Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace
3.5
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
About
Explore the birthplace of Queen Victoria and home to young royals for over 300 years. Walk in the footsteps of royalty in Victoria’s re-imagined childhood rooms, the magnificent King’s State Apartments and the famous Sunken Garden. View an exquisite piece from the wardrobe of Diana, Princess of Wales alongside original sketches created for her during the design process and explore the beautiful private rooms at Kensington Palace where Mary ll once took her meals, relaxed and entertained.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Kensington and Hyde Park
How to get there
  • High St Kensington • 7 min walk
  • Queensway • 8 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travelers are saying
  • Vanita H
    34 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Court to Couture a must see
    Visited the Court to Couture exhibition and was completely bowled over. The blending of Georgian royal fashion and modern red carpet was so well thought out and displayed. The social parallels are expertly explained.
    Visited March 2023
    Written April 1, 2023
  • Maxine C
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Palace with such caring staff
    I cannot praise the Palace staff enough. Whilst visiting this week my friend who is autistic became very overwhelmed with the amount of people in the couture exhibition so much so that he needed to make a quick exit, the staff allowed us to leave the Palace with their support and guidance, as well as avoiding the other visitors. I can't thank them enough. We love the Palace and its so worth a visit.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 21, 2023
  • DunelmArts
    Aberdeen, United Kingdom1,139 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fabulous Crown to Couture exhibition
    With the exception of Queen Victoria's apartment, the public rooms of the Palace are currently given over to the Crown to Couture exhibition. If you love fashion, this is a fabulous exhibition. The dresses and costumes dominate every room. If you are expecting a more "traditional" visit, you might be a little disappointed. It's best to book your tickets in advance and arrive before your entrance slot to queue. There are two queues, one for tickets on the hour and one for tickets on the half hour. The queues are outside, so dress appropriately for the weather. All the staff I encountered were unfailingly polite and helpful. Also allow some time to walk around the gardens and view the outside of the Palace.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written May 10, 2023
  • packedandready2go
    940 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting exhibit of modern outfits but too crowded even with timed ticket entry.
    The ticket to Kensington Palace allows you to view whatever exhibit is current. I saw thee Crown to Couture exhibit which mostly focused on unusual modern fashion such as a display of outfits worn to the Met Gala. I enjoyed the exhibit but those expecting a lot of information about the palace or the history of royal clothes may be a bit disappointed. Even with timed tickets the exhibit was very crowded.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 17, 2023
  • Steven L
    Minneapolis, Minnesota22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A beautiful royal residence
    Kensington Palace is breathtaking. To see a royal residence that's actually in use is amazing. For me, the visit to the rooms where Queen Victoria was born and grew up were a major highlight! The King and Queen's apartments were so lovely, filled with marvelous historic artifacts. The walk to the Princess Diana Memorial is also lovely. There's a nice gift shop and a superb cafeteria, too!
    Visited June 2022
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 21, 2023
  • Ken V
    Charlotte, North Carolina565 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not as nice
    Have said this a lot on trip to London, but had to visit where William and Kate call home. The building grounds are very pretty, but building itself is just a large building. Snack shop folks were rude and only wanted to rush you through.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 30, 2023
  • Kevin H
    Aylesbury, United Kingdom304 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A home to the royals, very interesting costume exhibition and sunken garden was in full bloom
    Not a classic Palace or Stately Home, but a home for royalty since Queen Mary 2, George 2 and Victoria espescially who lived there till 18 and met Albert on the stairs! Diana also of course who espescially loved the spectacular sunken garden. Really interesting Costumes exhibition on till end July 2023, contrasting the Royal Court dress at ceremonies of the past with modern celebrity outfits at ceremonies like Met Gala and Oscars. Not much changes in fashion.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 29, 2023
  • Kelly-no1
    Dubai, United Arab Emirates222 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    I Wanted History, Not Celebrity Fashion
    Being a Royalist, I was so looking forward to visiting Kensington Palace, however it turned out quite disappointing. First of all, I don’t get the exhibition. What has celebrity Gala fashion got to do with Royalty? Why not put an exhibition on with clothing worn by the Royal family? Secondly, I would’ve loved an audio tour option. We were walking past items of great significance and there was nothing to tell you about it. Wind dial above the fireplace and Peter the wild boy for example. I only know of these things due to knowing my history. It’s a shame not more is done to highlight significant areas/items. A numbered audio in each room, press the number would make it so much more interesting. Better signposting wouldn’t go a miss either. We were disappointed in the Cafe selection, only to walk round the corner to find the pavilion. Gutted!
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 2, 2023
  • tasgard
    Hobart, Australia261 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit
    Kensington Palace is a very large complex adjacent to Hyde Park, however if you take the self guided tour you only see a very small fraction of the place. What you do see is interesting though if you keep in mind the context of the parts you are able to view. The history of the place is quite amazing, 300 years of royalty living in this palace. The furniture, art work, ceramics and displays reflect that journey. The palace is popular with tourists so you must book ahead to obtain time slot based tickets. Whilst we were there were several exhibitions being staged. The Crown to Couture was the main exhibition. Fashion from the 18th Century to today. Promoted as 200 objects from Beyonce to Katy Perry, it was strangely out of place in the historic palace rooms. There were items from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection to give it some balance. The exhibition, Victoria A Royal Childhood was more appropriate as was the display of Queen Victoria’s jewels. The Kings apartments and gallery will be seen on the self guided tour. Naturally at the end of the walk around you will end up in the shop. Outside you are able to walk around the gardens on the Hyde Park side and are able to view, but not enter, the sunken garden with the famous Princess Diana statue. The palace is worth a visit, exhibitions or not.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written July 11, 2023
  • Rosie
    Seattle, Washington34 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Grand Palace
    We visited Kensington Palace with our family. Beautiful architecture, furnishings and art work. Curiously though they didn’t have the display of Princess Diana’s clothing as advertised. Instead they had Hollywood stars red carpet clothes displayed. That was a little disappointing but we enjoyed it nonetheless.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written July 11, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

