Today, it remains the London home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children.
Inside the Palace
Even with its royal residents, parts of the palace are open to the public, who can explore various rooms and exhibits. There are four routes available when visiting.
- Victoria A Royal Childhood: Queen Victoria was born in the palace in 1819, and the rooms she was born and grew up in are open to the public
- King’s State Apartments showcase the Georgian era (the 1700s) during George II and his wife Queen Caroline
- Queen’s State Apartments are part of the older part of the palace, the Stuarts era in the 1690s, when Queen Mary II ruled with King William III
- Untold Lives: A Palace at Work allows you to explore the lives of people living and maintaining the palace between 1680 and 1810.
There are also 15-minute talks by one of the guides from Wednesday to Sunday.
Cafe and Gift shop
The Palace Café offers a wide range of food and drink. There’s also a gift shop with royal souvenirs.
Outside the Palace
The palace grounds are a great place to visit, with gardens and statues surrounded by the Kensington Gardens, one of London’s eight Royal Parks. There’s also a nice labyrinth-style path from the palace entrance to the Orangery that the kids and, why not, the whole family can enjoy.
Sunken Garden
Sunken Garden is a beautiful garden with water features and palm trees in front of the palace. It’s quite different from what you’d expect from a garden anywhere in the UK.
The Orangery
The Orangery next to the palace used to serve as a greenhouse and now offers afternoon tea with a vegan and a child option. Other dishes are also available, with a two-course meal option. In addition to food and afternoon tea, a selection of wines is available, from English sparkling wine to white and red wines and other drinks such as gin and beer. Naturally, you can also go for non-alcoholic drinks and coffee or tea.
Location
The palace is located in Kensington Gardens, right next to the Broad Walk, which, as the name suggests, is a wide paved road in the gardens. When the weather allows, it’s a popular place for a walk, and the Round Pond next to it is a great place to enjoy a sunny afternoon.
