Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace in London is on the unique London attraction and place not to miss in your London heritage tour. London has many of the royal monuments like Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Big Ben with British Parliament House, London Bridge with Tower Bridge Experience, St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, Kingston Palace in London is one of them but still it has very different history and many beautifully strange attached stories with it. The feminine influence of generations of royal women has shaped this stylish palace and elegant gardens. The palace first became a royal residence for William III and Mary II in 1689. The magnificent State Apartments showcase some of the most breath taking examples of the architect and painter William Kent’s work. This sumptuous series of rooms include the Cupola Room where Princess Victoria was christened. The palace is home to an exquisite collection of English court dress, a unique archive of royal fashion from the 18th century to the present day and includes Diana, Fashion and Style an exhibition exploring the impact on fashion and shift in style from a demure young princess to that of an international celebrity – glamorous and elegant, featuring several of the couture dresses worn by Diana, Princess of Wales. A special exhibition, The Last Debutantes, included in admission until June 2009, draws visitors into the world of the debutante and the bewildering rules of etiquette and the dizzying schedule of presentations, cocktail parties and dances.

Kings Gallery:

The largest and longest of the state apartments at Kensington Palace, the King's Gallery looks pretty much as it was when decorated for King George I in 1727.

Enchanted Places:

The Enchanted Palace : Kensington Palace has been completely transformed into the Enchanted Palace - expect the unexpected! Discover a surprising and magical palace, filled with stunning cutting-edge installations of contemporary fashion from leading designers and new fashion talent.

The King’s staircase:

It was this way that the King and his visitors would enter his State Apartments. The staircase walls and ceiling are painted with William Kent’s vivid, life-sized portrayals of George I’s court and its various characters.  The staircase is called the Room of Flight, and features a striking Vivienne Westwood dress displayed mid flight on the stairs.

Mary of Modena's Bed:

It is the oldest bed in the Historic Royal Palaces collection, with the earliest part being the counter plane, c.1650-80. This fine bed of red and blue velvet is called the ‘Warming Pan Bed’, because tradition has it that this was the very bed in which Mary of Modena, wife of James II, gave birth in 1688.   This event was highly controversial, because it provided the Catholic king with an heir.  

Queen Victoria's Bedroom:

This is the bedroom where Victoria spent the last night of her youth.
When she was woken up at six on 20 June 1837, it was to be told that her uncle had died in the night and that she was now Queen Victoria.  She was just eighteen. This room is called 'The Room of a Sleeping Princess', with its striking display and mood lighting, including a stunning William Tempest dress, all inspired by the story of Victoria's constrained childhood at Kensington Palace.

Sunken garden:

The beautiful Sunken garden was planted in 1908, transforming part of the gardens occupied by potting sheds into a tranquil ornamental garden of classical proportions. It was modelled on a similar garden at Hampton Court Palace and celebrated a style of gardening seen in the 18th century. Vibrant colours and exotic planting are on display from April to October when the garden is looking its best.

VISITORS INFORMATION:

Further information:

Kensington Palace is open daily, including Bank Holidays.

Closures

Kensington Palace is closed 24, 25 and 26 December (inclusive).

Enchanted Evenings

   21 May, 18 June, 16 July and 20 August 2010
   Open until 21.00, last entry 20.00

What could be more enchanting than a palace at night? Experience the dazzling spectacle of the Enchanted Palace experience after hours, when the palace doors would normally be locked.