Royal London's Great Palaces: A Guide to Six Royal Residences

Few cities wear their crown quite like London. The story of the royal palaces here is the story of England itself, written in red Tudor brick, Baroque stone and gilded state room, and much of it is still in daily use. To wander royal London is to move between centuries of monarchy in a single afternoon, from the working heart of the modern Crown to a fortress begun nearly a thousand years ago.

The great royal palaces are not a single grand house but a family of them, each with its own character and its own chapter. Some remain the official residences and offices of the monarchy; others have become much-loved historic places that welcome millions of visitors a year. Together they trace a line from William the Conqueror to the Prince and Princess of Wales.

This guide gathers six of the finest: what each one is, why it matters, and the detail worth seeking out when you go.

Where to begin

Royal London rewards a little planning. The palaces fall, broadly, into two camps. The official royal residences, Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Windsor Castle, are working buildings cared for by the Royal Collection Trust, and their public access follows the rhythm of the court year. The historic palaces in the care of Historic Royal Palaces, the Tower of London, Hampton Court and Kensington, are open far more widely and built around the visitor.

Distances help too. Buckingham Palace, St James’s, Kensington and the Tower all sit within central London, walkable or a short Tube ride apart. Hampton Court and Windsor lie out west along the Thames, each an easy day in its own right. A first-time visitor might pair two central palaces in a day and save the riverside two for unhurried excursions.

Buckingham Palace

The most famous address in Britain is also its most purposeful. Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of the United Kingdom’s sovereigns since 1837, and today it remains the administrative headquarters of the monarch, according to the Royal Family’s official site. Behind that celebrated façade lie 775 rooms, among them 19 State Rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms and 78 bathrooms, a working palace as much as a ceremonial one.

In late summer the magnificent State Rooms open to visitors, their walls hung with treasures from the Royal Collection, and the forecourt remains the stage for the Changing of the Guard with all its bearskins and brass. Because Court & Capital has a dedicated guide to the State Rooms and their summer opening, this is the place to point a curious reader onward to that fuller account before planning a visit.

St James’s Palace

Quietly, this is the most senior royal palace of them all. Built by Henry VIII between 1531 and 1536 on the site of a former hospital, St James’s gave its name to the very court of the British monarchy. That is why, to this day, foreign ambassadors and high commissioners are formally accredited to the “Court of St James’s”, as the Royal Family confirms. The phrase is a living link to a Tudor palace most Londoners walk past without a second glance.

Much of Henry’s original red-brick building survives, including the splendid gatehouse on Pall Mall, the turrets and the Chapel Royal. The palace served as the official residence of the sovereign for more than three centuries, until Queen Victoria moved the court to Buckingham Palace in 1837. St James’s is not generally open to the public, but its presence, and that famous gatehouse, make it one of the most rewarding royal sights to seek out on foot.

Kensington Palace

If the grandeur elsewhere can feel ceremonial, Kensington is gloriously personal. Tucked into Kensington Gardens, it was the birthplace and childhood home of the future Queen Victoria, who was born in the palace on 24 May 1819 and learned of her accession there in 1837, as Historic Royal Palaces records. That intimate royal story runs right through the rooms.

It is also a palace of the living monarchy. Today Kensington is the official London residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, alongside other members of the royal family, a rare place where centuries of history and the present-day Crown share the same address. Visitors can explore the lavish King’s State Apartments, transformed in the eighteenth century by the architect and designer William Kent, whose King’s Gallery was created to show off the finest paintings of the Royal Collection. The gardens reward an unhurried wander in any season, and our weekend guide to Kensington Palace sets out where to stay and what else to see nearby.

The Tower of London

Nearly a thousand years old and never for a moment dull, the Tower is fortress, palace and stronghold in one. It was begun in the 1070s by William the Conqueror, whose mighty White Tower rose at the centre of the fortress to proclaim royal power over the newly conquered city. Historic Royal Palaces notes it took around twenty years to complete. Few buildings in Britain carry their age so vividly.

