Kensington Palace

What to expect

Kensington Palace sits in Kensington Gardens and began as a Jacobean mansion built in 1605. William and Mary bought it in 1689 and had Christopher Wren enlarge it, and it was a favourite royal residence for about seventy years. Queen Victoria was born here in 1819, and Diana, Princess of Wales lived here with her sons. The State Apartments opened to the public in 1899.

The public part is a set of rooms that you walk through on routes about William and Mary, the Georgian court, Queen Victoria, and fashion. It is smaller than the big royal palaces, so a visit takes a morning or an afternoon rather than a day. Outside, the gardens by Charles Bridgeman include the Round Pond and the Broad Walk, and Queen Anne had the Orangery built in 1704.

Don't miss

• The Cupola Room by William Kent
• The Queen Victoria rooms
• The Georgian court rooms
• The Orangery
• The Round Pond and Broad Walk

Tips for your visit

• Allow about two hours for the rooms and more if you want to walk in the gardens.
• Book a timed ticket in advance in busy periods.
• Combine it with Hyde Park and the Serpentine, which join the gardens.
• Check the site for the current routes, as exhibitions change.