logo
ic_menu
This is an affiliate link, we may receive a commission from the vendor, but the price is the same for you
BOOK ACTIVITY

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace Gardens, Greater London, England

Description

Kensington Palace is a royal residence located in Kensington Gardens - it is currently the official residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Prince and Princess of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children. The State Rooms are open to public visit and managed by the Historical Royal Palaces charity. The original buildings date back to the early 17th century in the village of Kensington before being purchased by the then royal household at the back end of that same century and undergoing a substantial expansion under the supervision of Christopher Wren (of St Paul's fame). It was severely damaged during the Blitz of London and only underwent extensive renovation and upgrading in the 1960's. Some of the most famous occupants include Charles and Diana (Prince and Princess of Wales) until her death in 1997.

Access & Transport

The Palace is located within Kensington Gardens, a 5 mins walk to Bayswater rd / Queensway underground, 5 mins walk to Kensington rd and 10' walk to Kensington High Street and the similarly named underground station.

Instructions & Recommendations

We would recommend booking a ticket in advance. The Palace is best combined with the Kensington Gardens / Hyde Park around it and a visit of Royal Albert Hall or one of the various neighbourhoods within a 10' walk: Bayswater, Notting Hill, High Street Kensington and South Kensington.

Meta review

Visitors reviews for the palace are very mixed. Those enjoying it seem to be fans of the British royal history or of one of the previous residents (mostly Diana) whilst a substantial number of reviewers were underwhelmed, stating that there was not that much to see, especially considering the entry fee.

Environmental & Social

Relatively neutral from both an environmental and social perspectives.

Conclusion

The Kensington Palace is not as grand as other Royal Residences in the UK, it was never meant to be and has always been more residential than a high-profile estate symbolizing the power of monarchy. As such, we would recommend it for tourists with a very keen interest for the British royal family and its historical figures and to those who have already visited the other Royal Palaces on previous trips.

Key positive

Plenty of famous residents throughout its history

Charming location in Kensington Gardens

Key negative

Nothing very impressive to see inside - by Royal standards that is

Expensive entrance fee

Suitability

Suitable for all ages but expect younger kids (<12 yrs old) to get bored. For visitors with limited mobility, there is straightforward ground level access and a lift serving all floors

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

May 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Last admission is 1h before closing

av. transport time:0h 35m

est. visit time:1h 30m

Regulated hours

Monday -

Tuesday -

Wednesday10:00 - 18:00

Thursday10:00 - 18:00

Friday10:00 - 18:00

Saturday10:00 - 18:00

Sunday10:00 - 18:00

Pricing
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
£19
Adult
18 - 64
£24
Child
5 - 17
£12
Infant
0 - 4
£0
Price for students is £19

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. For a complete overview of all cookies used, please see MORE INFORMATION.