Get us in your inbox

Search

Annual Opening of Kew Palace

  • Museums
  1. © Historic Royal Palaces
    © Historic Royal Palaces
  2. © Historic Royal Palaces
    © Historic Royal Palaces

    A painting frame is dusted in the Queen's Boudoir in preperation for the palace opening for a new season

  3. © Historic Royal Palaces
    © Historic Royal Palaces

    Queen Charlotte's bedroom is prepared for the opening of Kew Palace for a new season

  4. © Historic Royal Palaces
    © Historic Royal Palaces

    Conservator Jonathan Bridal winds up the clock in the King's Library in preperation for Kew Palace opening for a new season

  5. The Queen's Budoir (© Historic Royal Palaces)
    © Historic Royal Palaces
  6. © Historic Royal Palaces
    © Historic Royal Palaces

    Princess Elizabeth's Dressing Room

  7. The Dining Room (© Historic Royal Palaces)
    © Historic Royal Palaces
  8. © Historic Royal Palaces
    © Historic Royal Palaces

    Kew Palace as seen from the river

  9. © Historic Royal Palaces
    © Historic Royal Palaces

    The wet larder at the Royal Kitchens

  10. © Historic Royal Palaces
    © Historic Royal Palaces

    An historic cook prepares a meal in the kitchens

  11. © Historic Royal Palaces
    © Historic Royal Palaces

    A Dish of Steaks of Mutton, smoored in a Frying panne

Advertising

Time Out says

Kew Palace, a brick mansion with a distinctly Dutch look, located in the grounds of Kew Gardens, is open to the public during the spring and summer each year. In the eighteenth century, it was here that George III was confined during episodes of the mysterious and debilitating illness that is now believed to have been porphyria. On the ground floor there's an audiovisual display about the 15 children George III had with Queen Charlotte (when the King was well the royal family often stayed at Kew Palace in the summer). Among the items on display are a suit belonging to George III and his breakfast service. The restoration of the royal kitchens, situated next to the Palace, was completed in 2013.

At the weekends and on Bank Holidays, Queen Charlotte's Cottage is also open. It was to this little cottage in its idyllic woodland setting, that George III and Queen Charlotte went to relax when they were in residence at Kew Palace. Built in 1770, the cottage provided an informal setting for rustic meals when the royal family felt like slumming it and it was also used for the celebration of formal weddings including that of Edward Duke of Kent, the father of Queen Victoria. Next door to the cottage there used to be a menagerie of exotic animals – including kangaroos. Among the traces of the Georgian decor still visible in the cottage are remnants of wallpaper, Hogarth prints, Chinese-style chairs and bamboo furniture and a wall painted by one of George III's daughters, the Princess Elizabeth.

Admission to Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte's Cottage is included in your Kew Gardens ticket.

Details

Address:
Price:
£16, £14 concs, children (under 17) free (includes entry to Kew Gardens)
Advertising
You may also like
You may also like