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Birthplace of Queen Victoria and home to Princess Diana.
Originally a private country house, public visitors are now warmly welcomed into Kensington Palace – the birthplace of Queen Victoria and home to Princess Diana between 1981 and 1997. Relive the moment in the Victorian Rooms when the young Princess Victoria discovered that she was to become Queen. Admire the family portraits and original furnishings adorning the homely Queen’s Apartments. Revel in the grandeur of the King’s Apartments, saturated with paintings and works of art from the Royal Collection, and find sanctuary in the calming Cupola Room where Princess Victoria was christened. On permanent display inside the palace is the famed Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection bursting at the seams with outfits from the 18th century to the present day including a range of glamorous dresses worn by HM Queen Elizabeth II and an array of spectacular and unique evening gowns modelled by Diana, Princess of Wales. No tour of the palace is complete without taking a turn around the elegant 18th century Orangery and Sunken Garden designed to host elaborate court entertainments during the reign of Queen Anne.
Best for:
Princess Diana and Queen Victoria, dresses, family portraits, Orangery and sunken gardens.
Did you know?
In 1725-6 King George I introduced a number of exotic animals into the gardens of Kensington Palace - including three tigers and two extremely rare civet cats. |
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Alternative
Historic Buildings Near Kensington Palace (State Apartments) |
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| London Sights and Attractions |
| Linley Sambourne House |
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18
Stafford Terrace,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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11 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| For a virtually untouched and immaculately preserved slice of Victorian living, visit this delightful building. One of the only genuine Victorian townhouses remaining and virtually ...More...
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| London Sights and Attractions |
| Brompton Oratory |
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Brompton Road,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
SW7
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22 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| Flamboyant, High Renaissance, Early Baroque Catholic church.
Built in 1884, in the Italianate Baroque style, the Brompton Oratory is an exact imitation of the Gesu Church ...More...
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Local
Sights and Attractions Near Kensington Palace (State Apartments) |
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| London Sights and Attractions |
| Kensington Roof Gardens |
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99
Kensington High Street,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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8 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| Unique rooftop garden in Kensington.
Now more a clubbing and “event” venue, these extraordinary roof gardens are still accessible to the general public during the day ...More...
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| London Sights and Attractions |
| Albert Memorial |
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Kensington Gardens (opposite Royal Albert Hall),
Westminster,
London,
W2
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11 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| 180ft Victorian bronze gilt statue in Kensington Gardens.
This tribute to Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert was erected following his death through typhoid at the age ...More...
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Local
Event Near Kensington Palace (State Apartments) |
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| London Event |
| The Last Debutantes |
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Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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0 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| Fifty years ago, "the season" of 1958 was the final time debutantes were presented to society for their "coming out". Social and political changes were starting to make an impact on previously ingrained traditions and, increasingly, young girls had more options than simply finding a...More...
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Local
Hotels Near Kensington Palace (State Apartments) |
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| London Hotels |
| Royal Garden Hotel |
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2-24
Kensington High Street,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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3 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| The Royal Garden’s main attraction is the views it offers, towering as it does over the well kept royal gardens of Kensington Palace. As well ...More...
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| London Hotels |
| Hilton Hyde Park |
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129
Bayswater Road,
Westminster,
London,
W24RJ
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9 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| Indulge in all the charm and elegance of a traditional London townhouse with a stay in one of this hotel’s 129 rooms. With stunning views ...More...
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Local
Event Near Kensington Palace (State Apartments) |
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| London Event |
| Opera Holland Park: Tosca |
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Holland Park Theatre,
Holland Park,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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16 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| Opera fans will welcome the return of the Holland Park season, which stages classic masterpieces in the heart of one of London's much-loved parks. Under ...More...
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| London Event |
| Opera Holland Park: The Magic Flute |
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Holland Park Theatre,
Holland Park,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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16 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| Opera fans will welcome the return of the Holland Park season, which stages classic masterpieces in the heart of one of London's much-loved parks. Under ...More...
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Local
Shopping Near Kensington Palace (State Apartments) |
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| London Shopping |
| Pierre Marcolini |
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6
Lancer Square,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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4 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| Winner of the Prix du Monde, Pierre Marcolini is one of the finest chocolatiers in the world. His layered truffles and home-made pralines are the ...More...
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| London Shopping |
| MAC Cosmetics |
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28a
Kensington Church Street,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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5 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| Ultra-chic, ultra-hip cosmetics with colours to die for, all imported from Canada. A must-have for the cosmetics connoisseur. For a treat you can book a ...More...
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Local
Dining Near Kensington Palace (State Apartments) |
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| London Dining |
| The Orangery |
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Kensington Palace,
Kensington Gardens,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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0 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| This excellent cafe is a little pricey but benefits from a beautiful, romantic location inside the gardens of Kensington Palace. Designed by Sir John Vanburgh ...More...
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| London Dining |
| The Orangery (Kensington Palace) |
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Kensington Gardens,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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0 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| Former royal conservatory set amid Kensington Gardens.
Set in the perfectly manicured grounds of historic Kensington Palace, the Orangery offers an idyllic setting for afternoon ...More...
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Local
Education Near Kensington Palace (State Apartments) |
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| London Education |
| The London School of Painting and Drawing |
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23
Kensington Square,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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9 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| Evening and weekend classes in life drawing and painting, taught by tutors from the Slade School of Fine Art and the Royal Society of British ...More...
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| London Education |
| Royal College of Art |
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Kensington Gore,
Westminster,
London,
SW7
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11 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| This is one of London's most prestigious art colleges and the world's only wholly postgraduate university of art and design. You will need at least ...More...
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Local
Leisure Near Kensington Palace (State Apartments) |
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| London Leisure |
| London Archers |
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Perks Field,
Kensington Palace,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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0 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| An excellent members archery club that shoots in the grounds of Kensington Palace in summer and in Pimlico in winter. Archery is a totally satisfying ...More...
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| London Leisure |
| The Serpentine Lido |
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Hyde Park,
Westminster,
London,
W2
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13 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| A hugely popular swimming venue, every summer Hyde Park's lovely lake invites London folk to plunge into its watery depths. It's a great option ...More...
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Local
Pubs Near Kensington Palace (State Apartments) |
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| London Pubs |
| The Churchill Arms |
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119
Kensington Church Street,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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7 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| Pretty, traditional pub serving authentic Thai food in a conservatory setting.
Now more England’s national cuisine than sausages and mash, Thai food (the perfect accompaniment to ...More...
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| London Pubs |
| Windsor Castle |
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114
Campden Hill Road,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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11 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| Elevated on an incline in the appropriately named Notting Hill, the rustic old Windsor Castle pub was so-called because in its early days the pub’s ...More...
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Local
Nightlife Near Kensington Palace (State Apartments) |
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| London Nightlife |
| Notting Hill Arts Club |
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21
Notting Hill Gate,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W11
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10 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| Pricey but always fun, this subterranean dive in the heart of trendy West London enjoys a steady crowd and on big nights it gets absolutely ...More...
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Local
Business Near Kensington Palace (State Apartments) |
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| London Business |
| Kensington Palace |
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Kensington Gardens,
Kensington and Chelsea,
London,
W8
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0 minutes distance from Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
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| ...More...
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