Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace blends living residence with layered royal history. Walk the Stuart and Georgian State Apartments where ceremony shaped power, then step into Victoria's rooms to meet a princess raised under strict rules who became an empress. Outside, the Sunken Garden frames Diana's 2021 statue with calm symmetry; the Orangery offers crisp early-eighteenth-century elegance. It's smaller and quieter than Buckingham Palace, with good step-free routes and audio included. Exhibitions rotate, so check what's on before booking. Allow two hours, longer if you plan tea or a garden stroll. Pair your visit with a loop through Kensington Gardens to the Round Pond and the Italian Gardens for a gentle, royal-themed afternoon.
Opening Hours
What's not to miss inside?
State Apartments
Stuart and Georgian court lifeThese rooms hosted royal ceremonies from the late 1600s, with painted ceilings and baroque fireplaces surviving centuries of change.
📍 King’s and Queen’s Suites
Victoria’s Rooms
Birthplace of a queenQueen Victoria was born here in 1819 and learned of her accession in 1837 in the palace’s private rooms.
📍 First floor apartments
Sunken Garden
Peaceful formal gardenCreated in 1908, this garden was redesigned for the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death and now hosts her 2021 statue.
📍 South of palace
The Orangery
Elegant early 1700s pavilionBuilt for Queen Anne around 1704, this light-filled hall served court entertainments among citrus trees.
📍 Garden terrace
Diana’s Legacy
Modern royal historyPrincess Diana lived here from 1981 to 1997; rotating displays explore her public work and style.
📍 Exhibition areas
Inspire your Friends
- Kensington Palace began as Nottingham House, purchased by William and Mary in 1689.
- Queen Victoria was born here on 24 May 1819 and held her first Privy Council in 1837.
- The famous hedge maze of Kensington Gardens dates to the early 18th century landscape redesign.
- A statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, by Ian Rank-Broadley was unveiled in the Sunken Garden in 2021.
- The Orangery, built c.1704, is one of London’s best-preserved early 18th-century garden pavilions.
