This post covers how to get discounted tickets to Kensington Palace.
We include tourist passes, 2-for-1 tickets, how to get there, and what exhibits you can see.
Set in the beautiful parkland of Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace is most well known for being, at one point, home to members of the royal family like Princess Diana, Prince Harry, and Prince William & Kate Middleton.
Dating from the 17th century, the palace is open year-round for visitors.
TICKETS
Tickets include access to all public areas of the palace, including special exhibitions and the gardens.
The first price listed below is without a donation, and the second is with the requested 10% donation to the upkeep of Kensington Palace.
Pricing
- Adult | £20.00/£22.00
- Child | £10.00/£11.00
You don't have to pay the full price, though! Get in for free or at a steep discount with a discount pass or other discount in the section below.
See below for pricing for seniors, students, and the disabled.
Note that you will receive a free audio guide in English with the price of your tickets. Just go to the Hub next to the ticket-scanning desk to ask for it.
The audio guides are first-come, first-served, so there may be a short delay in picking them up at peak times.
You can use your own headphones or the ones provided.
DISCOUNTS ON TICKETS
This section lists the various ways you can find free or discounted entry into the palace.
Another way to save money while discovering London is to take one of our walking tours.
1. Tourist Attraction Discount Passes
Entry into Kensington Palace is included with multiple attraction passes that bundle discounts for many of London’s most popular attractions.
Admission to Kensington Palace is included on these passes:
These tourist passes also cover the admission price for several additional activities and attractions, such as the following:
- Tower Bridge
- Windsor Castle
- Tower of London
- Westminster Abbey
- St. Paul's Cathedral
- View From The Shard
- Hampton Court Palace
- Churchill War Rooms
- And more!
Check out our detailed post on tourist attraction passes so you can save the most time and money on your trip to London.
All you have to do is scan your card, and you’ll be allowed in ahead of everyone else waiting in line for a ticket.
2. 2-for-1 National Rail
If you purchase and use a National Rail ticket on the same day you go sightseeing, it could give you a 2-for-1 deal at over 150 London sites and attractions.
Kensington Palace is one of the eligible locations. Check our full post for 2-for-1 discount details.
3. Historic Royal Palaces Members
Royal history buffs might want to get a Historic Royal Palaces membership.
The purchase of one membership allows you unlimited entry into all the major royal and historic palaces: Hampton Court, Kensington Palace, Hillsborough Castle, Kew Palace, Tower of London, and the Banqueting House.
It includes a 10% discount in the official Palace shops, cafes, and restaurants. Even without this discount, it pays for itself with the third Palace visit.
Prices:
- Adult Membership: £55/£65
- Joint (2 Adults) Membership: £90/£100
- Family 1 (1 Adult, up to 6 named children): £70.00/£80.00
- Family 2 (2 Adults, up to 6 named children): £110.00/£120.00
TIP: If you already bought tickets for another palace, you can upgrade to the full membership in person at Kensington Palace!
4. Military Discounts
If you have a MOD90 card, a Defense Discount card, or a MOD Certificate of Eligibility, you can receive a discount on tickets at Kensington Palace.
Tickets must be purchased on location on the day of your visit by presenting proof of your eligibility for this discount.
5. Coupon Sites
Check out discount sites such as Groupon – they occasionally have great coupons for admission.
6. AAA Discount
In the past, there have been discounts on Kensington Palace tickets for AAA members.
This might not always be the case, but we recommend checking just in case to make sure this is not an option.
7. Concession Pricing
Before you purchase tickets for Kensington Palace, make sure to check whether or not you qualify for their concession pricing.
This ticket price is reserved for seniors over the age of 65, full-time students, and visitors between the ages of 16 and 17.
In other words, it's basically a student discount, a senior discount, and a teen discount all wrapped up in one!
8. Teacher Discount
The Historic Royal Palaces organization has a Teacher Network, which provides information to educators around the UK.
If you sign up to be part of the Teacher Network, they will send you details about special offers for schools and potential free opportunities for teachers to visit.
This isn't technically a discount, but it will keep you in the loop if they decide to offer discounts to teachers in the future!
9. Group Discount
If you're visiting with a large group of 15 or more people, you'll be eligible for a group discount.
Here are the prices you can expect to pay:
- Adult: £18.40
- Child: £9.20
- Concession: £14.80
This section will help you plan your visit, including how to get there, when to go, and how long you should expect to stay.
If you’re looking for discounted entry, check out the section above.
How to Get Here
Kensington Palace is located at Kensington Gardens, Kensington, London W8 4PX, UK.
It is surrounded by the Kensington Gardens, which are connected to the west edge of Hyde Park.
We suggest using this Google link to find exact directions from your location.
Underground Stations:
- High Street Kensington
- Queensway
- Notting Hill Gate
Bus Routes:
- Bus routes 94, 148, and 274 Stop along Bayswater Road to the north of Kensington Gardens
- Bus routes 9, 49, 52, 70, and 452 stop along Kensington High Street to the south of Kensington Palace
Hop-On Hop-Off:
- There is a Kensington Palace stop with all major hop-on hop-off tour bus companies in London.
