York House, St. James's Palace

York House is a wing of St. James's Palace containing rooms arranged across multiple levels, from low-ceilinged ground-floor spaces to drawing rooms on the first floor. The section runs along Cleveland Row with servants' quarters on the upper floor and a connecting passage on the rear side.

Built in 1736 for Frederick, Prince of Wales, the wing later housed two future kings during their younger years as members of the royal household. The structure reflects the palace's expansion to accommodate the growing needs of the royal family during the 18th century.

The name honors the Duke of York who first lived here, and the rooms still display the refined furnishings of a royal residence. Visitors can see how members of the royal family arranged their private spaces in this part of the palace.

Access is through the main palace grounds, and the location is best explored during afternoon hours when light illuminates the facades clearly. It helps to check ahead about which areas are open, as not all sections of the palace are always accessible to visitors.

A rare 1896 photograph captures the Duke and Duchess of York with their collie dog Heather at this location, offering a glimpse into private royal life. The image reveals how the royal family kept pets in their personal quarters, a detail rarely documented for this period.