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In the United Kingdom, some royal residences and episcopal residences are referred to as palaces. In England, Blenheim Palace is the only stately home to bear that title which was not formerly a royal or episcopal residence. In Scotland, some stately homes are called palaces. The list is incomplete.
Welcome to Historic Royal Palaces. Experience history where it happened as we bring our six iconic palaces and their stories to life. Book your tickets online today.
From the iconic Buckingham Palace, the London residence and administrative headquarters of the reigning monarch, to the historic walls of Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, these majestic sites offer a glimpse into the lives of the British monarchy.
Historic Royal Palaces is an independent charity that manages six of the United Kingdom's royal palaces, five in London and one in Northern Ireland: [1] The Tower of London; Hampton Court Palace; Kensington Palace (State Apartments and Orangery) The Banqueting House, Whitehall; Kew Palace with Queen Charlotte's Cottage; Hillsborough Castle ...
- The Tower of London
- Hampton Court Palace
- Kew Palace
- Kensington Palace
- Whitehall Palace
Even in the height of summer, by the last hour, the Tower of London is emptying out. No one’s arriving at that time; people paying full price want to make a day of it. With a membership card, you can spend most of the day doing something else, then an hour at the Tower in the late afternoon sunshine (almost) alone. Even the Crown Jewels are a strai...
The Tower of London is the easternmost Historic Royal Palace. My favorite, Hampton Court Palace, is the furthest west. Unless you’re staying nearby, this one really is worth enjoying over an entire day. Most people think of Henry VIII’s staggering Tudor palace, with its enormous working kitchen, stunning chapel, and breathtaking Great Hall, but the...
Just up the road, Kew Palace is also part of the HRP family. Annoyingly, you have to pay entrance to Kew Botanical Gardens to get to it, but if you’re an HRP member you at least get 10 percent off. While you’re in the gardens, don’t miss the great Victorian hothouses. The Temperate House is currently being restored, but the extraordinary Palm House...
Kensington Palace was also a cage, of sorts. It was the place where the young Victoria grew up under the ever-watchful eye of her domineering mother, breaking free only on the day she became Queen. I always thought of the palace as a bit dark and drab, but a full restoration has revealed its true grandeur.
The palace everyone forgets is Banqueting House. Whitehall Palace once rivalled Hampton Court for glamor. It was enormous, covering pretty much all of modern-day Whitehall, including Horse Guards, Downing Street, the Ministry of Defence and Portcullis House. A devastating fire in 1698 razed the lot, with one exception. Even at the time, everyone kn...
- Sandra Lawrence
Aug 31, 2022 · 1. Buckingham Palace, London. For magnificent state rooms that feel like they've been transported from a Disney fairytale, London’s most iconic palace can’t be beaten.
Sep 19, 2023 · From hidden spots at the Tower of London to the "lost" and little-known Jewel Tower, Tracy Borman shares her tips and tricks for getting the most out of London's royal sites.