3.5
3.5 of 5 bubbles5,769 reviews
Excellent
1,853
Very good
1,802
Average
1,158
Poor
547
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409

O’Brien
London, UK38 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
We visited the exhibitions on Queen Victoria as a child and as a young woman. I really enjoyed both, especially the character actors who added a lot to the experience and were extremely informative!

The only improvement I’d suggest is to the visitor experience when leaving. A staff member was telling people to leave (repeatedly) when they were browsing the gift shop. If you want to empty the venue by a certain time you need to make the last entry time earlier. It’s unfair to take visitor ticket money then rush people out the door.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tubbytummy
London, UK371 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Couples
As paid members of the Historic Palace there was no charge to enter, however booking a place is required. The whole tour takes about 2/3hrs of the building. There is a photography exhibition currently and this was free to go in. There is a lot to see and the way they have organised it inside is really well done.

There is a queuing system outside the palace, so umbrella if raining. Over looking this que is staff, the tall chap who was there at the time was really polite and friendly, there are two ques one timed entry and one walk in entry. They are labelled up.

There is an audio guide to pick up, this this is an essential part of the visit. Its not clear if its free or not it IS Free, so use it.

Also I am not that great at tech and there is no explanation, I am sure to staff its a doddle, but to me it not and spent some time working it out.

On the machine there are three tours. At the bottom of each screen is a play button, after listening use the advance forward arrow, keep doing this around the Palace. Now on each page there may be a green button which goes deeper with more information. I kept pressing the green bar and could not understand moving forward. There is also a time line on the 3 bar hamburger sign top left this expands out.

Please put a simple video (youtube) on the web site and a videos for people in the que to see how to use it, this would also distract form the que time, the que time was not unreasonable.

The shop was just too expensive there were a couple of items we were going to buy but a tea towel GBP 13.00 we put it back, had it been 7 or 8 we would have bought it.

