Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens, on the western side of the green space that runs into Hyde Park. Parts of the palace are still home to members of the royal family, while the historic state apartments are open to the public. It is where Queen Victoria was born and grew up, and its gardens and park setting make it one of the most relaxed royal visits in London.
Why visit Kensington Palace
The palace became a royal home in the late seventeenth century, when William III and Mary II bought a country house here and had it enlarged, with work by Sir Christopher Wren. Later monarchs, including George I and George II, added grand rooms that are still on show. Queen Victoria was born in the palace in 1819 and lived here until she became queen.
The visit is smaller in scale than Hampton Court or the Tower of London, which makes it manageable in a morning or afternoon. Exhibitions inside change from time to time and often focus on royal fashion, family life or particular monarchs.
How to get to Kensington Palace by Tube
The nearest station is High Street Kensington on the District and Circle lines. From the station, walk east along Kensington High Street and turn into Kensington Gardens; the palace is a short walk across the grass, roughly ten minutes in all.
Other good options:
- Queensway on the Central line, on the north side of the park, a pleasant walk south through the gardens.
- Notting Hill Gate (Central, District and Circle lines), a little further to the north-west.
- Lancaster Gate on the Central line, if you want a longer walk past the Italian Gardens.
Kensington Palace tickets and opening hours
Entry to the palace is paid. Kensington Palace is managed by Historic Royal Palaces, and tickets are usually cheaper when bought online in advance. Members of Historic Royal Palaces get free entry. Opening days can vary by season, and the palace may close for events, so check the official website, hrp.org.uk, for current hours and prices.
Kensington Gardens itself is a royal park and free to enter, as are the outdoor areas around the palace such as the Sunken Garden viewing walks.
Highlights of the palace
The King's State Apartments
The grand rooms used by the Georgian court include the King's Grand Staircase, with its painted walls of courtiers looking down at visitors, and the Cupola Room.
The Queen's State Apartments
These more intimate rooms were created for Mary II and give a sense of royal domestic life in the late seventeenth century.
Victoria's story
Displays explore Queen Victoria's childhood at the palace and the strict upbringing that preceded her accession.
The Sunken Garden
The formal garden beside the palace is home to the statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, unveiled in 2021. It is especially pretty in spring and summer.
Tips for your visit
Check what temporary exhibition is on before you go, as it often shapes much of the visit. The palace has a cafe and a shop, and the Orangery building nearby has historically served food and afternoon tea, though check whether it is open. Combine the palace with a walk across Kensington Gardens to the Serpentine, or continue on to Hyde Park for a longer day outdoors.
Because the palace is still a working royal residence, some areas are private and security is visible around the grounds.
Best time to visit and how long
Weekday mornings are the quietest time to see the palace. Plan around one and a half to two hours inside, then spend time in Kensington Gardens. A dry day makes the most of the walk from the Tube and the gardens.
Nearby in Kensington Gardens
- Diana Memorial Playground: a large, imaginative children's playground just north of the palace.
- Round Pond: the large pond in front of the palace, popular with swans and geese.
- Albert Memorial and Royal Albert Hall: on the southern edge of the gardens.
- Serpentine Galleries: free contemporary art exhibitions in the park.
- Kensington High Street: shops and cafes right by the station.
Find more places close by on the Kensington Palace page, or see the full London guide by Tube station.