Kensington Palace Audio Guide

Kensington Palace: what does the audio guide cover?

1. 01

   Welcome to Kensington Palace

   Welcome to Kensington Palace, a remarkable landmark nestled in the heart of Kensington Gardens that has served as a royal residence since the late seventeenth century. You are standing at a site that began its life as a much more modest Jacobean mansion known as Nottingham House, built in 1605. The story of the palace we see today truly began in 1689, when the joint monarchs King William the Third and Queen Mary the Second purchased the house for 20,000 pounds. They were looking for a home away from the damp, smoggy environment of Whitehall Palace because the King suffered from severe asthma. Over the next three centuries, this country retreat evolved into the grand brick residence you see now, becoming the birthplace of Queen Victoria and a home for some of the most famous figures in modern royal history. As you begin your walk, take a moment to imagine this once-rural landscape as it was before the city of London grew to surround it.

2. 02

   Wren’s Grand Design and the Georgian Court

   When William and Mary took over, they did not just move in; they transformed the house using the era’s greatest architect, Sir Christopher Wren. Wren expanded the building by adding three-story pavilions at each corner and a grand clock tower. If you head inside to the King's State Apartments, you will experience the opulence of the Georgian Court. One highlight you should not miss is the Cupola Room, designed with incredible detail by William Kent in the 1700s. It was essentially the most grand room in the palace, used for royal receptions where every guest had to bow to the throne, even when it was empty! A fascinating structural detail to look for is the King’s Staircase. It was rebuilt in marble after a fire in 1691 and features a stunning mural of court life that actually depicts real members of the King’s household from that period. These rooms were built to impress, serving as a public stage for royal power and etiquette.

3. 03

   Victoria: The Lonely Princess of Kensington

   Kensington Palace is perhaps most famous as the childhood home of Queen Victoria, who was born here in 1819. However, her youth here was anything but a fairy tale. She lived under a strict and isolating set of rules known as the Kensington System, devised by her mother and a close advisor, Sir John Conroy. This system meant the young princess could never walk down the stairs alone without holding an adult's hand and had to share a bedroom with her mother every single night. You can still visit the North Drawing Room where she was born and the Red Saloon where she held her first Privy Council meeting at just 18 years old. It was in this palace, in the early hours of June twentieth, 1,837, that Victoria was woken in her dressing gown to be told her uncle had died and she was now the Queen. After gaining her independence, she moved to Buckingham Palace almost immediately, but her legacy remains deeply woven into these walls.

4. 04

   The People's Princess and the Sunken Garden

   In more recent history, Kensington Palace became known worldwide as the official residence of Diana, Princess of Wales, who lived in apartments eight and nine for 16 years until her death in 1997. Today, the palace remains a working royal residence, housing the Prince and Princess of Wales and their family. A practical tip for your visit: while the palace interior requires a ticket, the beautiful Sunken Garden is free to access from the surrounding park. This peaceful space was a favorite of Princess Diana, and since 2021, it has been the permanent home of a bronze statue dedicated to her life and legacy. If you are visiting between May and October and find the vast grounds a bit much for walking, look out for the electric buggies called Liberty Drives which offer free rides around the park for anyone with mobility needs. It is a wonderful way to see the garden's vibrant seasonal flower displays without the long walk.

5. 05

   Secrets of the Palace Gardens

   As you finish your tour of the state rooms, do not forget to explore the wider Kensington Gardens. For a perfect end to your visit, stroll over to the Orangery, a stunning structure designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor for Queen Anne in 1704, originally meant to house citrus trees during the cold winter months. Between April and October, the palace is typically open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Rooms and apartments can close for refurbishment, so check the official palace website for what is open on the day of your visit. Beyond the palace gates, the Round Pond and the Broad Walk await your discovery, offering a glimpse into the everyday life of Londoners who have enjoyed these royal grounds for centuries. There is always another layer of history to uncover here, from hidden carvings to the stories of the minor royals who called this place home.