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The Ultimate Guide to visiting Kensington Palace

clock Open: Everyday: 10:00AM to 6:00PM

wait Time Needed: 4 hours

euro Price: £18

From the outside, Kensington Palace seems like a deserted, almost eerie building, perched on the edge of Hyde Park. But inside the palace there is a treasure trove of royal rooms, items, paintings and even wardrobes that any royal enthusiast will appreciate.

Kensington Palace has been a royal residence for almost 300 years, and today it serves as the official London residence for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with their two children Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

During the 17th century, the palace was surrounded by lush countryside, and was considered to be the “perfect rural retreat” for members of the royal family. King William III and Queen Mary II first moved into the palace to help treat the king’s asthma, as it was believed that the air surrounding Kensington Palace could “help cure without medicines.”

But a dark cloud has always lingered over Kensington Palace, as it is said to be haunted by several different spirits. Not only that, but those who once resided inside the palace lived a depressing, and often isolated life. Both Princess Diana and Princess Margaret were said to have been unhappy when they lived at Kensington Palace, and Queen Mary II contracted smallpox within weeks of moving in; (she died shortly after at the age of 32). Furthermore, Queen Anne got pregnant 17 times when living at Kensington Palace, but none of her children survived to adulthood.

As a matter of fact, Kensington Palace was such a sad and dismal place for so many females who once lived there, one of the staircases was painted with portraits of valets, maids and babies in the hopes of “dispelling the curse” hanging over the palace.

Nevertheless, some pleasant as well as important royal events have taken place inside Kensington Palace throughout its history. Not only was Queen Victoria both born and raised there, she also met her future husband Albert inside the palace, and was even given the news of her accession at Kensington Palace in 1837 as well.

Kensington Palace Highlights

Despite its depressing history, Kensington Palace is essentially a hidden gem in Hyde Park, and thousands of tourists visit the palace each year.

If you choose to take a tour of Kensington Palace, there are four different “routes” which are included in your admission ticket. These routes include “Victoria Revealed” (an exhibition on the life of Queen Victoria), the King’s State Apartments (which educate visitors on the Hanoverian court), The Queen’s State Apartments (which focuses on the palace’s many royal residences like William and Mary, and George I), and “Fashion Rules” (an exhibition on the wardrobes of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret and Princess Diana).

In recent years the Kensington Palace State Rooms underwent a massive renovation, and as a result, the majority of the rooms inside the palace look as if they’ve changed very little since the 17th century. Some of the many highlights inside the palace include The King’s Staircase, The King’s Gallery (the largest of the state apartments inside Kensington Palace), and The Privy Chamber (where Queen Caroline used to entertain guests).

Make sure you spend some extra time in Queen Victoria’s residence so you can read personal letters between her and Prince Albert, and even see her childrens’ toys and clothes. Also, be sure to check out the Kensington Palace gardens, which are famous in their own right.

Special Tips

Kensington Palace can be a hit or miss for a lot of visitors, so if you're not interested in England's royal history, or even if you have small children with you, then this attraction may not be for you.

If you plan on visiting another palace in London (or even plan on visiting Kensington Palace more than once), make sure you buy an annual membership for £48 which grants you unlimited entry into London's six royal palaces for 12 months.

If you plan on visiting Hyde Park as well as Kensington Palace, it may be a good idea to tour the palace first in case you get tired out walking around the park.

Getting There

getting there Address: Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom (See map).

getting there By Tube: The nearest station is High Street Kensington (a 10 to 15-minute walk away), or Queensway (a 12-minute walk away).

getting there By Train: The nearest station is Paddington (an 18-minute walk away).

getting there By Bus: You can reach Kensington Palace via routes 70, 94, 148 and 390 (to Bayswater Road), or 9, 10, 49, 52, 70 and 452 (to Kensington High Street).

getting there By coach: You can be dropped-off and picked-up at the palace, but you must make a request beforehand.

Visiting Kensington Palace

Recommended visiting time for Kensington Palace is around two to three hours, depending on how much time you want to spend glancing over all the different exhibits.

The palace hosts a “History Bites” talk every day, during which a palace “expert” educates listeners on various different subjects related to the palace. These talks take place in the visitor areas of the palace, and there is no need to book in advance.

Visitors are also welcome to explore the palace at their own leisure, and can grab a Kensington Palace guide book for £5 during their visit to read up on its history, as well as all the different rooms they can visit.

There is a restaurant inside Kensington Palace (The Orangery) which offers breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, and the Palace Cafe also serves sandwiches, cakes and pastries; (admission inside the palace is not required).

Ticket prices and Opening Hours

Kensington Palace is open every day except December 24th, 25th and 26th.

From March 1st to October 31st, the palace is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with last admission at 5 p.m.). Be aware that the palace closes at 4 p.m. during the winter months, and 5 p.m. during the summer months.

From March 1st to October 31st tickets cost:

  • £16.90 online or £18 at the gate (for adults)
  • £13.20 online or £14.30 at the gate (for seniors and students)

From November 1st to February 28th tickets cost:

  • £15.40 online or £16.50 at the gate (for adults)
  • £12.60 online or £13.70 at the gate (for seniors and students)

Children under the ages of 16 can get in for free, but must be accompanied by an adult during their visit.

There are also annual memberships available for £48 which include unlimited entry into London’s six most famous palaces for a year. There are also discount tickets available for groups of 15 people (or more) as well.

The Kensington Palace restaurant (The Orangery) is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, and the Palace Cafe is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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