Kensington Palace is a working royal palace in Kensington Gardens, London. You can explore its history and the included Victoria: A Royal Childhood experience, then continue into the surrounding gardens.
- Location: Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX
- Suggested visit time: up to two to three hours
- Garden admission: free; opening and closing times vary by season
The walk from Kensington House Hotel
You can use Kensington House for visiting the palace as a starting point; Kensington Palace is about a 10-minute walk away. The palace address is Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, so you can plan the walk around a palace visit and time in the park.
If you’re arriving by Underground, Queensway on the Central line and High Street Kensington on the Circle and District lines are both about a 10-minute walk from the palace entrance. From Queensway, the route enters Kensington Gardens through Black Lion Gate. High Street Kensington is another nearby option.
Bus stops are also close to the entrance: Kensington Palace bus stop on Kensington High Street is a three-to-four-minute walk away, while the Queensway Station stop on Bayswater Road is an eight-to-ten-minute walk.
What can you see at Kensington Palace?
Kensington Palace combines royal history with rooms and experiences connected to the people who lived there. It has been a working royal palace since 1689.
King William III and Queen Mary chose the palace as a royal residence, and Sir Christopher Wren later expanded it. Queen Victoria was born and raised there; the included Victoria: A Royal Childhood experience takes place in the rooms associated with her birth and childhood.
Plan for up to two to three hours if you want time to visit the palace at a measured pace. The visit also connects naturally with the gardens outside, which have their own landmarks to see.
Tickets, entry and visit planning
Palace admission is priced separately from entry to Kensington Gardens, which is free. The listed palace admission is £24.70 for adults and £12.40 for children under 16; Historic Royal Palaces members enter free.
Opening hours
- Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00–16:00
- Monday and Tuesday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Accessibility planning is available for palace visits. All three floors are accessible by lift, and the palace provides a recommended step-free route. Free manual wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis; they are for indoor use and cannot be reserved in advance.
One accompanying carer or companion ticket can be added online per booking for a disabled visitor at no charge. You can request additional companion tickets from the palace.
Note that two doorways on the Victoria: A Royal Childhood route have a gap of 790 mm × 900 mm and may be too small for larger mobility scooters or motorised wheelchairs.
You may leave and re-enter the palace and gardens. If you re-enter the palace, staff check your bags again. Check the official site for current admission details and visiting information.
Pairing the palace with Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens is a free-to-enter park of approximately 107 hectares (265 acres), surrounding the palace. Its opening and closing times vary by season, and it generally closes at dusk.
The Royal Parks lists the Italian Gardens, Albert Memorial, Peter Pan statue and Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground among the gardens’ landmarks. You can visit the palace first and then take time outdoors, or make the gardens part of your approach to the palace entrance.
The visitor’s guide to Kensington Gardens covers the park’s landmarks and practical details.
Hyde Park offers another option for a walk in one of London’s royal parks.
The Royal Albert Hall is about a 13-minute walk from the hotel, making it another landmark to consider alongside the palace and gardens. Hyde Park’s routes and practical tips are covered in this guide to Hyde Park.
FAQs
How long should you allow for Kensington Palace?
Kensington Palace says a visit may take up to two to three hours. You can add time for a walk through Kensington Gardens.
Is Kensington Gardens free to enter?
Yes. Kensington Gardens is free to enter, though opening and closing times vary by season and the park generally closes at dusk.
Can you leave and re-enter Kensington Palace?
Yes. Visitors may leave and re-enter the palace and gardens, but bags are checked again when you re-enter the palace.
Is Kensington Palace accessible by lift?
Yes. All three floors are accessible by lift, and a recommended step-free route is available. Some doorways on the Victoria: A Royal Childhood route may not accommodate larger mobility scooters or motorised wheelchairs.