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The Kensington Palace | Royal Residency in London
Kensington Palace has been a royal residence since the 17th century, and currently hosts members of the British royal family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucest...
Founded On
1605
Founded By
Sir Christopher Wren
Quick information
Plan your visitFun facts
In the 18th century, Kensington Palace was the hub of the Georgian Royal Court, and had a strict dress code. Women wore wide skirts and had elaborate hairstyles with feathers, while men donned wigs, embroidered suits, and silk stockings.
Queen Anne, who resided at Kensington Palace, experienced significant personal tragedy, enduring 18 pregnancies with only five children born alive, and just one son surviving infancy.
Kensington Palace was Princess Diana's residence after her marriage to Prince Charles and during their separation. It was where she raised her sons William and Harry and conducted her famous interview with Martin Bashir. Visitors can see some of Diana's iconic dresses in the "Fashion Rules Restyled" exhibition.
Buy Your Kensington Palace Tickets
When we think of Kensington Palace, we imagine royalty and it is rightfully so. Kensington Palace, once popularly known as the Nottingham House, is stretched over a massive mansion that has been a royal house for over 30 decades! If you wish to know more about Kensington Palace, you are in the perfect place. Let us briefly learn about the history of this lavish palace as well as the insides of the state-of-the-art mansion. Dive in!
What is Kensington Palace?
Being the birthplace of Queen Victoria, Kensington Palace allows you to explore history from the eyes of the Queen in her childhood. Located in the heart of London, Kensington Palace is and has been the royal residence for young royals for more than 300 years. Initially known as the Nottingham House and then transformed into a beautiful palace by King William III, this monument has been a part of the British Royal legacy since 1619.
Today, the State Rooms of the palace have been opened to the public and managed by the Historic Royal Palaces independent charity. The private accommodation of the British Royals, however, is managed by the Royal Household.
Book Tickets to Kensington PalaceWhere is Kensington Palace Located?
Address: Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom
Located in Kensington Gardens, the Kensington Palace is a popular attraction in London, mainly because it is the current residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the former residence of the famous Queen Victoria.
Plan Your Visit to Kensington PalaceWhy is Kensington Palace so Famous?
Queen Victoria reigned for more than 63 years, longer than any monarch that came before her, and facilitated the great expansion of the British Empire. Her reign was so long that it lasted through the Industrial Revolution and was named as an era of its own, the Victorian Era.
Queen Victoria was a great ruler, and to be able to see where such a great monarch grew up is a privilege, which is what makes Kensington Palace so famous. The palace is adorned with rooms reimagined from her childhood days along with the King and Queen’s state apartments. Kensington Palace attracts millions of visitors every year and is a magnificent monument to explore if you wish to delve into the history of British Sovereignty.
Who Built Kensington Palace?
Kensington Palace was bought by King William III and his wife, Queen Mary II in the summer of 1689, and it was known as the Nottingham House at the time. They assigned the transformational works of Nottingham House to Sir Christopher Wren to make it ready for residence.
Wren added lawns and gardens to the mansion and also expanded the house with a three-story pavilion on each of the four corners. Wren then changed the direction of the house to face west and added an archway with a clock tower to give it a more wholesome appearance.
What’s Inside Kensington Palace
Discover more about what's inside Kensington Palace before visiting the Historic Royal Palace.
The King’s State Apartments
The King’s State Apartments is the most luxurious apartment at Kensington Palace. It features everything from grandiose staterooms and Presence Chamber to the Cupola Room, the King’s Gallery and lots more.
The King’s Staircase
The walls of the King’s Staircase were painted by William Kent as a vivid recreation of George I and has gained immense popularity over centuries. The artwork displays a lively 18th-century court of intriguing and unexpected characters.
The King’s Gallery
The King’s Gallery takes pride in being the largest and longest state apartment in Kensington Palace which was transformed by King George I in 1725. It was used primarily for exercise as well as exhibiting pictures.
The Queen’s State Apartments
The Queen’s apartments is where Mary, and later royal consorts, lived. This included the Queen’s Staircase, the Queen’s Gallery, the Queen’s Closest, the Queen’s Dining Room and the Queen’s Drawing Room.
Victoria: A Royal Childhood
Here visitors will get the chance to learn the story of Princess Victoria. Unfold all about the young girl, who was destined to be queen, explore the rooms where she was born and raised at Kensington Palace for an unforgettable experience.
Victoria: Woman and Crown
Find out all about Queen Victoria’s private life behind her carefully-managed public image in Victoria: Woman and Crown. It was created to mark the 200th anniversary of Victoria’s birth and revisits how she balanced her role as a wife, mother and Queen in the 19th century.
Royal Style in Making
The Royal Style in Making is a new temporary exhibition that explores the intimate relationship between the fashion designers and royal clients. Visitors can witness the wedding dress of Princess Diana along with many other exclusive royal outfits on display.
Sunken Garden
The Sunken Garden was first designed and constructed in 1908 . In 2017, the garden was completely renovated in white flowers for visitors to reflect and celebrate the life of Princess Diana.
Kensington Palace Gardens
Walk in the footsteps of royalty in the stunning gardens of Kensington Palace. The Sunken Garden, Cradle Walk, Wildflowers and Formal gardens are some of the top must-visit Kensington Palace Gardens.
Kensington Gardens
A part of the Royal Parks of London, Kensington Gardens were once the private gardens of the Kensington Palace, but are open to the public today. Covering an area of 107 hectares, the Kensington Gardens, along with the Green Park, Hyde Park and St James’ Park, form a beautiful green lung in the heart of London.
The garden is also home to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground. You can also find other attractions here like the Serpentine Gallery, Speke’s Monument, and a 7-mile Memorial Walk dedicated to Princess Diana.
All Your Questions Answered About the Kensington Palace
Q. What is Kensington Palace known for?
A. Kensington Palace is popularly known for its beautiful architecture that has a long history of being home to many royalties.
Q. When was Kensington Palace built?
A. Kensington Palace was built in 1605 as a two-storey palace by Sir George Choppin.
Q. Who had occupied Kensington Palace initially?
A. The palace was first occupied by Sir Choppin that was followed by the Earl of Nottingham, and many others.
Q. What are the different things to see at Kensington Palace?
A. Kensington Palace Apartments, the King’s Staircase, the King’s Gallery, Victoria: A Royal Childhood and Kensington Palace Gardens are a few of the must-visit things to see in the palace.
Q. Who lives in Kensington Palace now?
A. The family of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge currently lives in Kensington Palace now.
Q. Is Kensington Palace still a part of the royal residents?
A. Yes, it is still a part of the royal residents.
Q. How long does it take to cover Kensington Palace?
A. It takes nearly 2-3 hours to cover Kensington palace in its entirety
Q. When did the Kensington Palace open to the public?
A. Queen Victoria opened Kensington Palace to public viewing in 1899.
