How much does a ticket cost?
Please note that the palace is closed from 4 January to 25 March 2012 inclusive. The palace will re-open on 26 March 2012. You will find ticket information here. From 26 March 2012 kids under 16 go free with a full paying adult!
What does my admission ticket include?
Kensington Palace is closed from 4 January to 25 March 2012 inclusive. From Monday 26 March 2012, the newly-transformed palace will be open again for visitors. In addition to the new presentation of the magnificent State Apartments, your admission ticket will include three exciting exhibitions in 2012: Victoria Revealed - a new permanent exhibition exploring the life and reign of one of the palace's most famous residents - Queen Victoria - in her own words, opening on 26 March 2012. Diana - a small temporary display of dresses worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, opening on 26 March 2012 and running until September 2012. Jubilee: a view from the Crowd - a temporary exhibition telling the story of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897 - open between 24 May and 28 October 2012.
How do I find out more about what's on when I visit after 26 March 2012?
For information on the new visitor experience from 26 March 2012, click here to visit the 'What's On' page.
Will you accept my student ID?
For visits after 26 March 2012, we will accept all valid student ID cards from anywhere in the world. Click here for 2012 ticket prices and booking information.
How can I book admission tickets?
You can book tickets now to visit the new Kensington Palace from Monday 26 March 2012 onwards, online, by telephone or in person. Group bookings can also be made for groups of 15 or more people. Click here for more information and to make bookings.
I have a query with my online booking – where can I go for help?
Contact our booking queries team by email at Booking.Confirmations@hrp.org.uk or ring our contact centre on 0844 482 7799.
May I book tickets in advance when booking via a promotion or offer e.g. Tesco deal tokens, ATOC 2 for 1 offers, etc?
These promotions can only be used to buy tickets on the door on the day of your visit. Separate terms and conditions apply. Please check the relevant websites for more details.
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When are you open?
Click here for details of our opening times. In order to prepare the new palace for opening, the whole of Kensington Palace will be closed to visitors from 4 January to 25 March 2012 inclusive. The Orangery will be open as usual during this time and our gardens are always free to visit.
The newly-transformed Kensington Palace will open on 26 March 2012.
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How do I get to Kensington Palace?
For maps and detailed information about getting to the palace by foot, tube, car, taxi, coach or bicycle, click here. Please note that there is no vehicular access to the palace grounds from Kensington High Street.
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Where did Diana live?
Diana, Princess of Wales, lived in the West wing of the building, both during her marriage and after the separation. The West wing is not part of the visitor experience of Kensington Palace, as it is still in use by the Royal Family. For more information about the history of Kensington Palace, click here.
Do we see where Diana lived?
Unfortunately not, as Diana, Princess of Wales, lived in the West wing of the building, which was then and is still now, private and not accessible to visitors.
Who lives in the palace now?
Current residents include Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Duke and Duchess of Kent and Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The three men are the Queen’s cousins. It was announced in Autumn 2011 that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are to move into Princess Margaret's former apartment in 2013. People who work for the Queen and Prince Charles also have apartments here. For more information about the history of Kensington Palace, click here.
Where is the Diana Fountain?
The Diana Fountain is a short walk from Kensington Palace in Hyde Park, near the Lido Café and opposite the Serpentine Gallery.
Where is Diana’s wedding dress?
Diana, Princess of Wales' wedding dress is on display at her family home and her last resting place, Althorp House, Northampton.
Will I see Diana's dresses on display at Kensington?
When the palace re-opens on 26 March 2012, the new exhibitions will include a small new temporary display of dresses worn by Diana, Princess of Wales.
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Do you offer discounts for groups?
We offer a range of benefits and services to groups of 15 or more people visiting the palace. Please note that travel agents/tour guides (except Blue Badge) do not receive free entry. Click here for group admission rates, publications and further information.
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I need help with accessing the palace – where can I find some information?
Kensington Palace welcomes all visitors and hopes to make everyone's day out enjoyable. The new palace from 26 March 2012 will offer improved accessibility for all. More information about access from 26 March 2012 will soon be available here. If you have a specific query regarding accessibility, please contact us and we will be pleased to reply. Email: kensingtonpalace@hrp.org.uk
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How do I become a member?
Join us today and one of the benefits is free and unlimited entry for a year to all the five of our Historic Royal Palaces. It is quick and easy to become a member. You can join online and by phone. Click here for details about becoming a member.
What are other benefits of membership?
As well as enjoying free and unlimited access for a year to all five Historic Royal Palaces, your membership also includes great additional benefits, such as member events and opportunities to meet our own experts and special guests including authors and historians. Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership.
How do I renew my membership?
You can renew your membership by phone or post. Click here for detailed information about renewing your membership.
May I give membership as a gift?
Yes. Purchasing membership of Historic Royal Palaces as a gift is very easy. Click here for detailed information about giving membership as a gift.
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I’d like to book a school or college visit – who do I contact?
We provide education and schools programmes across the palaces, including Kensington Palace. Click here for information about our education activities, events and resources. To book an education visit to Kensington Palace for after 26 March 2012, please contact our education team on: +44 (0)20 3166 6646.
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I’d like to buy something I saw in one of your shops – is that possible?
Yes. Browse our online shop or email the details to our Retail department, who will be happy to help. Click here to visit the Online shop. Or email our Retail department at mailorder@hrp.org.uk.
