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Kensington Palace Review

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Kensington Palace

Address: The Broad Walk, Kensington Gardens, Kensington, London, W8 4PX | Map It
Phone: 0844/482-7799 advance booking; 0844/482-7777 information
www.hrp.org.uk

Category: Castles/Palaces
Location: Kensington, Chelsea and Knightsbridge

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Fodor's Review:

Not as splendid as Buckingham Palace, or as famous as Hampton Court, Kensington Palace is the most intimate of London's great royal residences. Bought in 1689 by King William III, whose asthma made it necessary for him to live outside the city, it was converted into a palace by Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor. Royals have been living here ever since—former residents include Princess (later Queen) Victoria, Queen Anne, Kings George I and II, and Princess Diana.

Highlights

The Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection displays all manner of historic royal garments, ranging from the elegant (gowns belonging to the present Queen, and Princess Diana); to the elaborate (an 18th-century mantua-a dazzling court dress with a 6-foot-wide skirt); and the downright odd (King George III's socks).

The King's Staircase is overlooked by a vast, panoramic trompe l'oeil painting, covering the walls and ceiling with a burst of color. Not all of the figures depicted are courtiers and servants, however; look out for Peter the Wild Boy, a feral child who was something of a celebrity in London during the 1720s.

The King's Gallery was built to display some of the monarch's personal art collection. Many of the paintings here now are copies, but no matter; the room itself is a work of art, with rich red damask walls, intricate gilding, and a beautiful painted ceiling.

The grounds are almost as lovely as the palace itself. Highlights include the Sunken Garden with its fountains and Tudor design that echoes Hampton Court. Unmissable—especially in the spring, when tulips bloom in a riot of color.

Tips

If you also plan to visit the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, or Kew Palace, consider becoming a member of Historic Royal Palaces. It costs £38 per person, or £75 for a family, and gives you free entry to all five sites for a year.

Picnicking is allowed on the benches in the palace grounds. (You can also picnic anywhere in the adjoining Kensington Gardens.)

There's a delightful café at the Orangery, near the Sunken Garden. Built for Queen Anne, it's a great place for formal afternoon tea, although you have to book ahead.

It's only recently that the palace has made much fuss over its most famous modern resident, the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Commemorative events have included the Field of Flowers—an open-air art installation featuring thousands of dandelion heads arranged into giant flowers.

Cost: £12.30
Open: Mar.-Oct., daily 10-6; Nov.-Feb., daily 10-5; last admission 1 hr before closing
Tube: Queensway

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