The Tower’s great treasure is, of course, the Crown Jewels: the working regalia of the monarchy, which have been kept and displayed here since 1661 and remain guarded to this day. No visit is complete without them. Just as memorable are the Yeoman Warders, the famous “Beefeaters”, whose tours turn a thousand years of history into superb storytelling, and the pampered ravens that share their watch. With the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and the riverside walls, this is royal London at its most thrilling.

Hampton Court Palace

West along the Thames stands the most theatrical of them all, a palace where Tudor grandeur and Baroque splendour sit side by side. Hampton Court was begun by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey before it caught the eye of Henry VIII, who made it a stage for his magnificence; he brought all six of his wives here, and his great timber-roofed Great Hall was raised to proclaim his power. Standing beneath that roof, it is easy to picture the Tudor court at full, dazzling extravagance.

The palace tells a second story too. When William III and Mary II took the throne in 1689, they commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to add an elegant Baroque palace, and his beautiful Fountain Court survives alongside the older Tudor wings. Outside lie the famous gardens and the celebrated Maze, which Historic Royal Palaces notes has been delighting and baffling visitors for around three centuries. Between the Great Hall, Wren’s apartments and that endlessly photographed maze, Hampton Court easily fills a whole day.

Windsor Castle

No tour of royal London is complete without the castle that crowns it all. Windsor is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, founded by William the Conqueror in the eleventh century and home to forty monarchs since, according to the Royal Family. That continuity, nine centuries of unbroken royal life, gives Windsor a grandeur all its own.

From the soaring magnificence of St George’s Chapel to the State Apartments and the views across the Thames valley, the castle offers some of the finest royal sightseeing anywhere in Britain. Our full Windsor Castle visitor’s guide covers the State Apartments, St George’s Chapel and tickets in detail, and our Windsor day trip guide covers the trains and timing if you are coming from London.

A city made for royal wandering

What makes royal London so rewarding is not any single palace but the way they speak to one another across the centuries: Henry VIII’s gatehouse at St James’s, William the Conqueror’s White Tower, Victoria’s nursery at Kensington, Wren’s Fountain Court on the river. Walk between them and you trace nearly a thousand years of British monarchy, much of it still beautifully alive.

Visit one and you will likely find yourself planning the next. If you are working out logistics, our guide to where to stay near London’s royal palaces is a sensible place to start. Browse our Royal Places & Events stories to discover more of the palaces, gardens and great occasions where Britain’s royal heritage comes beautifully to life.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the most senior royal palace in London?

St James’s Palace holds the most senior rank. Although the court has lived at Buckingham Palace since 1837, ambassadors and high commissioners are still formally accredited to the “Court of St James’s”, and the palace remains the ceremonial senior of the royal residences.

Where are the Crown Jewels kept?

The Crown Jewels are held at the Tower of London, where they have been kept and displayed since 1661. They remain the working regalia of the monarchy and are guarded around the clock.

Which royal palace was the birthplace of Queen Victoria?

Kensington Palace was the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria, who was born there on 24 May 1819 and received news of her accession to the throne at the palace in 1837.

Can you visit Buckingham Palace?

You can visit Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms during their limited summer opening, when they welcome the public with treasures from the Royal Collection. Court & Capital has a dedicated guide to the State Rooms with the detail worth knowing before you go.

Is St James’s Palace open to the public?

St James’s Palace is a working royal residence and is not generally open to the public. Its magnificent Tudor gatehouse on Pall Mall, however, is one of London’s most rewarding royal sights to admire from outside.

What is the oldest royal palace near London?

Windsor Castle is the oldest, and the oldest occupied castle in the world. It was founded by William the Conqueror in the eleventh century and has been home to forty monarchs since.

Which royal palaces are easiest to combine in one trip?

Buckingham Palace, St James’s, Kensington and the Tower of London all sit within central London and pair well together, while Hampton Court and Windsor lie out along the Thames and each make a fine day on their own.

Sources: Historic Royal Palaces (hrp.org.uk), the Royal Collection Trust (rct.uk) and the official website of the Royal Family (royal.uk). Opening seasons, ticket prices and pre-booking requirements vary by palace and time of year, so always check the official websites for current details before planning a visit.