Kensington Palace Tickets: 2026 Tour & Garden Guide
Discover how to book Kensington Palace tickets, explore the beautiful Princess Diana Memorial Garden, and enjoy a scenic walk through London's Hyde Park.
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Discover how to book Kensington Palace tickets, explore the beautiful Princess Diana Memorial Garden, and enjoy a scenic walk through London's Hyde Park.
If you are planning a trip to London in 2026, putting a royal palace on your itinerary is an absolute must!
While Buckingham Palace is the famous headliner, its state rooms are only open to the public during the royal summer holidays (from early July to late September). If your travel dates don't align with that window, there is an even more intimate royal experience waiting for you.
Kensington Palace offers a perfect alternative. You can tour the historic state apartments, stroll through the breathtaking gardens, pay respects at the Princess Diana Memorial Garden, and enjoy a classic afternoon tea nearby.
Kensington Palace has been a royal residence since the 17th century, home to iconic figures like Queen Victoria in her youth, Princess Margaret, and Princess Diana. Because parts of the palace still serve as active residences for the royal family, the public tour covers the beautifully preserved historical wings.
📍 Kensington Palace
Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Last Entry: 3:00 PM
Note: Closed for annual maintenance from 01/06/2026 to 01/21/2026
How to Book Kensington Palace Tickets
Kensington Palace is a popular spot year-round, so booking your tickets online in advance is highly recommended to secure your preferred time slot.
On the official website, adult tickets are priced at £20 (approx. $22).
However, you can often find authorized discount ticket platforms offering adult admission for under $19, which is a great way to save a few dollars on your London sightseeing budget.
Book Your Kensington Palace Entry Tickets Here↓↓
Kensington Palace Entry Ticket Discount
Once you complete your booking, you will receive a PDF ticket via email. Keep the QR code handy on your phone for quick scanning at the gate.
Getting to Kensington Palace via the Tube
Taking the London Underground (the Tube) is highly recommended over the bus system, as London traffic can make bus schedules highly unpredictable.
A convenient route is starting from Euston Square Station, taking the Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, or Circle lines to Edgware Road, and transferring to the District line to get off at Bayswater Station.
Transfers at these stations are incredibly simple—often just walking straight across to the opposite platform rather than navigating long, winding underground walkways.
Strolling Through Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
From Bayswater Station, a scenic 0.6-mile walk (about 13 minutes) brings you to the grand gates of Kensington Gardens, which seamlessly connect to the famous Hyde Park.
Hyde Park is one of London's premier Royal Parks, while Kensington Gardens offers a slightly more tranquil atmosphere, home to the beautiful Serpentine lake that divides the two spaces.
Watching locals read on park benches, joggers passing by, and dogs playing on the grass makes for an incredibly peaceful morning walk. It’s the perfect way to ease into the London pace of life.
Because the park is vast, expect about a 1.2-mile stroll (roughly 25 minutes) from the station to the palace itself. Once you spot the iconic statues in the distance, you’ll know you've arrived!
Just past the statue of Queen Victoria, you can head straight to the palace entrance, but we recommend taking a quick detour to the Sunken Garden first.
The Princess Diana Memorial Sunken Garden
Following the hedge-lined pathways leads you to the Sunken Garden, a space deeply associated with Princess Diana, who lived at Kensington Palace for 15 years.
At the heart of the garden stands the bronze statue of Princess Diana surrounded by three children, commissioned by Prince William and Prince Harry to mark the 20th anniversary of her passing.
Walking through the very grounds where one of the most beloved historical figures lived and walked feels incredibly poignant and reflective.
Just past the garden, you will see a grand pavilion. This is The Orangery, a beautiful dining venue where you can enjoy afternoon tea. While the atmosphere is spectacular, keep in mind that the pricing is definitely on the premium side!
Continuing to the left brings you right to the main palace entrance and the cafe terrace. Everything is interconnected, so there's no need to backtrack.
Stepping Inside Kensington Palace
Because Kensington Palace originally served as a suburban retreat rather than a primary seat of power, its red-brick exterior is remarkably understated and charming compared to the gilded palaces of continental Europe.
At the entrance, staff will scan your mobile ticket QR code, followed by a standard security bag check. Backpacks and purses are permitted inside without issue.
Audio guides are available in several languages at the desk. However, each room is equipped with highly detailed English information plaques, so you can easily enjoy the tour at your own pace without one.
The moment you step into the King's State Apartments and look up at the soaring painted ceilings, the grand scale of royal history truly sinks in. It feels like stepping straight into a period drama.
This drawing room was once used for music, dancing, and high-stakes royal card games. To bring the history to life, the curators have set up interactive replica board games from the era.
It is a fun touch that lets visitors sit down and experience a tiny piece of 18th-century royal leisure firsthand.
The palace also functions as an art gallery, displaying a magnificent collection of paintings, portraits, and royal treasures from the Royal Collection along the corridors.
You can even view actual ceremonial court dresses and historic garments worn by the monarchs and courtiers of the past, offering a fascinating look at the evolution of royal fashion.
Further along lie the Queen's State Apartments, created for Queen Mary II. These rooms feel noticeably more intimate, featuring her personal writing desks, dining quarters, and cozy gallery spaces.
The highlight of this wing is the Queen's Bedroom. Steeped in history, the room features beautifully preserved antique furniture and draperies, carrying a wonderfully atmospheric, faded-grandeur aesthetic.
A leisurely tour of the interior takes about 30 to 40 minutes. As you exit on the ground floor, you’ll pass through the Palace Gift Shop, which features high-end souvenirs, including exquisite English porcelain.
The tea sets are absolutely gorgeous, but the price tag is definitely fit for royalty! It’s a fun spot to window shop, even if you don't take a set home.
If you want to grab a drink, the cafe terrace outside offers a lovely view of the palace grounds. However, a quick look at local reviews suggests skipping the food and tea here, as most visitors agree you are paying strictly for the view rather than the quality.
It is open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with the last admission at 3:00 PM. It is closed every Monday and Tuesday, and will be temporarily closed from January 6 to January 21.
It is cheaper to book through a domestic travel site. On the official website, it costs £20 (~$22) per adult, but you can purchase it for under ~$19 on domestic travel sites.
It takes about a 13-minute walk from the station to reach the entrance of Kensington Gardens. Since the park is very large, it takes an additional 25 minutes to walk from the park entrance to the palace.
Korean is not supported on the audio guide. However, there are information plaques in each room, so you will not have any major issues enjoying the tour without an audio guide.
It was commissioned by her two sons and erected on the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana's passing. Princess Diana actually lived at Kensington Palace for 15 years.
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