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Kensington Palace
( Royal Palace in London's Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens )





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Kensington Palace Web Site Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace in London is a working Royal residence. Of great historical importance, Kensington Palace was the favourite residence of successive sovereigns until 1760. It was also the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria.

Today Kensington Palace accommodates the offices and private apartments of a number of members of the Royal Family.

In 1689 William III bought the Jacobean mansion originally known as Nottingham House from his Secretary of State, the Earl of Nottingham, and commissioned Christopher Wren to extend and improve the house. This included the construction of Royal Apartments for the King and Queen, a council chamber, the Chapel Royal and the Great Stairs.

Queen Victoria was born and brought up in the Palace and news of her accession in 1837 was brought to her there by the Lord Chamberlain and the Archbishop of Canterbury. It had been expected that Victoria would reign from either Kensington or St James's Palace but almost immediately she moved to Buckingham Palace and never again stayed at Kensington.

Historic parts of Kensington Palace are open to the public. Kensington Palace is also home to the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, with items of Royal, ceremonial and court dress dating from the 18th century to the present day.

The 18th-century Orangery is a stunning location for breakfast, morning coffee, a light lunch or afternoon tea. It offers one of the finest tea selections in London with over ten different flavours to enjoy, as well as a range of premium wines and champagnes.
Admission to the palace is not required to visit the Orangery.

Admission Charges
(
From March 2008)
Adult £12.30 , Child £6.15 (under 5 Free)
Family Ticket £34 - 2 Adults + 3 Children

A multi-language sound guide, available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese, and a scripted version in Russian, leads you through the State Apartments and our audio-visual exhibition, Diana: a Princess remembered. The sound guide is included in the ticket price.

Avoid queuing: Kensington Palace tickets.

Opening Times : 10:00 to 18:00 (17:00 November to February)
Getting to Kensington Palace:
Kensington Palace is situated in Kensington Gardens, at the west end of Hyde Park. There are several Underground stations within about 10 minutes walk. The best option is Queensway, where you can walk through parkland to the Palace away from the streets.

Self Guided Kensington Walk Including Kensington Palace
Join us on our step by step self guided walking tour of London's Kensington district.
We start with a walk in the park, Kensington Gardens visiting Kensington Palace then on past the Albert Hall to South Kensington Museums before ending in Knightsbridge for Harrods and Harvey Nichols Department Stores.

Simple to follow instructions and street map and best of all its FREE!

Kensington Walk Details

Kensington Palace

Magic of London Tour - 8 hours
First a private tour of The Tower of London by your very own Yeoman Warder before it opens to the public. A river cruise follows. After lunch touring begins with a visit to Westminster Abbey and concludes with Kensington Palace washed down with champagne, tea, scones and clotted cream.