St James Area

Clarence House

Built for Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence in 1827, Clarence House was designed by John Nash and is situated within the grounds of St James's Palace. Following his ascension to the throne, William lived here as King William IV from 1830 until 1837. Clarence House was home to the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1953 to 2002. Following the Queen Mother's death, Prince Charles and his two sons, William and Harry, made this their official London residence.

Lancaster House

Originally known as York House, building began in 1826 but the interior was still incomplete when the Duke of York died in 1827. In 1828, the government sold the building to the Marquis of Stafford and it was renamed Stafford House. The interior of the mansion was finally completed in 1842 and Stafford House was widely regarded as the grandest town house in London. The house was renamed Lancaster House in 1912. Today, Lancaster House is used for government hospitality and notably was the venue for the 1978 conference that led to the end of white rule in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

Spencer House

Spencer House was built in 1756-66 for John, first Earl Spencer, an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales. Spencer House was recognised as one of the most ambitious aristocratic town houses ever built in London and is the city's only great eighteenth-century private palace to survive intact.

Marlborough House

Marlborough House was built in 1711 for the Duchess of Marlborough but the third floor wasn't added until the early 1770s. Sir Christopher Wren had originally been commissioned to design the house, but the Duchess of Marlborough, unhappy with his work, took over the project herself. The house remained in the Marlborough family until 1817 when it was returned to the Crown. Today the building houses the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Bridgewater House

Situated at the end of Cleveland Row, Bridgewater House was designed by Charles Barry and built for the Earl of Ellesmere in 1850.