Kensington Palace State Apartments Entry Tickets London

Kensington Palace and its royal history

Kensington Palace has been a royal residence since the seventeenth century and still houses members of the royal family. It stands on the edge of Kensington Gardens, close to Hyde Park, and mixes historic State Apartments with modern exhibitions. If you are searching for Kensington Palace tickets, this page gives you the standard entry with an audio guide.

You need around 90 minutes to see the main rooms and exhibitions. The audio guide leads you through the palace and tells the stories of its residents, from kings and queens to princesses.

The King's and Queen's State Apartments

The State Apartments were built for William III and Mary II, and the rooms show how the Stuart monarchs lived and entertained. The King's State Apartments are grand and formal, and the Queen's are more personal. Learn about the dramatic lives of Queen Anne and her son William, the last of the Stuart line.

Displays of paintings, furniture and objects from the Royal Collection help bring the rooms to life. The tone is more intimate than at other royal sites, with an emphasis on people rather than protocol. Pause in the smaller chambers too, where the audio guide adds personal details that the grand rooms do not.

The Cupola Room and King's Grand Staircase

The Cupola Room and the King's Grand Staircase, by the architect William Kent, are among the most impressive interiors in the palace. The ceiling of the Cupola Room is painted to look like a domed vault, and the staircase is lined with painted courtiers looking down at you.

These are popular spots for photographs, and they show the style of the early eighteenth-century court. Look for the flamboyant court dress on display, which shows how fashion was used to display status. Take your time on the staircase itself, because the painted figures along the walls reward a slow look, and the light through the tall windows changes the mood of the room through the day.

Exhibitions, Victoria and Diana, and visiting tips

Kensington Palace is where Queen Victoria was born and grew up, and where Diana, Princess of Wales lived. Temporary exhibitions change during the year and are included in general admission. If you are asking whether Kensington Palace is worth visiting, the combination of royal stories and the gardens makes it a strong choice.

The palace is near High Street Kensington and Queensway stations, and it is about a 10 to 15 minute walk from either. Opening times vary, so check the date you choose. Large bags are not allowed, and there is no skip-the-line or hotel pickup.