London

VIP Kensington Palace & Gardens Royal Tea Crown Experience

Badge of ExcellenceLondon, England

Kensington Palace and Afternoon Tea in The Garden Tour

3 hours
Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

London, England

London The Docklands of East End: Outdoor Escape Game

from $7.09

Price varies by group size

London, England

Stonehenge, Bath ,Windsor Castle From London

from $851.66

Per group

London, England

London: The Great Fire Outdoor Escape Game

from $7.09

Price varies by group size

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

Enjoy a royal welcome to London with a 3-hour fully guided tour of Kensington Palace and Gardens, home of British royals for over 300 years. With timed tickets, view the lavish State Apartments and exquisite Royal Gardens while listening to stories about your favorite royals. Finish your regal experience with a decadent Royal Tea experience on the estate, sipping specialty teas and tucking into handmade cakes and pastries.

Learn about the British Royal Family and significant events
Indulge in a sumptuous Royal Tea on the estate
Walk through the Royal Gardens and see statue of Princess Diana
Hear stories of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, King Charles, and more

What's Included

Kensington Palace & State ApartmentsThe Kings State Apartments, The Kings Gallery & Kings Staircase
Admission to Queens State Apartments, Queen Victoria Rooms, The Jewel Room
Admission Kensington Gardens and access to the Cradle Walk to view the Sunken Garden
Enjoy a sumptuous Royal Tea experience with cakes, sandwiches and choice of up to 10 English Teas
Learn the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign
Discover Princess Diana's life as the future Queen of England while living at Kensington Place
See the statue of Princess Diana in the Sunken Garden

Transportation
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Queensway
Bayswater Rd, London W2 4SS, UK
MEETING TIME: 15 minutes before the scheduled start. MEETING PLACE: Queensway Underground Station, Bayswater Road, London W2 4SS. MEETING POINT: Meet your guide outside the main entrance, facing onto Bayswater Road and Kensington Gardens.

Start time

09:30 AM

End point

Kensington Palace
Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, UK

What To Expect

Kensington Palace

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Kensington Palace

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
A moderate amount of walking is involved.
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair

Operates in all weather conditions
Participants should be in good health, consult first with your doctor if you have any medical condition or are not used to regular exercise.
Anybody under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by somebody aged 18 years or older
To participate in your tour, you must first check-in with the guide. You can only access the venues as part of your organised group tour.
Guiding is not allowed inside Kensington Palace. Your first-class guide will provide information to enable you to fully appreciate this part of the tour before entering. There will be time for questions afterwards.
The tour is NOT suitable for guests with food allergies and special dietary requirements
Not recommended for guests with special dietary requirements
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

16 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 16 reviews

Our favorite tour while visiting London!

Patsy_H, Apr 2024

The tour was fantastic. So much history and beauty to see. We loved the gardens. Our tour guide, Don, was very knowledgeable and patient. He even joined us for tea. Highly recommend this tour. It was our favorite out of all the tours we took.

Enjoyable, educational reasonably paced tour.

Susan_D, Apr 2024

Maria was an experienced and friendly guide. She made an effort to “read” her audience and adjusted her content and pace to meet everyone’s needs. Was much better having a live guide versus going around with headphones and a canned tour. The only “high tea” we attended, so not sure how it compared.

Garden the best.

Elaine_H, Apr 2024

Seeing the Kensington Palace garden and the Princess Diana statue. It was helpful to have a guide to give the backstory. As there were elderly people on the tour, it would have been helpful if he slowed down and waited for everyone before giving the history.

A must see for those Diana fans!

drkolsun, Apr 2024

An absolutely excellent guide, named Don, provided such exquisite commentary on the Kings and queens of Kenningston Palace. You also get to see the recent Princess Diana statue and the gate made famous by the abundance of tributes left after her death. Beautiful grounds that you could stroll For hours after the tour. Only reason for the four star is that the tea at the orangery could Not accommodate allergies that we had specified in advanced. (Not our guides fault! He worked hard to provide us something else to eat but to no avail!) we were able to get something at the cafe but after the tea. It was easy to get a taxi at a nearby hotel (Garden Hotel) when leaving.

