Accessibility

We welcome all visitors to Kensington Palace and aim to make everyone's day out successful and enjoyable.

Plan Your Journey

Train and tube

From Queensway Underground Station (Central Line) to the palace entrance it is 728m (0.45 miles) through Kensington Gardens, entering the park via Black Lion Gate. Please note, Queensway Underground Station does not have step free access from platform to ground level.

From High Street Kensington Underground Station (Circle & District Lines) to the palace entrance it is 765m (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 330m 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 ticket

Visitors are entitled to bring an accompanying carer free of charge. These complimentary adult carer tickets can be obtained on the day of your visit upon presentation of proof of registered disability or can be booked online.

Only one carer ticket can be added per online booking but each disabled visitor can bring one person with them free of charge as a carer/companion. If your party requires more than one carer ticket, please book your paid tickets online and email [email protected] with your booking reference number and all proof of need. We will be happy to reserve the additional carer tickets for your party at no extra cost.

Please allow up to 3 working days for the team to book in your ticket. Alternatively, you can present proof of need at the Ticket Office on the day of your visit to receive your additional carer ticket(s). We always keep aside capacity and would never turn away a carer.

Guide dogs welcome

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

The East Front after Kensington Palace renovations. Looking west towards the statue of Queen Victoria (installed 1893), 22 March 2012.

Part of the Kensington Palace project, ‘Welcome to Kensington - a palace for everyone’ an undertaking over two years (2010-12) of major refurbishments (renovation) at Kensington, including new gardens.

Blind or partially sighted visitors

Low light levels

Please be aware that, for conservation reasons, many of the rooms have low level lighting.

Accessible 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.
Follow signs to Untold Lives and take the PCA Lift to get to the Pigott Galleries.
Visit Untold Lives. Speak to a member of uniformed staff, and they will show you back to the PCA lift.
Take the PCA 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 for any assistance required.

The Audio Guide features an accessible route.

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 at this time.

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 [email protected] 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.