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May I hold an event, such as a wedding or conference, at Kensington Palace?
Yes. Whatever your event, this magnificent palace makes an impressive location for entertaining and functions. For more information or to contact our knowledgeable Events team, click here.
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Food and drink
Is there food and drink available to buy at Kensington Palace?
Yes. The famous Orangery restaurant provides a wide range of refreshments from morning coffee, salads and sandwiches and hot meals and afternoon teas. Please note that the Orangery does not take reservations. The Orangery is located within Kensington Palace Gardens, which are free to enter. The Orangery remains open as normal during the palace closure period, 4 January to 25 March 2012 inclusive. Click here for more information. From Monday 26 March, in addition to the Orangery, a brand new Kensington Palace Café, with a courtyard and outdoor seating, will open.
May we have a picnic at the palace?
Yes, you can have a picnic outside of Kensington Palace and from 26 March 2012 you can have a picnic in the new landscaped gardens of the palace. You are welcome to use any of the benches outside the palace or in Kensington Gardens. Please note food and drink are not permitted within the confines of the buildings.
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Would I be allowed to take photographs?
Yes, photography will be allowed within the palace after 26 March 2012, although some specific exhibitions may not allow photography because of agreements with lenders of loan items on display. No filming is allowed apart from for editorial reasons with permission of the Press Office. Please be mindful of both the delicate fabric of the building, and of other visitors, if you take photographs inside. Photographs may be something for you to take home, but don't forget to take a story home with you too - ask our Explainers to tell you about the things that interest you.
Images of the palace are available for sale from our Photographic Library. Click here to contact the Photographic Library. Requests for commercial photography, filming or sketching should be made in advance. Click here to contact our Press Office regarding commercial photography.
How long will a visit to the newly-transformed palace last?
It depends on the individual, but if you explore the new palace and the new exhibitions fully and take the time to chat with our Explainers, you can spend from two to three hours or more.
Would I need permission to sketch inside the new palace?
If you would be sketching for your own personal use, you would be welcome to do so in many areas of the palace. However, we would be grateful if you could please contact us in advance. Commercial sketching needs separate permission in advance - please contact the Press Office on 0203 166 6166.
Would I be able to use my mobile phone inside the palace?
No - the use of mobile telephones is prohibited within the confines of the buildings.
Will you offer guided tours of the new palace?
We will be offering 'History Bites' every day, which will be mini talks by the Explainers as experts on a particular subject. These will take place in the visitor areas of the palace and there will be no need to book. Our Explainers will be on hand to give you the history and stories of the palace and answer your questions. Visitors will be provided with an orientation leaflet during their visit and a new Kensington Palace guidebook will be available to purchase from 26 March 2012 - find out more here. Special tours out of hours can be booked in advance - see What's On here or contact our Events Team.
Will there be anywhere I can leave my heavy bags?
The new Kensington Palace will have a dedicated Cloakroom area, so luggage can be left there at your own risk.
Is there anywhere to change my baby?
The newly-transformed Palace will have dedicated baby-changing facilities.
Where will I be able to leave my pushchair?
Pushchairs are allowed around the palace; when the palace re-opens on 26 March 2012 there will be a new lift and access to all floors for the very first time. Pushchairs can be left at the palace entrance, but please note, however, that these are left at your own risk and no other items may be left with the pushchairs. There is also limited room and so only a few buggies can be left at any one time. Additionally, please be aware that in the winter the only exit from Kensington Gardens after 4pm is via a narrow turnstile at Orme Square Gate (north) or Queen's Gate (south), in case your buggy is too big to exit.
Will there be anything for my primary school-age child to do at the palace?
The new Kensington Palace is a palace for everyone. Kids under 16 go free with a full paying adult from 26 March 2012 and with the new exhibitions, facilities and outside spaces, there will be plenty for children of all ages to enjoy and opportunities to learn new things.
Will I be able to bring my dog with me?
Only service dogs are allowed inside Kensington Palace and in the formal gardens. Please note that there are no facilities for dogs to be left while their owners visit the palace.
I’m holding a fundraising event – can I get free tickets?
As Historic Royal Palaces is a charity, we receive no funding from the Government or the Crown, so we depend on the support of our visitors, members, donors, volunteers and sponsors. We are unable to support other fundraising activities with complimentary tickets.
I would like to find out about the collections on display at Kensington Palace. Who do I contact?
During the transformation of Kensington Palace, many of the items historically on display have either gone into storage during the building works to keep them safe from the dust and vibrations, or they have been returned/lent to other organisations for their own exhibitions. However, whilst they are off display general information is still available within the History and Stories and Conservation sections of our website. For specific enquiries relating to the history of the palace and collections, email curators@hrp.org.uk.
How can I find out if a specific painting is going to be on show when I visit after 26 March 2012?
Kensington Palace is home to a large number of Royal Collection paintings. However, if you are coming to see a specific painting, please check that it is on public display at Kensington Palace before you visit. Email: chris.stevens@royalcollection.org.uk
How can I contact Kensington Palace?
For our 24-hour information line about the palace, call 0844 482 7777 (from UK) or +44 (0)20 3166 6000 (from outside the UK). Click here for more detailed contact information for Kensington Palace.
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