Clarence House Palace
London royal residence and office of senior royals.
St. James's townhouse beside St. James's Palace, noted for its Regency facades and ceremonial garden; visitors view the exterior on walks through royal London and on guided tours that pass nearby.
Clarence House at a Glance#
Address: Clarence House, The Mall, St James’s, London SW1A 1BA, United Kingdom
Website: https://www.royal.uk/clarence-house
About Clarence House#
Clarence House is a royal residence on The Mall in the St James’s area of central London. Built in the 1820s for the Duke of Clarence, it has been used since the mid-20th century as a principal London home for senior members of the British royal family.
The house was the London residence of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1953 until 2002 and later provided accommodation and offices for other senior royals. State rooms contain collections of fine furnishings and paintings associated with the monarchy.
Clarence House stands adjacent to St James’s Palace and faces St James’s Park and The Mall, placing it at the ceremonial heart of the royal district in central London.
- History note: The building was constructed in the 1820s for the Duke of Clarence (later King William IV) and later served as the London home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother until 2002.
- Visitor access: Clarence House has periodically opened to the public for summer tours and displays of the royal household’s art and furnishings.
How to Get to Clarence House#
On The Mall near St James’s Palace and Green Park. Nearest Tube stations: Green Park (Victoria, Piccadilly, Jubilee lines) or St James’s Park (Circle, District lines). Walk from Buckingham Palace in 5-10 minutes.
Tips for Visiting Clarence House#
- Clarence House is a working royal residence; visits are usually by appointment or part of scheduled open days-check the official Royal Household website for special tours.
- Photograph the façade from The Mall; security and ceremonial activity are common so expect some restrictions.
- If planning a visit when it's not open, pair a walk past Clarence House with nearby St James's Palace and Green Park for a royal loop.
Best Time to Visit Clarence House#
Exterior viewing year‑round; interior access is limited and event‑dependent.
Weather & Climate near Clarence House#
Clarence House's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 23°C. Moderate rainfall (639 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 2° - 8° | 2° | 63 mm | overcast | 93% | 4.3 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.2h |
| February | Acceptable | 2° - 8° | 2° | 40 mm | overcast | 90% | 4.2 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.8h |
| March | Acceptable | 3° - 11° | 4° | 51 mm | overcast | 86% | 4.3 m/s | 0.4 low | 11.7h |
| April | Acceptable | 5° - 14° | 7° | 46 mm | overcast | 81% | 4.0 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 13.7h |
| May | Good | 8° - 18° | 13° | 49 mm | overcast | 79% | 3.9 m/s | 1.2 high | 15.4h |
| June | Good | 11° - 21° | 16° | 54 mm | overcast | 78% | 3.5 m/s | 1.4 high | 16.3h |
| July | Very Good | 13° - 23° | 18° | 43 mm | overcast | 76% | 3.5 m/s | 1.4 high | 15.9h |
| August | Very Good | 13° - 23° | 18° | 50 mm | overcast | 78% | 3.3 m/s | 1.1 high | 14.4h |
| September | Good | 11° - 19° | 15° | 58 mm | overcast | 81% | 3.4 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 12.5h |
| October | Acceptable | 8° - 15° | 11° | 62 mm | overcast | 87% | 3.5 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.5h |
| November | Acceptable | 5° - 11° | 5° | 63 mm | overcast | 92% | 3.7 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.7h |
| December | Poor | 3° - 9° | 3° | 60 mm | overcast | 94% | 4.0 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.7h |