Terrible...worst tour ever after maybe a dozen Viatar Tours

Brian_S, Apr 2024

Terrible experience. Ticket said to arrive at 9:15 and the guide did not show until 9:42 (your was to start at 9:30). He switched the agenda to tea first instead of last, which we did not need since we the had tea and snack around 8:45. Then left us in the Orangery way too long and disappeared. Finally came back and talked to us about the palace for over an hour to the extent you could not take half of it in. He obviously screwed up the entire day as he did not have entry tickets until after noon. We did not enter the Palace until 12:15. The entire event was suppose to be done at 12:30. Our schedule allowed us only about 25 minutes in the palace. He should of been upfront that he screwed up and offered the revised timeline or to get earlier tickets through the palace and skip or do a fast tea. Vacation time is valuable when you work 60 hours a week. Obviously this person thinks a groups time means nothing.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hello Brian, it appears you were not on the same tour with our other guests as their feedback to our first-class local London Blue Badge guide was EXCELLENT. Best Regards

The best way to see the palace

Marianne_C, Sep 2021

Our guide Rachel was so knowledgeable. She gave us a lot of history prior to going inside , we had enough time to see the palace . We even had time for tea . The directions to meet were clear and there are plenty of people around to point you in the right direction. It was just the right amount of time for a tour . If you want to see the palace , a guided tour is the way to go. The semi private tour had 8 people and that was perfect !

Response from Host, Nov 2021

Hi Marlan, thank you so much for your 5-star review. Rachel is one of our incredible London guides who is passionate about English history and culture and loves nothing more than offering incredible interactive tours that elevate any visitors visit to some of the famous icon landmarks in London including the beautiful and extraordinary Kensington Palace. Thank you for mentioning especially that doing a tour with a local expert guide is the perfect way to see it all. Best Regards,

The whole things was fantastic and to...

Wendy O, Nov 2017

The whole things was fantastic and to finish with the High Tea was beautiful.

Response from Host, May 2021

Dear Wendy, thank you so much for your review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour with our expert local guide. We really appreciate you taking the time to let us know about your tour experience. We look forward to seeing you again on tour. Best Regards, Sean LetzGo City Tours

This is an OK tour but I think you...

J Ross, Aug 2017

This is an OK tour but I think you could do it on your own and be just as happy or happier. The guide was nice but so soft spoken and would turn her head when she talked so we heard only about 10 of what she said. Having a tour didn't get us fast tracked unto the Palace at all - we waited in line with everyone else - and once in the three rooms that they have opened up to view, the guide left us so we were on our own to read placards and signs to try to figure out what each room was all about. The Diana Dresses area was nice to see as were the gardens. I would not recommend the Orangery at all unless you go separate from the tour. When we came in to the restaurant, we saw scrumptious High Tea platters on other peoples tables and were excited for ours. Well, on the tour, you get a dumbed down version of this - nothing compared to what others were having that had booked their own reservation. The guide didn't stay with us during this part it was the end of the tour so I understand that she didn't want to sit around and watch us drink tea but there was no recourse of having someone to complain to about how disappointing the tea service was. If you are at all good with booking your own things - do that and skip this tour.

Response from Host, May 2021

Dear J, thank you for your review. I'm sorry that you mistakenly took another company's tour. Our guide noted that you didn't show up for our tour. Next time you are in London be sure to contact us so that you have the 5-star experience that's 1,000's of guests have enjoyed with us. Best Regards, Sean LetzGo City Tours

Our guide, April, was just...

Michael B, Aug 2017

Our guide, April, was just outstanding!! So enthusiastic and full of wonderful information. She made the tour a 10!!! The tea was simply amazing!1

Response from Host, May 2021

Dear Michael, thank you so much for your review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour with our expert local guide. We really appreciate you taking the time to let us know about your tour experience and how you especially liked the Afternoon Tea service. This is one of our guest's favourite experiences in London and our staff's too when we are celebrating an office event. Our guides are passionate about delivering the best tour experience to our guests in a friendly, engaging and lively manner. We look forward to seeing you again on tour. Best Regards, Sean LetzGo City Tours

It was a highlight of our time in...

