Kensington Palace

Facts and information

Address:: Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, Kensington,
London W8 4PX
England
Website:: www.hrp.org.uk
Opening times:: 10 AM to 6 PM (Mon–Sun); Last admission 5 PM
Cost:: Adults £12.50; Children £6.25 (5–16); Infants free (under-5); Family ticket £34.00; Note: Opening times and ticket costs can change at short notice. Opening times may not apply on public holidays.
Telephone:: Work +44 (0) 844 482 7777
Buses:: 9 10 272849 52 70 94 148 328 390 452
Trains:: Bayswater CR DS, High Street Kensington CR DS, Queensway CNNote: The nearest station to Kensington Palace is Queensway. We can help plan your journey from Waterloo, King’s Cross and many other stations
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Statue of Queen Victoria outside Kensington Palace

^{Statue of Queen Victoria} London’s Kensington Palace

^{Kensington Palace} View of Kensington Palace’s tree-lined Orangery

^{The Orangery, Kensington Palace}

Did you know… Prince Charles and Diana both lived at the Palace, as did Prince Andrew and Fergie.

Drawing of Kensington Gardens, circa 1724

^{Kensington Gardens, c.1724} Painting of the King’s Long Gallery in Kensington Palace

^{The King’s Long Gallery} Painting of the Cupola Room in Kensington Palace

^{Cupola Room, Kensington Palace}

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Upcoming events at Kensington Palace

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Kensington Palace has been in use by British royalty for several centuries, but is perhaps more famous these days for being the home of Diana, Princess of Wales. She moved in after her divorce from Charles in 1996.

History of Kensington Palace

The building originally started out as a simple country mansion but was converted into a palace in the late 1600s by King William III. His architect – Christopher Wren – went on to build the great St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The Orangery was added in 1704, and State Rooms by George I. George III decided that he much preferred the pomp of and pageantry of Buckingham Palace, so the House remained empty for several years. It was then given over to the Royal siblings – Queen Victoria was actually born and raised inside the grounds.

It has remained a home for lesser royals ever since – the most recent being the Queen’s own sister, Princess Margaret.

Tour of the State Apartments

The highlight of a visit to the State Apartments is the private room of William III, and the rather less-opulent Queen’s Room. The Cupola Room – decorated in the style of ancient Rome with busts and classical paintings – was where Queen Victoria was baptised in 1819.

The King’s Long Gallery contains an amusing mistake in William Kent’s painted ceiling: he spent months drawing out the story of Odysseus – but gave Cyclops two eyes!

The staircase has a picture of Kent wearing a turban, and an infamous rendition of Peter ‘Wild child’ – who was discovered living in a German forest and brought back to England for amusement. The King’s Drawing Room has a splendid view of Kensington Gardens.

Princess Diana exhibition

The Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection includes clothes from the 18th-century onwards, including many garments worn by Princess Diana.

Discuss Kensington Palace in the forum

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Write your own review…
Fish – “I am lucky in that I purchased a pass which allows entry into all the Royal Palaces throughout the year, so I have been to Kensington Palace many times too many too count! But I must agree that it is probably not a very good idea…”
sarahg – “I think i went at the wrong time because there are renovations going on in a lot of the rooms at the moment I love Diana and that is why i went, but a lot of the rooms you see have been emptied and all you can see is some plaques…”