Kensington Palace

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Please note that the images shown are purely for illustration purposes. Rooms allocated may differ from the images displayed.

Open daily 10am - 5pm
Closed 24, 25, 26 Dec and 1 Jan

Kensington Palace has been home to the Royals for over 300 years - the beautiful Palace is set within picturesque gardens and has been the favourite residence for successive sovereigns since 1760!

Kensington Palace offers an insight into the elegance of court life through the displays of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection and the magnificent State Apartments. Kensington Palace opens its doors to visitors at the same time as being used by the Royal family as offices and private apartments. The rooms open to the public allow a glimpse into the decadent, elegant lifestyles of the succession of sovereigns who have presided here and inevitably left their mark.

Whilst visiting Kensington Palace take the time to explore the various exhibits, the exquisite gardens and array of rooms and historical artefacts. Places of interest include;

• The Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection
  Dating from the 18th Century to the present day, this collection of dresses is a unique presentation of royal, court and ceremonial clothes including a dressmaker's workroom, a tailor's shop and dressing rooms. Much of the collection has been worn by the royal family and then preserved for prosperity
• The Orangery and Sunken Garden
  The Orangery was originally built for Queen Anne to house plants during the winter and to hold court entertainments in the summer. The Orangery is now the tranquil setting for the Palace restaurant. The Sunken Garden was opened in 1909 and demonstrates the type of garden that would have been present at Kensington Palace in the 18th Century.
• The King's Apartments
  Furnished with art from the Royal Collection, much of these rooms maintain their original decor. Make sure you take a visit to the Cupola Room where Princess Victoria was christened.
• The Queen's Apartments
  Originally built for Queen Mary II the Queen's Apartments show a more intimate side of royal life. Many of the original decorations are still present and the walls are home to a number of family portraits.

Included in admission until July 2007 is the exhibition Diana, Princess of Wales by Mario Testino, displaying for the first time together the famous photographs taken of the princess in 1997 with her designer evening dresses later sold at auction in New York.

Admission to Kensington Palace when booked as part of a London theatre break costs from just £11.50 adult and £7.50 child.

Interesting Facts

• Did you know a private road was laid out from Kensington Palace to Hyde Park Corner and part of the road still survives today as Rotten Row!
• Did you know that Mary II - wife of King William III the first royals to live at Kensington Palace, died of small pox aged just 32!

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