HAZEL C, Aug 2017

It was a highlight of our time in London our tour guide was excellent and beautifully presented, great exhibits beautiful gardens and a high tea fit for a Queen!

Response from Host, May 2021

Dear Hazel, thank you so much for your review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour with our expert local guide. We really appreciate you taking the time to let us know about your tour experience and how you especially liked the Afternoon Tea service and Gardens. This is one of our guest's favourite experiences in London. Our guides are passionate about delivering the best tour experience to our guests in a friendly, engaging, and lively manner. We look forward to seeing you again on tour. Best Regards, Sean LetzGo City Tours

My sister and I found our tour guide...

Stephanie C, Aug 2017

My sister and I found our tour guide 'Jenna' very engaging and enthusiastic with her history knowledge. We were disappointed we could only view Diana's garden from the railings and were not allowed in to walk about and enjoy the plants and flowers up close. The tea itself was lovely and well presented with a friendly waiter by the name of Vincenzo. One little tip, don't be afraid to ask for more tea! We weren't told we could have more tea and were a little nervous to ask. As to the palace itself, it's a shame that many of the rooms have to be kept quite dark and on a warm day we did find it quite uncomfortable at times, but we could understand the reasons why, worth a visit.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear Stepha, thank you so much for your review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour with our expert local guide. We really appreciate you taking the time to let us know about your tour experience and how you especially liked the Afternoon Tea service. This is one of our guest's favorite experiences in London. With regards to the Garden tour, the sunken garden is not open to the public but is reserved for members of the Royal family who reside at the Palace. However, the guide narration and direction bring you to the best vantage points to view its highlights including the newly installed Princess Diana Statue as well as how you the Gardens of the Orangery as well as Kensington Gardens. As you noted our guides are passionate about delivering the best tour experience to our guests in a friendly, engaging lively manner. We look forward to seeing you again on tour. Best Regards, LetzGo City Tours

Due to the Royal Family's schedule, our...

tbs317, Jun 2017

Due to the Royal Family's schedule, our tour had to be moved to an earlier time but everything was handled professionally and smoothly. Our tour guide was a very knowledgable and delightful young lady from Australia so sorry that I don't recall her name. She was full of wonderful details regarding the palace and its history and made the tour a pure delight.

Response from Host, May 2021

Dear Guest, thank you so much for your review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour with our expert local guide despite last-minute changes due to the arrival of the Royal Family. This can always make a visit to Kensington Place extra exciting. We really appreciate you taking the time to let us know about your tour experience and how you especially liked your guide and her insights into the Palace and Royal Family. This is one of our guest's favourite experiences in London. Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you on tour again in one of our other European city and beyond tours. Best Regards, Sean LetzGo City Tours

April was a wonderful guide, very well...

Julie C, Jun 2017

April was a wonderful guide, very well informed and considerate to our large group. Very interesting and good paced tour. Afternoon tea in the Organery Room was amazing. All in beautiful surroundings. This was our last tour in London before flying home and was a wonderful way to finish our holiday.

Response from Host, May 2021

Dear Julie, thank you so much for your review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour with our expert local guide April. She really is a delight and is full of passion and expertise on the Royal Family and Kensington Palace. We really appreciate you taking the time to let us know about your tour experience. Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you on tour again in one of our other European city and beyond tours. Best Regards, Sean LetzGo City Tours

Awesome tour! Our guide made all the...

Allegra P, Aug 2015

Awesome tour! Our guide made all the difference by telling us all the stories and gossip of the Royal family present and past! The tour of the palace could have been done on your own, but the guide pointed out little things that we wouldn't have done or known. The tea in the Orangery was a great way to end the tour. Beautiful building and lovely tea and snacks no dress code. My 12 and 9 year old enjoyed it, but for my 7 and 5 year olds it was a little long.

Response from Host, May 2021

Hi Alegra, thank you so much for your review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour with our expert local guide April. Our guides are all full of passion and expertise on the Royal Family and Kensington Palace. We really appreciate you taking the time to let us know about your tour experience. Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you on tour again in one of our other European city and beyond tours. I am sure that your children's memory of their day in such a beautiful Palace will be one they will cherish for a lifetime. Best Regards, Sean LetzGo City Tours

Likely to Sell Out