Opening Hours
- Summer Hours: 10:00 am - 18:00 (6:00 pm)
- Winter Hours: 10:00 am - 16:00 (4:00 pm)
- Closed: December 24 - 26
Be sure to check ahead of time for last admission times and for any holiday closures.
To avoid the largest crowds, we suggest you visit Monday–Thursday within a few hours of opening.
Check the website for more information.
How long should you stay?
Kensington Palace is beautiful but compact; most people spend approximately 1.5 hours in the palace itself.
You should allow for more time if you plan on eating in the Orangery or cafe or if you want to enjoy the gardens.
Prohibited Items
As with most historic landmarks, there are certain items that you will not be allowed to bring with you to Kensington Palace.
All visitors will be required to undergo a bag check before entering this site.
In addition to things like weapons, the following items are also prohibited:
- Tripods
- Monopods
- Selfie Sticks
- Large bags
What amenities are offered?
There are baby-changing facilities, free Wi-Fi, and bike rack facilities.
They do not have left-luggage or bag storage. If you need somewhere to leave your luggage or other items, you can store your bags here.
Is photography permitted?
You are allowed to bring cameras and take photographs of the common spaces and entrances of the palace.
They don't allow filming or panoramic photography and may prevent the taking of pictures of certain loaned items.
EXHIBITS AND TOURS
This section lists exhibits and tours to expect on your visit to the palace.
Hidden Stories of Kensington Gardens Tours
Each month, there is one day when guides take you through Kensington Gardens to share the stories behind this lovely green space.
You'll learn about the history of the gardens and statues, and other interesting tidbits.
This tour is for those 18+.
Palace Garden Tour with Royal High Tea
Stroll Kensington Gardens with your guide and then stop for high tea, including tea, sandwiches, cakes, and scones, at Kensington Palace Pavilion.
Today's Palace
Today, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their children, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent have apartments in Kensington Palace.
Prince Charles lived in Kensington Palace when he was married to Diana, and they raised their children there. The now King Charles III, along with his Queen, Camilla, currently live at Clarence House.
It's unknown if they will eventually follow the tradition of past monarchs and move to Buckingham Palace.
The Jewel Room
In this room, you'll find the gems commissioned by Albert for Queen Victoria.
Inside, you'll find earrings, necklaces, broaches, and tiaras.
Keep an eye out for special exhibits of Queen Victoria's jewelry at Kensington Palace.
The King's State Apartments
These rooms were previously used for official audiences and meetings with courtiers, dignitaries, and other visitors.
They're lavish and well-decorated with priceless works of art.
Spaces of note in the apartments include the King's Staircase, presence chamber, and drawing room.
Victoria: A Royal Childhood
This exhibit examines Queen Victoria's private life, away from her carefully crafted public persona.
You can expect to see a variety of objects from her early years, including a scrapbook of mementos and her doll house.
The Orangery
Visitors to Kensington Palace can also visit a beautiful Georgian cafe called The Orangery.
This building was previously the setting for Queen Anne’s elaborate court entertainment, and today it is open to visitors who wish to take afternoon tea or a small snack in the beautiful surroundings of the gardens that Queen Anne commissioned and designed herself.
The Queen's State Apartments
Much like the King's State Apartments, these rooms are also historically significant locations that were previously off-limits to visitors.
This is where Mary and other royal consorts once lived, slept, ate, and entertained their guests.
The King's Gallery
The room was first created during William III's reign as a place to "meet with his spies and plan military campaigns".
It was later renovated by King George I around 1725 and remains much the same today.
Here you'll find a stunning red and gold room full of curtained windows, paintings, statues, and painted ceiling panels.
The Sunken Garden
This garden is made up of terraced lawns, ornamental flower beds, a bong, and Art Nouveau gates.
This is where the bronze statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, commissioned by her sons, Princes William and Harry, sits.
The gardens are open from 10:00- 4 pm (16:00) and can be reached via the Sunken Garden Gate.
Note that there are other gardens and beauties on the Kensington Palace grounds, including a twig arch that surrounds the Sunken Garden, a wildflower meadow, the Orangery (a former greenhouse that you can now have tea in), the Serpentine boating lake, and more.
See a Movie
During the summer months, Kensington Palace hosts an open-air cinema.
Guests are invited to pack a blanket and a picnic and enjoy classic films displayed on a giant screen near the orangery of the palace.
See more of what happens during London summers on our monthly things-to-do posts for June, July, and August.
During December, you can go indoors and see films put on by Luna Winter Cinema.
A list of movies and dates can be found here. You find more things-to-do in London in December here.
Special Exhibits
For a list of current special exhibits, as well as permanent ones, visit the "What's On" page on the Kensington Palace website.
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