Historic Royal palaces look after six of the most wonderful palaces in the world, Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, Kew Palace and Banqueting House. We are a charity and your support gives the palaces a future, for everyone.
Tower of London
Within the ancient Fortress, visitors can gaze up at the imposing White Tower, tiptoe through a king’s medieval bedchamber and marvel at the priceless Crown Jewels. Hear the bloody tales of the Tower told by the infamous Yeoman Warders; stand where famous heads rolled and discover where prisoners and exotic animals including a polar bear were kept.
Hampton Court Palace
Travel back to the Tudor period and explore the magnificent State Apartments of Henry VIII including the beautifully ornate Great Hall where feasts and other state occasions were held. See if you can spot the entwined initials of Henry and Anne Boleyn and Anne’s coat of arms on the roof.
Be transported to 1689 as you venture through the sumptuous Baroque apartments, designed for William III and Mary II, evoking the age of elegance and grandeur before exploring the 60 acres of beautiful riverside and landscaped gardens.
Kensington Palace
Walk in the footsteps of Kings and Queens as you venture through the elegant State Apartments. Filled with stories of two royal courts; the Stuarts and the Hanoverians, step back in time as you discover what you would have worn, how you would have had to behave and how to navigate the heady atmosphere of court at Kensington Palace.
Discover the childhood rooms of the palace’s most famous resident, Queen Victoria and relax by the stunning Sunken Garden, a favourite spot of Princess Diana.
Hillsborough Castle and Gardens
Explore the official residence of the Royal Family in Northern Ireland. Venture through the stunningly renovated State Rooms, including the grand Throne Room and Red Room where key political figures and royalty alike have gathered before relaxing in the 100 acre gardens.
Kew Palace and Royal Kitchens
Nestled within Kew Gardens lies Kew Palace, the intimate royal palace once home to George III and his family. Learn about the eating habits of the royal household in the Royal Kitchens and where they enjoyed family outings and tea at Queen Charlotte’s Cottage. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the Great Pagoda where you can climb the 253 steps and enjoy spectacular views of modern London.
Banqueting House
Set to reopen in 2023, this revolutionary building was created for court entertainments where a dazzling company of courtiers attended the exuberant masques and danced and drank beneath the magnificent Rubens-painted ceiling. As you enjoy the opulent surroundings, spare a thought for Charles I, who in 1649, was beheaded on a scaffold outside to the ‘dismal, universal groan’ of the crowd.
