Kensington Palace
Royal residence since 1689 — birthplace of Queen Victoria, State Apartments, fashion exhibitions and the Sunken Garden in Kensington Gardens
Royal residence since 1689 — birthplace of Queen Victoria, State Apartments, fashion exhibitions and the Sunken Garden in Kensington Gardens
Kensington Palace has been a royal residence since 1689, when William III and Mary II had Wren and Hawksmoor reshape a Jacobean mansion into the red-brick palace beside Kensington Gardens.
Victoria was born here in 1819 and learned she was Queen aged eighteen. Now home to the Prince and Princess of Wales, the route through the State Apartments and rotating exhibitions offers one of London's most intimate palace visits — grand enough to impress, yet easy to explore within two hours.
The State Apartments divide into two halves. The King's side was designed for William III in the 1690s and later redecorated by George I, who commissioned William Kent to paint the ceilings and walls with scenes from classical mythology. The King's Staircase, with its trompe-l'oeil galleries of painted spectators, sets the tone for the formal rooms beyond.
The Queen's State Apartments are smaller and more personal. Mary II furnished them with her collection of Delftware and oriental porcelain, much of which remains on display. The rooms trace the lives of the Stuart and Hanoverian queens who shaped the palace. Together both halves take about an hour, and the manageable scale means you never feel rushed.
The most engaging section is the Victoria Revealed exhibition, set in the rooms where the future queen spent her childhood. Her bedroom, toys, first diary entries and the account of the morning she learned she was Queen are presented with a lightness of touch that makes the period feel vivid and immediate.
Temporary exhibitions rotate regularly, often exploring royal fashion from coronation gowns to Diana's most iconic outfits. These shows draw a different crowd from the usual heritage visitor — check the palace website to see what is currently on. The exhibition route also weaves in the more recent royal story, linking three centuries of palace life within a single visit.
Kensington Gardens stretches east from the palace across 265 acres of parkland to the Serpentine. The Sunken Garden, just outside the palace entrance, is the starting point — a rectangular pool surrounded by formal flower beds that change with the seasons and look beautiful year-round.
The Broad Walk running south toward the Royal Albert Hall is one of London's finest tree-lined avenues. Along the way you pass the Diana Memorial Playground, an adventure playground inspired by Peter Pan and popular with families. Further on, the Italian Gardens at the head of the Long Water offer ornamental fountains and urns in a surprisingly rural setting barely a mile from Oxford Street.
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The Sunken Garden and Kensington Gardens are free to visit — tickets are only needed for the palace interior and exhibitions
Weekends draw large crowds, especially during school holidays. Wednesday and Thursday mornings are the quietest times to visit and give you space to enjoy the State Apartments properly.
The palace sits in one of London's most beautiful parks. Allow an extra hour to walk through the Sunken Garden, the Italian Gardens and along the Serpentine after your visit.
The palace runs excellent rotating exhibitions on fashion, jewellery and royal history. Check the website before your visit — they change several times a year and often sell out on weekends.
Most visitors approach from High Street Kensington to the south. Coming from Queensway station instead means a pleasant walk through Kensington Gardens, arriving at the palace from the quieter north side.
The Orangery beside the palace serves afternoon tea in a grand setting designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor. Book in advance if you want a table at the weekend.
London Travel Writer · 12+ years covering UK attractions and tourism
Last reviewed: March 6, 2026
