why is it called scotland yard

The name "Scotland Yard" comes from the location of the original headquarters of the London Metropolitan Police at 4 Whitehall Place. This headquarters had its main public entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The name "Scotland Yard" originated because the site once housed a medieval palace where Scottish royalty stayed when they visited London. Over time, the police force became closely associated with this name, and "Scotland Yard" became a metonym for the Metropolitan Police Service itself. When the force moved to a new building in 1890, the new headquarters adopted the name "New Scotland Yard," continuing the tradition.