Kensington Palace is a royal palace on the western edge of Kensington Gardens where you can see the King's State Apartments, the rooms where Queen Victoria grew up and changing royal exhibitions. An adult ticket costs £24.70 until 8 November 2026, the palace gardens around it are free, and a visit fits neatly into a walk through Hyde Park.
Kensington Palace has been a royal home since 1689, when King William III and Queen Mary II bought a country house here and had Sir Christopher Wren enlarge it. Several monarchs lived here in the 18th century. Princess Victoria was born in the palace in 1819 and spent her childhood here, and it was here that she learned in 1837 that she had become queen.
In more recent times it was the London home of Princess Margaret and of Diana, Princess of Wales, and parts of the palace are still used by members of the royal family today. Those private areas are closed to the public. The rooms you visit are run as a historic attraction by Historic Royal Palaces, the same charity that looks after the Tower of London and Hampton Court.
Kensington Palace at a glance
- Adult ticket (18-64)
- £24.70, or £27.20 with donation (until 8 November 2026)
- Adult ticket from 11 November 2026
- £19.00, or £20.90 with donation
- Child (5-15)
- £12.40 until 8 November, then £9.50; under-5s free
- Summer hours
- 10:00-18:00, last entry 17:00 (July 2026)
- Gardens
- Free, no palace ticket needed
- Closed until spring 2027
- The Queen's State Apartments
- Luggage
- No suitcases, large or rolling bags; no left luggage
- Address
- Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX
What is open inside the palace in 2026
A visit follows a route through several sets of rooms on two floors. Before you book, it helps to know what is and is not open, because an important part of the palace is closed for the rest of 2026.
The Queen's State Apartments are shut until spring 2027. These rooms, created for Queen Mary II, closed on 15 June 2026 for major work and a new presentation. The rest of the palace stays open, but if Mary's rooms were the reason for your visit, wait until they reopen.
The King's State Apartments
These are the grand rooms of the 18th-century court, used by the Georgian kings to receive visitors. You climb the King's Staircase, whose walls and ceiling were painted by William Kent with crowds of courtiers looking down at you, and walk through a series of formal rooms to the King's Gallery, a long room hung with paintings from the Royal Collection. It is the most impressive part of the palace and gives a clear idea of how royal power was displayed.
Victoria: A Royal Childhood
This permanent display tells the story of Princess Victoria in the rooms where she was born and raised. It explains the strict rules she grew up under, her lonely childhood and her life before she became queen at 18. Families often find this section the easiest way into the palace, because the story is told through a child's life rather than through politics.
The Last Princesses of Punjab
Until 8 November 2026 every ticket includes this temporary exhibition about Sophia Duleep Singh, a goddaughter of Queen Victoria who became a campaigner for women's votes, and the women connected to her family. It is included in the normal admission price. After the exhibition closes, ticket prices fall (see below).
Ticket prices, and why they drop in November
Historic Royal Palaces sets two price periods for Kensington Palace. Until 8 November 2026 prices include the exhibition; from 11 November they are lower. The optional donation adds about 10%.
| Ticket | Until 8 Nov 2026 | With donation | From 11 Nov 2026 | With donation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (18-64) | £24.70 | £27.20 | £19.00 | £20.90 |
| Child (5-15) | £12.40 | £13.70 | £9.50 | £10.50 |
| Young person (16-17) | £12.40 | £13.70 | £9.50 | £10.50 |
| Senior (65+), student, disabled concession | £20.00 | £22.00 | £15.20 | £16.80 |
| Under 5 | Free | Free | Free | Free |
For two adults and two children aged 5-15, that is £74.20 until 8 November and £57.00 from 11 November, without the donation. A couple pays £49.40 now and £38.00 from mid-November. Children under 16 must be with an adult. A disabled visitor's carer or companion goes free. Check the current prices on the official tickets page.
Waiting until mid-November saves a family £17.20. If you are flexible and the Punjab exhibition does not interest you, the lower prices from 11 November make Kensington Palace one of the cheaper royal visits in London. The Queen's State Apartments remain closed either way.
The palace accepts the London Pass: holders show the pass or its QR code at the admissions desk to have it validated. Our look at whether a sightseeing pass is good value explains when that pays off. National Art Pass holders get half-price entry during temporary exhibitions.
Opening hours and how long to allow
In July 2026 the palace was open from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:00. The palace is not open every day of the year: on Monday 8 June 2026, for example, it was closed. Hours and closed days can change with the season, so check the opening and closing times page for your date before you travel.
We would allow about two hours for the palace itself. Add time for the gardens and a drink at the café, and half a day is comfortable. It is a good choice for a rainy day in London, because the palace is indoors and much quieter than the big museums nearby.
A free audio guide is included, and there is free Wi-Fi. There is no left luggage, and suitcases, large bags and rolling luggage are not allowed inside, so leave them at your hotel.
The palace gardens and the Sunken Garden
You do not need a ticket to enjoy the gardens around the palace. Historic Royal Palaces lists the palace gardens as free, and in July 2026 they were open from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:45.
