Kensington Palace
What Visitors Say
What a wonderful and insightful experience!! Set in the grounds of Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace has a selection of incredible rooms, artwork, jewellery and exhibits charting royal life there throughout the years. As it was Christmas. They had a Queen Victoria's childhood Christmas exhibit which was fascinating, including a huge banquet, toys and dolls houses as well as living quarters. The King's Staircase was really impressive as were the highly ornate decoration of the King's State Apartments, including the King's Gallery, the Privy Chamber, the Presence Chamber, the King's Drawing Room, and the splendidly decorated Cupola Room. The Palace also has a cafe and a beautiful gift shop, offering a selection of unique Kensington Palace branded souvenirs, including homewares, tea, chocolate, trinkets, clothing and books. Definitely worth visiting!!
Kensington Palace is historically interesting and well presented, particularly if you enjoy royal history and period interiors. However, for me it felt quite familiar , similar in style and layout to many other palaces and castles I’ve visited before. While the gardens are pleasant, the interiors didn’t offer much that felt new or especially engaging. Worth a visit for first-timers or royal enthusiasts, but not a must-see if you’ve already seen several European castles. Two adult and child cost us 58 euros!
A beautiful well preserved historical palace. The childhood home of Queen Victoria which gives an impression of a real home. The gardens and entrance are majestic any time if the year. Have to visit again at twilight as the fairy lights will be twinkling. Always excellent exhibition. The dress code is small compared to past exhibitions but well designed. Worth becoming a member for entry to the exhibitions. Kensington Gardens is always a treat a vast open area with a pond.
Great palace to visit. The scheduled talks are absolutley amazing , i strongly recommend you take time out of your visit to listen to them. Most sections of the museum felt filled to the brim with interesting things to see. A few sections felt a bit empty but not many. Entry is slightly confusing with queues forming outside before the scheduled entry time. Great audio guide too.
Compared with Hampton Palace, the Kensington Palace is relatively small but still full of knowledgeable details. It exhibits valuable historical artifacts of Queen Mary and Queen Victoria. Besides, closing to the Kensington Palace allows people to enjoy time with greens and animals after the visit.
Highlights
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
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
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.
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