InfoBritain

 

Kensington Palace, London

Kensington Palace was originally the home of William and Mary who came to the throne in 1689 following the ousting of James the Second in the Glorious Revolution. William wanted a residence away from the damp of Whitehall, and chose a house in what was then the village of Kensington. Kensington still offers a sense of escape from the city, with the expanse of Kensington Gardens close by. Christopher Wren was hired to bring the house up to royal standard, and he began remodelling work, which continued in stages through history to give the building as we see it today. Both William and Mary were fond of their new house, and they both died there, Mary of smallpox in 1694,and William of injuries following a riding accident in 1702.

Kensington Palace remained a residence of the monarch until the reign of George the Second. It then became the home of the Duke of Kent and his wife Victoria, Princess of Leiningen. Their daughter Victoria was born at Kensington Palace on the 24th of May 1819. Victoria would go on to become Britain's longest reigning monarch. It was as queen that Victoria saved a now dilapidated palace from demolition. Visiting Kensington Palace today you can do so in the knowledge that it has long played the role of a tourist attraction , Victoria turning the restored rooms into a celebration of her image as queen.

Kensington Palace's most famous recent resident was Diana Spencer. If William and Mary tried to find an escape at Kensington Palace, so did Diana. In 1997, following Diana's death, a vast carpet of flowers was laid at the gates by well wishers.

Kensington Gardens

The palace remains a royal residence today. The State Apartments are open to the public. Until the end of March 2008 there is an exhibition of photographs of Diana. There is a gift shop, and the nearby Orangery serves tea and light meals. There is also an imaginative children's playground in Kensington Gardens.

Opening Times: Kensington Palace is open 10am to 5pm daily, last admission 4pm. The palace is closed 24th to 26th December.

 

 

Directions: To get to the palace from central London, walk through Hyde Park, and then through Kensington Gardens. Nearest Underground stations are at High Street Kensington, and Nottinghill Gate. Click here for an interactive map centred on Kensington Palace.

Access: disabled access is difficult. The State Rooms are on the first floor and there is no lift. The Orangery restaurant is accessible to wheel chair users.

Contact:

phone: +44 (0) 870 751 5170