhouse built in the garden. The garden is largely lawn, sloping to the south and west boundary walls, with gravel paths and some formal beds; to the east is less formal shrubbery, a woodland path and pet cemetery for royal pets including Queen Alexandra's dogs.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
The marshy site was acquired in 1532 and drained for a deer park by Henry VIII, who built St James's Palace as a hunting lodge. In the C17th St James's Park was remodelled for James I and later for Charles II who opened it to the public. Its formal layout had avenues of trees, lawns and a rectangular canal extending for c.900m. In 1828/9 it was drastically re-landscaped by John Nash, and his undulating landscape essentially remains, the lake the central feature with an island at each end, belts of trees along boundaries, extensive lawns and winding paths. Pulham & Co constructed various works in 1895 and 1899, including rockwork on the lake edge, 'Cormorant & Pelican islands' for the park's birdlife and a small rocky pool along the inner bank of the island. The western end of the park and lake were remodelled in 1901-11 to accommodate the rond-point of the Queen Victoria Memorial Gardens. Between c.1894 and at least 1914 a historic bomb disposal facility was located on Duck Island.
The marshy site was acquired in 1532 and drained for a deer park by Henry VIII, who built St James's Palace as a hunting lodge. In the C17th St James's Park was remodelled for James I and later for Charles II who opened it to the public. Its formal layout had avenues of trees, lawns and a rectangular canal extending for c.900m. In 1828/9 it was drastically re-landscaped by John Nash, and his undulating landscape essentially remains, the lake the central feature with an island at each end, belts of trees along boundaries, extensive lawns and winding paths. Pulham & Co constructed various works in 1895 and 1899, including rockwork on the lake edge, 'Cormorant & Pelican islands' for the park's birdlife and a small rocky pool along the inner bank of the island. The western end of the park and lake were remodelled in 1901-11 to accommodate the rond-point of the Queen Victoria Memorial Gardens. Between c.1894 and at least 1914 a historic bomb disposal facility was located on Duck Island.
