Where to Stay Near London's Royal Palaces
A comfortable base near Kensington, Buckingham and St James's Palaces, for travellers who want the royal neighbourhoods without the grand-hotel prices.
Not every royal-London trip needs a suite at The Ritz or a night in The Goring’s Royal Suite. Our guide to royal London hotels covers those grand addresses, but most visitors want something simpler: a comfortable, well-placed hotel within walking distance of the palaces themselves. Here’s where to base yourself for each of London’s great royal residences.
Near Kensington Palace: the quiet, garden-side option
Kensington Palace has been a royal home since William III and Mary II bought it in 1689. It is the birthplace of Queen Victoria, and today the London residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales. It sits inside Kensington Gardens, one of the city’s great green spaces, which makes the immediate area one of London’s calmest bases despite being minutes from the museums of South Kensington.
Thistle Kensington Gardens sits right alongside the park itself, a short stroll from the Palace’s public entrance and the Sunken Garden. It’s the pick for anyone who wants to walk to Kensington Palace before the crowds arrive, then spend the afternoon in the Diana memorial playground or rowing on the Serpentine, all without needing the Tube.
Near Buckingham Palace: Piccadilly and Park Lane
Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard (our visitor’s guide has the full timings) sit at the western edge of St James’s Park, within easy walking distance of Piccadilly, Mayfair and Park Lane. Basing yourself here means you can watch the Guard change in the morning and be back in time for afternoon tea without crossing the city.
Thistle’s central London hotels at Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square put you in this exact pocket, close enough to walk to the Palace forecourt, and equally placed for St James’s Palace and Clarence House a few minutes further on.
Near St James’s Palace and Clarence House
St James’s Palace has been the ceremonial senior palace of the monarchy since Whitehall Palace burned down in 1698 (ambassadors are still formally accredited “to the Court of St James’s”), and Clarence House next door is the King’s former London residence. Both sit between Piccadilly and the Mall, so the same central hotels that work for Buckingham Palace cover this pocket too: it’s a five-minute walk between all three.
Practical tips for a royal-London base
- Walking beats the Tube here. Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Clarence House are all set in parkland (Kensington Gardens, Green Park, St James’s Park), so a hotel on the right side of town saves more time on foot than any transport link would.
- Book Trooping the Colour or the Changing of the Guard dates early. Hotels near the Palace fill first for state occasions; see our half-term and royal-season guide for the calendar.
- Pair a stay here with afternoon tea. The Ritz and The Goring, covered in our royal London hotels guide, are both a short walk from this area if you want to add one grand-hotel afternoon without booking a room there.
- Windsor is a separate trip. None of the hotels above cover Windsor Castle. For that, see our Windsor Castle visitor’s guide for the day-trip logistics from central London.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest hotel to Kensington Palace?
Hotels directly bordering Kensington Gardens, such as Thistle Kensington Gardens, are the closest option, putting the Palace’s public entrance within a short walk across the park.
Where should I stay to see Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard?
Piccadilly and the streets around Trafalgar Square and Park Lane are the most convenient base. All are within walking distance of the Palace forecourt and St James’s Park, where the Guard’s route passes.
Can I walk between Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Kensington Palace?
Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace are about five minutes apart on foot via the Mall and Green Park. Kensington Palace is roughly a 25 to 30 minute walk further west through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, or a short Tube ride from central London hotels.
Is it worth staying near the palaces if I’m also visiting Windsor Castle?
Not especially. Windsor is a separate day trip from central London by train, so a hotel near the London palaces won’t shorten that journey. Choose your base on proximity to the London royal sites and treat Windsor as a day out.
Details correct as of 2026. Hotel availability and prices change, so check current rates when booking.
