Visiting Kensington Palace Tickets Tours FAQs

All the essential details to plan and book your Kensington Palace visit

Contents Overview

Key information to plan and arrange your visit to Kensington Palace
Discovering Kensington Palace – Tickets & Tours
Visiting Kensington Palace
Facts and Figures about Kensington Palace
Kensington Gardens

Discovering Kensington Palace – Tickets & Tours

Nearest Underground station – High Street Kensington (Circle and District lines) or Queensway (Central line)

How much time should you plan for?

Allocate at least two hours or more to fully explore the palace and its lovely gardens.

Tickets

Note – Entry to Kensington Palace is part of The London Pass and the Go City London Explorer Pass.

Tour Packages

Be aware that some tours may only grant access to the gardens, not the palace.

Kensington Palace Gardens tour with Royal afternoon tea
Three London Palaces walking tour with Royal high tea
Westminster walking tour including Kensington Palace
Evening London bike tour with Kensington Palace
Private London walking tour with Kensington Palace

Operating Hours

Kensington Palace is generally open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with the last entry at 5:00 PM. However, hours may vary during holidays, so it's always best to check the official website before visiting.

Accessibility

The palace offers wheelchair access, and assistance dogs are welcome. There are also accessible toilets available. Visitors with disabilities are encouraged to contact the venue ahead of time for specific accommodations.

Nearby Attractions

Hyde Park – Ideal for a peaceful stroll before or after your visit.
Royal Albert Hall – A short walk from the palace, perfect for combining culture with history.
Natural History Museum – One of London’s most popular museums, only a 15-minute walk away.

Visiting Kensington Palace

Queen Victoria’s childhood toys

Kensington Palace Facts and Figures

Princess Diana lived at Kensington Palace, and Princes William and Harry spent their early years there. After Diana’s death in 1997, the palace grounds were covered with flowers left by the public.
Queen Victoria was raised at Kensington Palace, where she first met Prince Albert. The V&A Museum in South Kensington is named after them. She stayed here until she ascended the throne.
The "Kensington System," imposed by Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent, was intended to keep Victoria dependent, but it made her more independent instead.
In the 1960s, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II’s sister, hosted lavish parties at Kensington Palace, attended by celebrities such as the Beatles, Peter Sellers, and Elizabeth Taylor.
King William III bought Kensington Palace for health reasons, as London's climate worsened his condition. Ironically, he later died from pneumonia at the palace.
In 1770, sketches by Leonardo da Vinci were found at the palace, more than 180 years after his death. Artwork by Henry VIII’s court painter was also rediscovered centuries later.
During World War I, Kensington Palace was used for administrative work, with staff subject to rationing. In World War II, the gardens served military purposes, and the palace sustained bomb damage.
Today, parts of Kensington Palace are open to the public as a museum, where visitors can explore the State Apartments, the King’s Gallery, and learn about the royal lives once led here.
The Sunken Garden, a favorite of Princess Diana, has been redesigned as a memorial to her, and it includes a statue of Diana unveiled by Princes William and Harry in 2021.

Superconductors are like magical materials with an amazing ability! Imagine a toy train that needs batteries to run on electricity. Normally, some of that electricity gets "lost," like carrying water in a bucket with holes. But a superconductor is unique—it’s like having a perfect train track where no electricity is lost! Everything moves smoothly, as if on a fast, seamless slide, with no leaks. However, this only works when the superconductor becomes extremely cold, close to the temperature of outer space. At that point, electricity can move without resistance, helping create things like high-speed trains and advanced devices!

Nearby Attractions

Design Museum
Leighton House Museum
Royal Albert Hall
Kensington High Street
Churchill Arms
Holland Park
Knightsbridge – Harrods
Hyde Park
Notting Hill
Kensington Gardens, home to the famous Peter Pan statue

Tips for planning your Kensington Palace trip

The room where Queen Victoria was born

Buy your Kensington Palace tickets in advance when possible. This helps you skip long queues, especially during busy times like weekends and summer.
The palace is closed every Monday and Tuesday. Certain areas or the entire palace may also be closed due to renovations, exhibitions, or Royal events.
Entry to the palace requires a ticket, but the gardens are open to all, free of charge, from 6 am until sunset. You can also admire the palace from the gardens.
If your schedule allows, book an afternoon tea at the palace. It’s a great way to experience British culture. You can add this option when purchasing your ticket through the links earlier in this guide.
Afternoon tea is available at the Kensington Palace Pavilion, but there are plenty of food and drink spots nearby on Kensington High Street if you prefer.
Don’t miss the gardens — a major highlight of the palace. They are free to visit, so feel free to come back another day for a relaxing stroll.
If you’re a fan of Princess Diana, visit the Sunken Garden, a place she was said to love.
Plan your Kensington Palace visit wisely, considering nearby attractions like the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A. These museums are free and can enhance your day out.
Take the tube to High Street Kensington on the Circle or District lines. Queensway on the Central line is another nearby option, with shops and cafes around both stations.
If you can, choose a sunny day for your visit. Exploring Kensington Gardens is far more enjoyable in good weather, although it can be unpredictable!