Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace sits inside Kensington Gardens and has been a royal residence since the 17th century. William III and Mary II moved the court here in 1689, Queen Victoria was born here in 1819, and today it's home to several members of the working royal family. It's a smaller, calmer and often less crowded alternative to Buckingham Palace for anyone wanting to see inside a royal London building.
Tickets & What's On in 2026
Standard adult tickets start from around £24.70 booked online. From 26 March to 8 November 2026 all tickets include entry to The Last Princesses of Punjab, an exhibition exploring the lives of the daughters of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who came to Britain following the annexation of the Punjab in 1849. Note that the Queen's State Apartments are closed until Spring 2027 for a major re-presentation — check what's open before booking. A self-guided audio tour (included with the standard ticket) takes around two to two-and-a-half hours for the current accessible rooms.
The Gardens
Kensington Gardens surrounding the palace are managed by The Royal Parks and are free to enter every day — no ticket required. The Round Pond, Albert Memorial, Italian Gardens and the Serpentine Gallery are all within easy walking distance and add naturally to a half-day here.
Getting There
High Street Kensington (Circle & District lines) and Queensway (Central line) are both about a ten-minute walk from the palace entrance on the west side of the gardens.
Tips for Visiting
- Book tickets online in advance — slightly cheaper than the door, and avoids a potential 20–30 minute queue on busy weekends.
- Check which rooms and exhibitions are open before booking — the Queen's State Apartments are closed until Spring 2027.
- If you're also visiting the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace on the same trip, an Historic Royal Palaces annual membership can pay for itself.
- The surrounding Kensington Gardens are free — combine the palace visit with a walk around the gardens for a relaxed half-day.
Prices and exhibition details change — check the official Historic Royal Palaces site before booking.