7.4/10
Winner
Buckingham Palace State Rooms
From £17 · 90 mins (Jul–Sep only)
Yes — if you're visiting between late July and end of September. Book online to skip the gate queue, allow 90 minutes, and pair it with the Changing of the Guard at 11am.
Buckingham Palace State Rooms vs Kensington Palace: which is worth it?
Side-by-side verdict, prices and tips. We pick a winner — but both have a place if you have time.
The verdict
Winner: Buckingham Palace State Rooms
If you only have time for one, pick Buckingham Palace State Rooms. Yes — if you're visiting between late July and end of September. Book online to skip the gate queue, allow 90 minutes, and pair it with the Changing of the Guard at 11am. Kensington Palace is still worth it, if…, just rank it below.
7.4/10
Kensington Palace
From £24 · 1.5–2 hours
Worth it if you want royal history without Buckingham Palace crowds or seasonal restrictions. Queen Victoria's story and the royal fashion displays carry the visit; pair it with the Sunken Garden and Kensington Gardens, and allow around two hours.
Side-by-side
| Spec | Buckingham Palace State Rooms | Kensington Palace |
|---|---|---|
| TripScore | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 |
| Verdict | Worth it, if… | Worth it, if… |
| From | £17 | £24 |
| Value (score per £) | 0.44 | 0.31 |
| Time required | 90 mins (Jul–Sep only) | 1.5–2 hours |
| Setting | Indoor | Indoor |
| Best time today | 9:30am opening | Weekday mornings, spring |
| Value for money | 6.5/10 | 7.3/10 |
| Experience | 8.2/10 | 7.6/10 |
| Crowds & wait | 7.2/10 | 8.2/10 |
Who should pick which?
Pick Buckingham Palace State Rooms if…
- ✓The only chance most people get to walk inside an actual working royal residence.
- ✓19 State Rooms used by the King for state banquets and official receptions.
- ✓Picture Gallery with works by Rembrandt, Rubens and Vermeer.
- ✓Includes a stroll through 39 acres of Buckingham Palace gardens on exit.
Pick Kensington Palace if…
- ✓Queen Victoria's actual childhood rooms, told through the excellent Royal Childhood exhibition.
- ✓Rotating displays of royal fashion, regularly featuring dresses worn by Princess Diana.
- ✓Far calmer than Buckingham Palace or the Tower, and open year-round.
- ✓The free Sunken Garden with the Diana statue, plus Kensington Gardens on the doorstep.