Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace
Kensington Gardens
London
Greater London
W8 4PX
England

logo: Designated as an Outstanding Collection

Website

Official site for Historic Royal Palaces

www.hrp.org.uk

E-mail

General enquiries

kensingtonpalace@hrp.org.uk

Group visit enquiries

groupsandtraveltrade@hrp.org.uk

Corporate events enquiries

events@hrp.org.uk

Media enquiries

press@hrp.org.uk

Education

kensingtoneducation@hrp.org.uk

Telephone

Information line

0844 482 7777

Booking line

0844 482 7799

Membership

0844 482 7788

Events enquiries

0844 482 7795

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
Kensington Palace's elegant South Front
baby changing facilities icon Food icon Shop icon Visual disability facilities icon Wheelchair access icon

The feminine influence of generations of royal women has shaped this stylish palace and elegant gardens. Today, the palace houses a stunning permanent display of fashionable and formal dresses, the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, which includes Queen Victoria's wedding dress and several couture dresses worn by Diana, Princess of Wales.

Explore the magnificent State Apartments complete with works of art from the Royal Collection and take tea in the Orangery designed for Queen Anne in 1704. Traditional treats include fresh scones with jam and clotted cream and Victoria Sponge in honour of the young queen who grew up in this palace.

This museum has a Designated Collection of national importance.

Venue Type:

Historic house or home

 Opening hours

1 March - 31 October: 10.00-18.00, last admission 17.00.
1 November - 28 February: 10.00-17.00, last admission 16.00.

Kensington Palace is closed 24-26 December (inclusive).

 Admission charges

Adults: £12.30
Children under 16 years: £6.15
Under 5s: Free
Students (with ID) and Senior Citizens: £10.75
Family (up to 2 adults and 3 children): £34.00

JOIN US AND SAVE MONEY!
Become a Member of Historic Royal Palaces and you can make unlimited visits to our five palaces for free!
- £39 a year for one adult
- £59.50 a year for two adults
- £55 a year for a family of one adult and up to
six children (family with one adult)
- £75 a year for a family of two adults and up to
six children (family with two adults)

Join online at www.hrp.org.uk or call 0844 482 7788

 General services and facilities
  • Foreign language audio guide available
  • General audio-guide available
  • Pre-booking service for groups
  • Refreshments
  • Restaurant
  • Shop
 Children and families
  • Baby changing facilities
 Disability access
  • Parking for disabled available
  • Toilets for disabled
  • Wheelchair access to some public areas
 Schools services and facilities
  • Member of staff available with responsibility for education
  • Primary school education service available
  • Secondary school education service available
 Research and adult learning
  • Teaching/resources available for HE/FE students
  • Mail order service available

Additional info

Pushchairs can be left at the security desk in the ticket hall and baby-changing facilities are available in the toilets next to the shop. A children's menu is available in the Orangery restaurant.

Disabled access to Kensington Palace is limited as the State Apartments are on the first floor and there is no lift. Wheelchair users should be advised that access to the State Apartments will require the visitor to walk up a shallow flight of 30 steps.

However, all areas of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection are accessible by wheelchair, as is the Orangery restaurant, which has a wheelchair ramp.
There are disabled toilet facilities on the ground floor, next to the shop.

The sound guide scripts are available in written form for visitors with hearing difficulties.

Visitors with disabilities are admitted at a concessionary rate and an accompanying carer is given free entry. Please notify the admissions staff when purchasing your tickets.

There is limited disabled parking next to the Orangery. As space is restricted, it is advisable to book in advance. Please telephone +44 (0)20 7937 9561.

Kensington Palace
Kensington Gardens
London
Greater London
W8 4PX
England

logo: Designated as an Outstanding Collection

Website

Official site for Historic Royal Palaces

www.hrp.org.uk

E-mail

General enquiries

kensingtonpalace@hrp.org.uk

Group visit enquiries

groupsandtraveltrade@hrp.org.uk

Corporate events enquiries

events@hrp.org.uk

Media enquiries

press@hrp.org.uk

Education

kensingtoneducation@hrp.org.uk

Telephone

Information line

0844 482 7777

Booking line

0844 482 7799

Membership

0844 482 7788

Events enquiries

0844 482 7795

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

The Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection at Kensington Palace is a Designated Collection of national importance.

There are no other collections of court dress comparable to this one. The collection includes court dress fashions from the 18th and 20th centuries, as well as emphasising the role of the trades-people who made the costumes. The collection acts as an outward manifestation of the significance of royalty and governing institutions in Europe, gives insights into important events in the nation’s history, and helps to explain the complex hierarchy of courtly life.

Collection details

Social History, Fine Art, Decorative and Applied Art, Costume and Textiles

Key artists and exhibits

  • Designated Collection

Kensington Palace
Kensington Gardens
London
Greater London
W8 4PX
England

logo: Designated as an Outstanding Collection

Website

Official site for Historic Royal Palaces

www.hrp.org.uk

E-mail

General enquiries

kensingtonpalace@hrp.org.uk

Group visit enquiries

groupsandtraveltrade@hrp.org.uk

Corporate events enquiries

events@hrp.org.uk

Media enquiries

press@hrp.org.uk

Education

kensingtoneducation@hrp.org.uk

Telephone

Information line

0844 482 7777

Booking line

0844 482 7799

Membership

0844 482 7788

Events enquiries

0844 482 7795

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.
 Paper-based and downloads

A Really Royal Palace: State Apartment Trail

http://www.hrp.org.uk/Resources/A%20really%20Royal%20PalaceJuly08.pdf

No wonder so many royals loved Kensington Palace: it's where they could do things that regal rulers really loved doing. Imagine you are a visitor to the palace with an appointment to see the King and follow our trail around the State Apartments.

How to obtain

Download this children's activity trail from our website.

Kensington Palace
Kensington Gardens
London
Greater London
W8 4PX
England

logo: Designated as an Outstanding Collection

Website

Official site for Historic Royal Palaces

www.hrp.org.uk

E-mail

General enquiries

kensingtonpalace@hrp.org.uk

Group visit enquiries

groupsandtraveltrade@hrp.org.uk

Corporate events enquiries

events@hrp.org.uk

Media enquiries

press@hrp.org.uk

Education

kensingtoneducation@hrp.org.uk

Telephone

Information line

0844 482 7777

Booking line

0844 482 7799

Membership

0844 482 7788

Events enquiries

0844 482 7795

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

Related teaching activities

Key Stage 2 History, Small project

Organisation and communication

Map a time line of the history of the building at Kensington Palace, showing how regal and historic events influenced the development of the royal residence.

Key Stage 3 Citizenship, 1 lesson

2.1 Critical thinking and enquiry

Hold a whole class discussion to debate the value of preserving historic royal palaces for future generations?

Key Stage 3 Design and Technology, Small project

1.1 Designing and making

Design a feature for the sunken garden at Kensington Palace to encourage biodiversity in the palace gardens.

Key Stage 3 English, 1-2 lessons

En3 Writing

Write a short monologue based on an historical event and the visit of a King or Queen to Kensington Palace.

Key Stage 3 English, 1-2 lessons

En3 Writing

Imagine you are a journalist writing at the end of the 19th century about the neglect of the State Apartments at Kensington Palace. Under the headline ‘a building at risk’, write an article to encourage people to restore the important buildings and save them from demolition.