Sensory Palaces

A wellbeing programme for people living with dementia and their carers

For nearly a decade, our Sensory Palaces programme has enabled people living with dementia and their companions to explore our palaces’ stories and spaces using their senses. Together, we have evidence the positive impact of heritage, storytelling and creativity on participants’ mental health and wellbeing.

We know as the ageing population grows, there is an increased need for programmes that support adults with cognitive impairment and dementia. We want Sensory Palaces to support this audience. Our current programme does not enable us to meet the high demands of requests. We know this will continue unless we rethink our offer.

For this reason, Sensory Palaces will be on a short break from January 2024.

Our team will be hard at work developing a new plan for Sensory Palaces. By spring 2024, we plan to launch a refreshed programme that will enable more people to access our stories and spaces, more independently.

When

Until 05 December 2023. New programme in spring 2024.

Ticketing information

Email to register your interest in dementia-friendly programme by contacting the Communities team below.

Free (advance booking required)

Tours and talks

Sensory Palaces Programme Evaluation 2018

An evaluation of the benefits for people living with dementia and their carers and the impact of the heritage setting.

Download summary report

Download full report

Dementia-friendly palaces

We are committed to Historic Royal Palaces being a 'Dementia-friendly' heritage organisation.

We deliver the Alzheimer’s Society’s 'Dementia Friends' information sessions for our staff and volunteers to raise awareness and understanding of the disease so that we are better able to support people living with dementia at our palaces and in our communities. We are members of the Dementia Action Alliance in Richmond.

Dementia-friendly heritage group

We lead the Dementia-friendly heritage group, a peer network comprise of 18 heritage sites across the UK who are committed to developing and sharing dementia-friendly heritage best practice. New contacts are more than welcome!