Is Kensington Palace worth it?
Worth it for royal history without the crowds: Victoria's childhood home, royal fashion displays and the Diana statue gardens, all in about two hours.
📍Kensington Gardens, London W8
Our pick: Entry Ticket · Free cancellation
Bottom line — is Kensington Palace worth it?
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.
Quick Facts
- Opening hours
- 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (shorter in winter)
- Location
- Kensington Gardens, London W8
- Age suitability
- All ages
- Wheelchair accessible
- Yes
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation (most tickets)
How we scored the Kensington Palace
Our method£24 is reasonable for the State Apartments and exhibitions, and the surrounding gardens are free to everyone.
The King's State Apartments and the rotating royal fashion displays are the highlights. More personal and intimate than the bigger royal sights.
Rarely crowded compared with Buckingham Palace or the Tower. Weekday visits are relaxed.
The relaxed royal visit: real history, room to breathe, and Kensington Gardens on the doorstep.
Best time to visit the Kensington Palace
Mostly indoorKensington Palace is mostly indoor — weather only matters for getting there. Crowds drive most of the scoring.
- 9am🌤️Mostly sunny, 18°CGreat
- 11am☁️Cloudy, 19°CGreat
- 4pm🌤️Mostly sunny, 23°CGood
- 9am🌤️Mostly sunny, 20°CGreat
- 11am☁️Cloudy, 22°CGreat
- 4pm☁️Cloudy, 26°CGood
Typical hour-by-hour →
Visit in spring or early summer when the Sunken Garden, home to the Princess Diana statue, is at its best. The garden can be seen without a ticket.
Best Kensington Palace tickets, compared
All London attractions →| Ticket Type | What's Included | Price from | TripScore | Our Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
RECOMMENDED Entry Ticket Palace + exhibitions |
| £24.00 per adult | 8.0 Best Overall | View tickets → |
Kensington Palace + Kew Gardens Combo ticket |
| £38.00 per adult | 7.8 | View tickets → |
Afternoon Tea + Garden Tour Guided walk + royal tea |
| £125.00 per adult | 7.0 | View tickets → |
We compare prices from GETYOURGUIDE · KLOOK · VIATOR · TIQETS …
What visitors say
4.5/5 · 1,705 reviews"Rated 4.5 out of 5, Kensington Palace earns consistent praise for its well-organised entry, informative audio guides, and richly detailed royal history. Visitors highlight the beautiful paintings, regal artefacts, and stunning gardens as particular highlights. Booking is straightforward, and staff are noted as helpful throughout."
Summary of 1,705 visitor reviews aggregated from booking partners.
Why the Kensington Palace is worth it
- ✓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.
Common Kensington Palace mistakes
- ✗Expecting Buckingham Palace scale. Kensington is smaller and quieter, and better for it.
- ✗Skipping the gardens: the Sunken Garden and Diana statue are free and steps away.
- ✗Not checking which exhibitions are on, since displays rotate through the year.
- ✗Cramming it into a same-day royal marathon instead of enjoying the calm.
How the Kensington Palace compares
Other top London attractions ranked by TripScore.
Yes if you visit between July and September — the only time the State Rooms open. Book the 9:30am slot online to skip the gate queue.
Worth it as the anchor of a Greenwich day: the walk beneath the hull of the world's last tea clipper is unique. Pair it with the Royal Observatory.
Kensington Palace FAQ
Is Kensington Palace worth visiting?▾
Worth it for royal history fans: Queen Victoria's childhood rooms, the King's State Apartments and rotating royal fashion displays, all far quieter than London's headline royal sights. If you only have time for one royal palace and want scale, pick Windsor or the Tower instead.
How long do you need at Kensington Palace?▾
Around 1.5 to 2 hours for the State Apartments and exhibitions, plus extra time for the Sunken Garden and a walk through Kensington Gardens.
Kensington Palace or Buckingham Palace: which is better?▾
Kensington is open year-round, cheaper and far less crowded, with more personal stories (Victoria and Diana). Buckingham Palace's State Rooms are grander but only open in summer. For most visitors outside July to September, Kensington is the practical choice.
Can you see the Princess Diana statue without a ticket?▾
Yes. The statue stands in the Sunken Garden, which can be viewed free of charge from Kensington Gardens. The palace ticket covers the interiors and exhibitions.
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People also ask
Worth it only if you average about three paid attractions a day. For most visitors the Explorer pass from £54 with 60 days' validity beats All-Inclusive.
Worth it for families and animal lovers: a full day across 36 acres with lions, gorillas and penguins. Go on a term-time weekday and start at 10am opening.
Yes for history lovers, less so otherwise. Book the 9:30am slot, use the Jeremy Irons audio guide, and don't visit on a Sunday — it's closed to tourists.
Worth it once, done right: the 5,000-year-old circle genuinely awes, but it's a long coach day for two hours on site. Combine it with Bath or Windsor.
Our pick · From
£24 · Entry Ticket
Last reviewed · Editorial verdict by tickets.uk editorial team · Structured feed