Kensington Palace, Royal palace in Kensington Gardens, United Kingdom.
Description
Kensington Palace is a former manor house converted into a royal residence in west London. The red brick facade shows tall windows and early 18th-century features, while the building sits within lawns and paths of Kensington Gardens.
History
Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor expanded the original country house between 1689 and 1702 to serve as a residence for William III and Mary II. Later monarchs modified the interiors further until the building opened as a museum in the 19th century.
Culture
Exhibitions in the State Apartments display royal clothing, portraits and personal belongings that show how the monarchy presented itself across different centuries. Visitors can see how court life evolved through the objects and rooms that remain open to the public.
Practical
The palace opens daily and offers guided tours in several languages along with accessibility equipment for visitors with reduced mobility. Plan to explore the interiors during cooler morning hours and then walk through the gardens outside.
Did you know?
Queen Victoria spent her childhood in the north wing, and her rooms remain furnished with toys and belongings from her youth. The wallpaper, curtains and personal mementos give a direct sense of her life before ascending the throne.
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