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Kensington Palace entrances | A Detailed Guide on How to Access the Attraction

  • Shortest queues, timed tickets, combo tickets, and most pre-booked entry: Kensington Palace main visitor entrance on the south side
  • Guided garden tea experience: Queensway Station meeting point, not the palace entrance
  • Wheelchair access: Kensington Palace main visitor entrance via a step-free route, with lifts inside
  • Garden gates and Orangery approaches: Useful for the gardens, not for palace ticket scanning

→ Jump to Choose the best entrance for you

Kensington Palace has 1 main public entrance for ticketed palace visits, on the south side of the building inside Kensington Gardens. Around it, there are multiple park gates and garden approaches from Bayswater Road, Queensway, and Kensington Road, but these are not separate palace admission doors. You only need a ticket when entering the palace building itself; Kensington Gardens remains public.

[Optional] Map of entrances

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Book Kensington Palace tickets- Ticket → Entrance mapping

TicketUse this entranceSkips the ticket line?Notes

Kensington Palace Tickets

Kensington Palace main visitor entrance

Yes (on-site ticket purchase), No dedicated fast-track line stated

Timed entry to the palace building; audio guides are available from the Hub next to the ticket scanning desk

Combo (Save 10%): Kensington Palace + London Eye Tickets

Kensington Palace main visitor entrance

Yes (on-site ticket purchase), No dedicated fast-track line stated

Kensington Palace entry includes the audio guide and access to the State Apartments, Jewel Room, Palace Gardens, and exhibitions

Combo (Save 5%): Tower of London + Kensington Palace Tickets

Kensington Palace main visitor entrance

Yes (on-site ticket purchase), No dedicated fast-track line stated

Use the palace entrance for the Kensington Palace part of your combo; no guide or transfers included

Combo (Save 5%): Kew Gardens + Kensington Palace Admission Tickets

Kensington Palace main visitor entrance

Yes (on-site ticket purchase), No dedicated fast-track line stated

Palace admission is timed; travel light because suitcases and large bags aren’t permitted

Combo (Save 5%): Frameless London + Kensington Palace Tickets

Kensington Palace main visitor entrance

Yes (on-site ticket purchase), No dedicated fast-track line stated

Includes Kensington Palace entry and access to selected exhibitions and gardens on the palace side

Royal Afternoon Tea at Kensington Palace with Walking Tour of the Gardens

Queensway Station meeting point, not the palace entrance

Not applicable

This experience includes a guided walk in Kensington Palace Gardens and afternoon tea, but not entry to Kensington Palace

Choose the best entrance for you

Kensington Palace main visitor entrance

  • Location: Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, on the south side of the palace
  • How to spot: Look for the main palace forecourt and visitor entry doors on the red-brick south frontage • [Maps pin]
  • Best for: Kensington Palace Tickets, palace combo tickets, timed online entry, and most visitors who want the State Apartments, exhibitions, and Palace Gardens
  • Accessibility: Step-free route into the palace, lifts to public floors, wheelchair and pram/stroller access, guide dogs welcome
  • Highlights nearby: Sunken Garden, Diana statue, King’s State Apartments, Queen’s State Apartments
  • Pro tip: If you’re collecting an audioguide device, go to the Hub beside the ticket scanning desk after entry; physical handout is first-come, first-served and closes at 3pm

Using this gate? Book Kensington Palace Tickets

Kensington Gardens gates and Orangery approach

  • Location: Public approaches through Kensington Gardens from Queensway, Bayswater Road, and Kensington Road, leading toward Kensington Palace
  • How to spot: These are park gates and garden paths into Kensington Gardens rather than palace ticket-scanning doors • [Maps pin]
  • Best for: Visitors heading first to the Sunken Garden, the Diana statue, the Orangery area, or the Royal Afternoon Tea at Kensington Palace with Walking Tour of the Gardens
  • Accessibility: Step-free park access is available, but some outdoor surfaces can be gravel; the fully accessible palace entry is still the main visitor entrance
  • Highlights nearby: Orangery area, garden walks, Sunken Garden, Diana statue
  • Pro tip: If you arrive from Queensway or Bayswater Road, allow extra walking time across the gardens so you still reach the palace’s south-side entrance during your timed window

Using this approach? Book Royal Afternoon Tea at Kensington Palace with Walking Tour of the Gardens

Entry to Kensington Palace is step-free through the main visitor entrance on the south side of the building. Inside, lifts serve the public floors, and the palace is suitable for wheelchair users as well as visitors with prams or strollers.

Helpful accessibility details:

  • Wheelchairs can be borrowed on site, subject to availability
  • Guide dogs are welcome
  • Disabled visitors are entitled to bring 1 accompanying carer free of charge
  • The standard palace ticket includes an audio guide in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Mandarin, Japanese, and British Sign Language
  • Some palace rooms use low-level lighting, which may be harder for visitors with visual impairments
  • Some outdoor approaches through Kensington Gardens include gravel, even though the palace interior is step-free

If you want the shortest, simplest accessible route, approach from High Street Kensington rather than crossing more of the gardens from Queensway. You can also preview the venue layout and digital guide through the official Visitor’s Guide.

If you come in through Queensway or Bayswater Road, keep following the park paths toward the palace until you reach the south-side visitor entrance where tickets are scanned. If you arrive from High Street Kensington, use the shorter walk along Kensington Road into Kensington Gardens and head straight for the palace forecourt. Don’t stop at the Orangery if your palace entry slot is first.

Security, bags & re-entry

Security screening with handheld metal detector before tour.
  • Entry procedures center on timed ticket scanning at the palace door, so keep your ticket ready before you reach the front
  • Travel light: food and beverages, alcohol, suitcases, large bags, and rolling luggage aren’t allowed inside
  • Audioguides are collected from the Hub next to the ticket scanning desk; physical device handout ends at 3pm
  • Summer mornings and school-holiday periods are the slowest for entry formalities
  • Plan to complete your visit in 1 go, as no separate re-entry benefit is stated in the supplied ticket material

Frequently asked questions about Kensington Palace entrance(s)

The main public entrance is on the south side of Kensington Palace inside Kensington Gardens. This is the entrance standard ticket holders, timed-entry visitors, and most combo-ticket users should head to for palace admission.

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