There is a large cafe with outside sitting on your way out as well a the gardens with the Princess Diana statue in the sunken garden.
Written August 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Shelly8242
Beit She'an, Israel109 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
We really wanted to go to Windsor Palace, but we didn't have the time to travel all the way out there and back and still get to our show on time. So we came here, (It is included in the London Pass). I was a bit disappointed. But we did enjoy seeing Queen Vicotorias's toys and clothes as a young princess growing uop iun this very beautiful home. there was staff, dressed up in period costumes explaining what we saw and acting out certain scenes. It wasn't "Wow" but if you don't have that much time, it does show you how the royalty lived/lives.,
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BigHugh51
Adelaide, Australia3,651 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019
We had been enjoying a hectic Sunday visiting a number of sights and attractions around London.
By mid-afternoon, we had made our way to Kensington Palace. This was our fourth visit to the palace and we were surprised by how busy it was on this occasion. It appeared that it was a very popular attraction for both tourists and locals on a Sunday afternoon during summer.
Our London Passes were used to gain admission but only after we had to queue at the ticket counter for 5 minutes or so to have the passes scanned and then have our tickets issued.
As we were quite familiar with the palace, we were able to navigate our way through the various rooms with a little assistance from our guide booklet.
The busiest part of the palace on this afternoon was the special display area which, at the time of this visit featured a wonderful display relating to Queen Victoria and her connection with Kensington Palace.
After our self-guided tour of the palace, we visited the well-stocked gift shop where we managed to make a couple of purchases.
Finally, it was outside to spend some time in the splendid Sunken Garden. The garden was also busy with visitors which made it quite difficult to get some unobscured photographs.
Kensington Palace is a joy to visit. However, our experiences have been that to avoid the large crowds, it is better to visit on a weekday rather than on the weekend.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Clive B
Dartford, UK1,354 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
Really disppointing. Staff were very polite, friendly and extra helpful, I could not fault them at all, wait times were good, probably due to the inclement weather, but inside the 'Palace' itself just feels like an unloved and barren museum. You go around and there are just a few items of interest to look at in each room. There is no 'wow factor' and nothing to actually to engage younger visitors. If this were to be the first ever Royal residence in London you visit, you might still appreciate it, but if you've already seen Hampton Court, the Tower of London, the V&A Museum, or Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath, then be prepared for this Palace to leave you feeling very disappointed, as it pales in comparison to any of those places. If you are already a member of Historic Royal Palaces, then it's free to enter as often as you like, and it is well worth seeing at least once, ideally as your first choice, so that things can only get better. But Icould not recommend Kensington Palace to a visiting tourist, not unless there is something in particular they want to see being exhibited there. It is such a shame, it's in a great location, with a fantastic history, and as Kensington Palace contains the offices and London residences of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the potential here is immence, but sadly the part open to the public is very lacking.
Written August 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Liza D
Cleveland, OH255 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
It looks impressive from the entrance & when you realize that Hyde Park is the "front yard" it can be overwhelming. Yet, when you walk inside, it's a home. It may not seem like much in the beginning, but as you walk around from Victoria as a baby, a child, a young woman to Queen, you get a sense of the times & who she was.
The areas are set in a way that you can enjoy a certain age (without being overbearing) & imagine her there, then flow into the next time in her life. There are pieces that also give you hints of her future self & why Victoria has the reputation she does. You learn of her relationship with Albert, her children, her mother & the countries she ruled.
In one room are two figures that represent period clothing...but watch the walls behind them. The shadows dance separate & together as they would at one of her many functions.
I was lucky to "meet" a young Victoria, who ever so quietly walked into the very room where she was told that she was now Queen of England & sat down at the long table (one of the volunteers alerted me to her presence & encouraged me to speak with her).
As for Princess Diana, the display to her was small & disappointing, but either I missed something or it was scaled back due to the 200th birthday celebration of Queen Victoria at Kensington Palace.
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

drewedmin999
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK1,066 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2021 • Family
I can’t believe the moaners

“The Palace looks old”

What were you expecting?

“It took me an hour to find”

The Palace never moved….

Yes this isn’t a princess palace like in a Disney movie. It’s real, full of history, and frankly brilliant

There are so many interesting things to see such as Queen Victoria’s toys as a child and various rooms steeped in history

I was also very pleased to be allowed to take photos everywhere

The temporary exhibit featuring Diana’s wedding dress was the cherry on the cake

Overall a fabulous hour and well worth less than £20 to see
Written December 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Roberts01
Wales, UK52 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Couples
I enjoyed the visit but was disappointed with what little was on display within the rooms, lack of information on display; unless you engage with the staff you would miss out on lots more detailed information. Diana’s dress was outstanding, but is the cost of nearly £50 for two people worth it? I’m not so sure. Also I thought the viewing of the sunken garden was included in cost, it’s not, it’s all gated so you are not allowed to enter, you don’t have to pay to see the garden or the awful statue of Diana. The artist/sculpture needs to return to his studies. No likeness to Diana whatsoever. More like man in a suit. So disappointing.
Written August 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stuart O
London, UK18 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
Went to Kensington Palace today - or tried to. Member of Art Fund. Kensington Palace website says Art Fund members can visit for free but can’t book timed slot. Drove there to reduce Covid risk. Parked up for max 4 hours. Walk to Palace to be told Art Fund members need to be given a timed slot and next one they could give us was after parking expired. Ridiculous for them to make this hollow offer to Art Fund members (unless they live in Kensington). Arrogant approach. Very disappointing.
Written October 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Annie143Florida
Sedona, AZ545 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The palace is beautiful and was decorated for Christmas. The tour is self-guided and informative. It is primarily devoted to Victoria and Albert and gives a personal glimpse into their lives. It is nice to visit once because it is easily done in a few hours.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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