Step inside Queen Victoria's birthplace, where centuries of monarchy unfold in scarlet chambers
Hand-picked by our editors — only the best 4 experiences from 12 reviewed
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1 hr 30 min
Uncover royal secrets and stunning interiors at this historic London residence of kings and queens
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2 hr
Guided stroll through royal gardens followed by traditional tea service in Queen Anne's historic Orangery
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3 hr 30 min
Pedal through royal London on a guided morning ride past iconic landmarks and historic green spaces.
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The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on Kensington Palace tours remember — all visible on a single visit.
Explore the opulent rooms once used for royal entertainment and court life.
View the elegant spaces designed for the royal court in this historic residence.
Walk through this historic garden often associated with royal family members.
Discover a collection of unique royal artifacts and historic treasures.
Experience the grand entrance and architectural history of the palace.
Every Kensington Palace tour side-by-side — duration, what's included, how you redeem.
| Experience | Duration | Rating | Guide | Audio guide | Free cancel. | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Standard Entry Most popular
Kensington Palace Entrance Ticket
|
1 hr 30 min | ★ 4.4 | — | ✓ | ✓ | $25 | Book → |
|
Standard Entry
Kensington Palace Gardens Walk & Afternoon Tea
|
2 hr | ★ 4.6 | ✓ | — | ✓ | $126 | Book → |
|
Standard Entry
Parks and Palaces Morning Bike Tour
|
3 hr 30 min | ★ 4.9 | — | — | ✓ | $46 | Book → |
All prices from verified partners. Availability and exact terms confirmed at checkout.
They complement each other; most visitors who do both find the Kensington Palace tour more intimate, while Buckingham Palace offers the grander display of monarchy. Those seeking to book kensington palace tour tickets often balance their itinerary by visiting both central London landmarks.
| Feature | Top pick Kensington Palace | Buckingham Palace |
|---|---|---|
Access to interiors |
Year-round access | Seasonal (summer only) |
Historical focus |
Stuart and Georgian court life | Modern monarchy and ceremonial state rooms |
Architecture style |
Jacobean and Baroque | Neoclassical |
Seasonal availability |
Open all year | Late July to September |
Crowd levels |
Moderate | Very high |
Primary visitor draw |
Royal history and gardens | Changing of the Guard and pageantry |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Choose this London landmarks attraction for a deep dive into historical royal residence life, or opt for the rival to experience the active seat of British royalty.
Choose your ticket, select your date, and reserve in under two minutes. Secure checkout handled by our verified partner.
Instant confirmation by email, with a mobile voucher you can save offline. No printing, no queuing at a collection desk.
Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for Kensington Palace tickets straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
No strict dress code exists, though respectful attire is requested as it is a family-friendly site. Ensure clothing does not feature offensive slogans.
Security scanners are in operation upon entry to the palace, shop, and café. Large bags, suitcases, and rolling luggage are prohibited inside the Kensington Palace buildings.
Personal photography is permitted without flash in most areas of your kensington palace tour. The use of tripods and selfie sticks is not allowed.
Kensington Palace provides step-free access and lift facilities throughout the site. Complimentary manual wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mobile phones are permitted. Keep ringer off inside exhibition spaces.
The palace welcomes families, though children should be supervised throughout the historic rooms. Buggy-friendly routes are available in the gardens.
Visitors can enjoy the Kensington Palace café or an afternoon tea experience at The Orangery. No outside food is permitted within the palace interiors.
Pets are not allowed, with the exception of service animals with appropriate documentation.
Last entry is typically 1 hour before closing. Check the specific ticket for timing.
Best time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
Tickets are generally non-refundable once purchased. Please check the official site for terms regarding the 24.7 GBP entrance fee.
Christopher Wren converted a Jacobean mansion into a palace in 1689, and William III chose Kensington for its clean air away from Westminster's coal smoke.
The State Apartments still carry the proportions Wren drew — oak staircases, ceiling paintings by William Kent, and the Cupola Room where Victoria received news of her accession at dawn in 1837. Nicholas Hawksmoor added the Orangery in 1704, and George I commissioned Kent's ceiling allegories in the 1720s, turning the King's Gallery into a 96-foot progression of mythological scenes.
The palace served as a working royal residence for three centuries. Princess Diana lived in Apartments 8 and 9 from 1981 until 1997, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge occupy the northwest wing today. The permanent exhibition dedicated to Diana opened in 2017, displaying twenty-five of her evening gowns alongside handwritten letters and the pink Catherine Walker suit she wore for her Panorama interview. Visitors see the desk where Victoria wrote her first diary entry as queen and the rooms where Princess Margaret hosted gatherings through the 1960s.
Kensington Palace tours grant access to the King's State Apartments, the Queen's State Apartments, and Victoria's childhood rooms on the ground floor. The King's Staircase ascends past trompe-l'oeil courtiers painted directly onto the walls, and the Privy Chamber retains its 1691 throne canopy. The Queen's Gallery holds portraits by Kneller and Lely, while the Victoria Revealed exhibition traces her journey from sequestered princess to empress. Seasonal displays rotate through the Sunken Garden — the White Garden planted in Diana's memory in 2017 now cycles through perennial schemes designed by Sean Harkin.
Kensington Palace tour tickets include entry to all public State Apartments, temporary exhibitions in the ground-floor galleries, and the landscaped gardens bordering the Round Pond. Audio guides are included in the standard admission price. The palace opens daily at 10:00, and last entry closes at 17:00 to allow time for the recommended two-to-three-hour visit. Kensington Palace tour hours remain consistent year-round, though special evening openings occasionally extend access during summer months.
"Victoria wrote her first diary entry as queen at the desk still displayed in her childhood bedroom."
A step-by-step walkthrough of Kensington Palace tickets — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You enter through the broad courtyard where sentries once guarded the King's Door, passing beneath the clock tower Wren positioned above the entrance portico. The King's Staircase rises ahead, and you climb past painted figures leaning over balustrades as if watching your ascent.
At the top, you turn into the Presence Chamber, where the throne canopy hangs above a dais William III never used.
You walk the length of the King's Gallery, counting Kent's ceiling panels — Mars, Minerva, Apollo — then cross into the Cupola Room. Afternoon light streams through tall windows, illuminating the gilt clock that marked the hour of Victoria's accession. You descend to the ground floor and follow the Victoria Revealed route through her childhood bedroom, where her dolls still rest in a glass case, then continue to the Diana exhibition. Her 1994 Victor Edelstein midnight-blue velvet gown faces the windows overlooking the Sunken Garden.
You exit through the Orangery and walk the gravel path to the garden's rectangular beds. The planting shifts with the season — autumn brings bronze dahlias and feather grass where white roses bloomed in summer. You circle the Round Pond, watching kestrels hunt above the palace roofline, before returning through the western gate.
Kensington Palace is open from 10:00–18:00 daily.
Pre-booking your tickets ensures faster access for your kensington palace tour.
We recommend 2–3 hours to complete your visit to the palace.
Yes, Kensington Palace is fully accessible with lift access for all major floors.
No, suitcases and large bags are not allowed inside during your kensington palace tour.
Photography is allowed without flash, but tripods and selfie sticks are prohibited.
There is no specific dress code for your kensington palace tour, just dress respectfully.
Yes, families are welcome to participate in a kensington palace tour.
No, but you can dine at The Orangery after your kensington palace tour.
The palace is located in Kensington Gardens; the nearest tubes are Queensway and High Street Kensington.
