Kensington Palace
A royal palace in Kensington Gardens, the birthplace of Queen Victoria, with state apartments, exhibitions and a sunken garden.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Kensington Palace began as a country house, Nottingham House, which William III and Mary II bought in 1689 and had enlarged by Sir Christopher Wren because the damp air at Whitehall troubled the king's health. It became a favoured royal residence for the next decades.
Under George I the palace was remodelled, and the King's State Apartments were decorated with painted ceilings by William Kent. After George II died in 1760 the monarchs moved elsewhere, and the palace became home to many other members of the royal family.
Queen Victoria was born at Kensington Palace in 1819 and spent her childhood there until she became queen in 1837. The palace later passed to public use, and parts of it have been open to visitors since the nineteenth century.
Today Historic Royal Palaces looks after the public side of the palace, which includes the King's State Apartments, an exhibition on Victoria's childhood and gardens. Other parts remain private homes of members of the royal family. The Queen's State Apartments are closed until spring 2027 for re-presentation.
Highlights
- King's State Apartments with ceilings painted by William Kent
- Victoria: A Royal Childhood, in the rooms where she grew up
- Sunken Garden and palace gardens
- Free audio guide included with admission
- Orangery Restaurant for afternoon tea
Permanent exhibitions
- King's State Apartments – Grand rooms of the eighteenth-century court, including the Cupola Room with its painted decoration.
- Victoria: A Royal Childhood – The rooms in which Princess Victoria was born and raised, with stories of her early life before she became queen.
- Founded
- 1605
- Operated by
- Historic Royal Palaces
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £19 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £15.20Over-65s, full-time students aged 18 and over, and visitors with a disability |
| Children & teens | £9.50free up to age 4 · Ages 5–15, and 16–17-year-olds pay the same; under-5s are free. |
| Seniors | £15.20Ages 65 and over. |
| Visitors with disabilities | £15.20companion free · One carer or companion per disabled visitor goes free. |
| Students & apprentices | £15.20Full-time students aged 18 and over with a valid student card. |
| Groups (15+ people) | £17.50 per personPer person, for groups of 15 or more. |
Prices shown apply from 11 November 2026. Until 8 November 2026 tickets include the Last Princesses of Punjab exhibition and cost more: adult £24.70, child £12.40, senior, student and disabled concession £20.00. Members of Historic Royal Palaces enter free. An optional 10% donation is asked at booking and Gift Aid can be added. £1 tickets are offered to people on Universal Credit and other named benefits. The palace gardens are free to enter.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description
The palace has ground-level access from the gardens and lifts to all three floors, with a recommended step-free route. Manual wheelchairs and folding stools can be borrowed free of charge on arrival but cannot be reserved. Two doorways on the Victoria route are too narrow for larger mobility scooters. Induction loops are in use across the site. Describer tours and British Sign Language tours are included in admission but must be booked at least two weeks ahead. Accessible parking for cars is on site and must be booked at least seven days ahead. Assistance dogs and medical alert dogs are welcome; emotional support animals are not allowed.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 2.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
Children under 5 are free and the Victoria: A Royal Childhood route tells the story of a young princess. Seasonal weekend activities and relaxed sessions for neurodivergent families are held on selected dates. Pushchairs can be taken around the palace, and baby changing is available in all toilet blocks. Care is needed in the gardens, which have water features.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
High Street Kensington station · 10-min walk · 765 m
Queensway station (Central line) is about 728 metres away and High Street Kensington (Circle and District lines) about 765 metres, each roughly a 10-minute walk through Kensington Gardens. Buses 9, 49, 52, 70 and 452 stop on Kensington High Street, and 94, 148 and 274 on Bayswater Road.
By car
Parking available
There is no general on-site parking, only a few accessible spaces for cars that must be booked at least seven days ahead. Nearest car parks are Q-Park Queensway and Euro Car Parks at Hyde Park/Bayswater Road, each about 10 minutes' walk.
- Accessible parking
Coach drop-off is not available on site; the Euro Car Parks coach park at Orme Square Gate is a 10–15 minute walk. Santander Cycle docking stations are at Black Lion Gate and Palace Gate, and bike racks are by the Orangery Gate.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
- Coat check: not available
- Wi-Fi
Free wifi is available inside the palace. The Palace Café and the Orangery Restaurant (afternoon tea and meals) serve food and drink. There is no left luggage; suitcases and large bags are not allowed.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography without flash is welcome inside the palace. |
| Good to know | A visit takes about two to three hours. A free audio guide is included in admission. There is a security scanner and bag search at the entrance. Visitors may leave and re-enter on the same day. |
