Accessibility

Committed to access for all

We welcome all visitors to Kensington Palace and aim to make your day out successful and enjoyable. We are committed to improving access and facilities for disabled visitors.

On your way around the palace, you will meet our staff and volunteers who will be happy to help support your visit or answer any questions.

Contact us

If you have any questions on accessing Kensington Palace that is not covered here, please contact kpoperations@hrp.org.uk. We aim to respond within 10 days.

Alternatively, call us on 0333 320 6000 (lines open Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 14:00).

Photos of staff members dressed in red uniforms on The King's Staircase.

Two flat paths leading up to a Georgian palace

Plan your journey

Train and tube

From Queensway Underground Station (Central Line) to the palace entrance it is 728 metres (0.45 miles) through Kensington Gardens, entering the park via Black Lion Gate.

Queensway Underground Station does not have step-free access from platform to ground level.

From High Street Kensington Underground Station (Circle and District Lines) to the palace entrance it is 765 metres (0.47 miles) along Kensington High Street and into Kensington Gardens, entering the park via King’s Arms Gate.

High Street Kensington has step-free interchange, but not step-free access from platform to ground level.

Visit TfL for more information on accessibility.

Buses

Kensington Palace is a bus stop on Kensington High Street (A315) and can be located by the King’s Arms Gate into Kensington Gardens, outside the Royal Garden Hotel. It is served by the 9, 49, 52, 70, 452 & N9 buses. These buses call at stops M (Eastbound) or N (Westbound). Please note, the bus stops are approximately 330 metres from the palace entrance (3-4 mins walk)

Visit TfL for more information on buses.

On What3Words, the entrance to the palace is at 'rank.weedy.clear'.

Free carer and companion tickets

If you are disabled, you can bring an accompanying carer/companion free of charge.

Book one carer or companion ticket online

You can book one adult carer/companion ticket online, when you buy your palace ticket. Only one carer/companion ticket can be added per booking but each disabled visitor can bring one person with them free of charge as a carer or companion.

Booking more than one carer or companion ticket

If your party requires more than one carer/companion ticket, please book your paid tickets online and email info@hrp.org.uk with your booking reference number and supporting documents. We will be happy to reserve the additional carer/companion tickets for your party at no extra cost. Please allow up to three working days for the team to book your ticket.

Alternatively, you can present supporting documents at the Ticket Office on the day of your visit to receive your additional carer/companion ticket(s). We always keep aside capacity and would never turn away a carer or companion.

A long room with wooden panelling on the walls and a barrier between the walkway and exhibits

Quiet times

The quietest time to visit the palace is between 13:00 and 15:00. Your visit may take up to two to three hours.

The peak visiting period is March to October, and Christmas.

Toilets

Toilets are available at the following locations:

Stone Hall
Café toilets

All toilets have disabled and baby changing facilities.

Chairs and tables lined up in a cafe space — *Image: © Historic Royal Palaces*

Seating

Indoor seating is available in the Palace Café and Stone Hall. We also have seating available throughout all exhibitions.

Outdoor bench seating with back rests and arm rests is available in the gardens.

Guide dogs welcome

Trained assistance dogs are welcome inside the palace. This includes medical alert dogs. We are happy to provide water on request.

Unfortunately, due to conservation concern and the nature of items on display, we do not allow emotional support animals to enter the palace.

Re-entry

You can leave and re-enter the palace and gardens as many times as you wish. If you re-enter the palace, our team will check your bag again.

Step-free route

We recommend the following route around the palace to give you the best experience:

Take the Main Lift to the top floor and visit the King’s State Apartments.
Speak to a member of uniformed staff, and they will show you into the Queen’s State Apartments. Return to the Main lift.
Take the Main lift to the first floor and visit Victoria: A Royal Childhood. Return to the Main lift.
Take the Main lift to the ground floor.
Visit the shop and café, exiting the palace via the Shop Lift.

Our team are here to help you make the most of your visit. Please ask if you need any assistance.

The Audio Guide features a step-free route.

A room in a museum showing a patterned carpet, exhibitions on a desk and paintings on the walls

Visitors exploring a large gold room with a domed painting ceiling

Visitors with limited mobility

Kensington Place has ground-level access from Kensington Gardens. All three floors of the palace are accessible via lift.

Mobility aids

Manual wheelchairs are available to use free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. They cannot be reserved in advance and we have a limited number. Please ask a member of staff on arrival for more information. These wheelchairs are for indoor use only.

Maps

Pick up our orientation leaflet for advice on accessible routes around the palace. Please ask a uniformed member of staff for more information.

Folding stools

We have folding stools available to use free of charge. These are located after the scanner desk.

Deaf or hard of hearing visitors

British Sign Language (BSL) tours

We are currently unable to offer any British Sign Language tours.

Audio Guide transcripts

Transcripts of the Audio Guide are available with the devices at the handout desk.

Transcripts are also available on our audio guide transcripts page.

Accessible parking

We have a number of accessible parking spaces on site reserved for accessible parking.

Booking

Please email kpcontrolroom@hrp.org.uk or call 020 3166 6199 to book in. Please purchase your tickets first, before making contact. You will need to include:

Your name
Date and estimated time of arrival
Car registration plate details
Blue Badge serial number

Please book at least 7 days in advance of your visit as there are a limited number of spaces available. If not booked in advance, all spaces may have been taken and you may be turned away on the day.

Please note, you must have a ticket in advance of your visit. Tickets on the day may be subject to limited availability. Accessible parking is for cars only.

Accessible drop off

If you are wishing to use a taxi to drop you off at the Palace, or you are making your own drop off travel arrangements, to gain access to the site you must book in following the same instructions as accessible parking above.