The highlight is the Sunken Garden, a formal garden with flower beds around a pond, surrounded by a walk of pleached lime trees. It was one of Princess Diana's favourite places, and a statue of her was unveiled here in 2021. In July 2026 it was open from 10:00 to 17:45. It gets busy at lunchtime on sunny days but is peaceful early in the morning.
In front of the palace stands a statue of Queen Victoria, carved by her daughter Princess Louise, and a statue of King William III faces the south front. The palace's red-brick exterior and the lawns towards the Round Pond make a pleasant scene even if you do not go inside.
Eating at the Orangery and the palace café
The Orangery, an elegant 18th-century building next to the palace, is now a restaurant serving lunch and afternoon tea. The Palace Café offers lighter food and drinks. Both are open to anyone, with or without a palace ticket, and both take cash and cards. The shop is also open to the public.
Afternoon tea at the Orangery is popular, so booking ahead is sensible. It is one of the best-known royal settings for this very British meal; for other options see our guide to afternoon tea in London. The Orangery has its own opening days, and in July 2026 it was closed on some Tuesdays and Sundays, so check before you set your heart on it.
Combining a visit with Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park
The palace stands in Kensington Gardens, the western half of the large green space that includes Hyde Park. It is easy to build a whole day on foot around it. Our guide to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens covers the routes in detail.
- Round Pond and the Albert Memorial. The Round Pond lies just east of the palace. South of it, the gold Albert Memorial faces the Royal Albert Hall.
- The Diana Memorial Playground. Close to the palace's north side, this free playground reopened on 5 August 2026 after a £3m renewal with a new galleon. Only adults with children up to 12 are admitted. In September it opens 10:00-18:45. More playgrounds are listed in our guide to city farms and playgrounds.
- The Serpentine and the Italian Gardens. A 15-20 minute walk east brings you to the Serpentine lake, and the fountains of the Italian Gardens sit at the northern end of its Long Water.
- Museums to the south. South Kensington, about 20 minutes' walk, is home to the Natural History Museum and the V&A, both free. Our South Kensington neighbourhood guide covers the area.
To the north, Notting Hill with its colourful houses and Portobello Road is only a short walk from the park's northern edge. To the south-east, Knightsbridge and Harrods are a pleasant walk across the park.
Getting to Kensington Palace
The palace has no station of its own. The nearest Tube stations are High Street Kensington (District and Circle lines), Queensway (Central line) and Notting Hill Gate (Central, District and Circle lines). From each one the walk through or along the park takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes. Lancaster Gate (Central line) is a little further but brings you through the Italian Gardens.
Historic Royal Palaces offers carer tickets, accessible toilets and a small amount of accessible parking on site, which it advises you to book in advance. For wider planning, see our guide to accessible London. The walk across the park is flat but long, so allow extra time if walking is difficult.
How Kensington compares with the other royal palaces
Kensington Palace is smaller and calmer than the other big royal sights. It does not have the drama of the Crown Jewels or the scale of a Tudor court, but it is open far more of the year than Buckingham Palace, whose State Rooms open only in summer, and it is much easier to reach than Hampton Court Palace.
If you only have time for one royal building, the Tower of London usually gives first-time visitors more for their money. Kensington suits visitors who are interested in Queen Victoria, the Georgian court or royal fashion and personal stories, and those who want a quieter half day next to the park.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Kensington Palace?
Until 8 November 2026 an adult ticket costs £24.70, or £27.20 with the optional donation, and includes The Last Princesses of Punjab exhibition. From 11 November the adult price falls to £19.00. Children aged 5-15 pay £12.40 until 8 November and £9.50 afterwards; under-5s go free.
Are the Kensington Palace gardens free?
Yes. Historic Royal Palaces lists the palace gardens, including the Sunken Garden with the statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, as free to visit. You do not need a palace ticket. In July 2026 the gardens were open from 10:00 to 18:00.
Can you see where Princess Diana lived at Kensington Palace?
No. Diana's former apartments were private and are not part of the visitor route. You can see her statue in the Sunken Garden, which was one of her favourite spots, and the palace has held exhibitions about royal fashion in the past.
Are the Queen's State Apartments open?
No. The Queen's State Apartments closed on 15 June 2026 for major work and re-presentation, and Historic Royal Palaces says they will stay closed until spring 2027. The King's State Apartments and Victoria: A Royal Childhood remain open.
Do the royals still live at Kensington Palace?
Parts of the palace are still used as private residences and offices by members of the royal family. These areas are completely separate from the rooms open to visitors, and you will not meet the royal family on a normal visit.
Sources
- Historic Royal Palaces - Kensington Palace tickets and prices (checked September 2026)
- Historic Royal Palaces - Kensington Palace opening and closing times (checked September 2026)
- Historic Royal Palaces - Visit Kensington Palace (checked September 2026)
- The Royal Parks - Diana Memorial Playground (checked September 2026)