Ultimate Guide to St James’ Palace
St James’ Palace is one of the most spectacular palaces in the country, and an amazing place to watch Royal ceremonies. We’ve put together the ultimate guide to St James’ Palace to help you make the most out of your trip.
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St James’s Palace was built in 1536 by Henry VIII on the site of an old leper hospital as a retreat from court life. It was built out of red brick, the most expensive building material at the time, and adorned with the initials ‘H.A’, which stands for ‘Henry and Anne Boleyne’. A couple of months later Anne was beheaded and most of the initials were hastily changed to take out the A! Today it is a working palace and the official London residence of the Princess Royal. Prince Charles lives next door in Clarence house.
To get the best view of the changing of the guard ignore Buckingham Palace and head straight to St James’s Palace for 10:43am. Stand outside Friary Court and the guardsman will march right past your nose! You can then follow them out and then catch the horseguards trotting down the mall at 10:45am. This also leaves plenty of time to go on our free walking tour at 11am!
Unfortunately St James’s is closed to the public.
Getting Here By Tube
Green Park, (Piccadilly and Jubilee Lines)
Getting Here By Bus
Routes 9 and N9
Getting Here By Car
Q Park, (0113 238 4200), Spring Gardens, St. James’s, London SW1A 2TS
London Carrington Street, (0345 050 7080), Carrington St, Mayfair, London W1J 7AF
LONDON IN A DAY TOUR
You can find out more information of this site, and some of the most iconic sites in the city, on our London In A Day Tour!
For more information, click here
