Updated 25 March. In line with Public Health England guidance, we have taken the decision to close all six of our palaces and gardens until 31st May. We will be reviewing this and will keep you updated. Please read our statement for further information. Read our statement
We are lucky enough to look after extraordinary palaces, spaces and objects in our palaces. We look after Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Banqueting House, Kew Palace and Hillsborough Castle and Gardens in Northern Ireland.
Between them, the six extraordinary historic buildings in our care have witnessed 1,000 years of history. They have survived many tumultuous moments in the past.
While the palaces are closed, take a look at some highlights and stories that we can share with you during these challenging times.
You can create your own wildflower meadow in a small patch of garden.
Discover curriculum-linked history resources for all Key Stages that will keep your kids learning about the Tudors, Victorians and more while you're staying home together.
Our palaces are full of hidden secrets. Whilst our palace doors are closed, take a peek behind the scenes in our video series.
While our doors are closed, take a virtual tour around Hillsborough Castle and Gardens
Read stories from our curators about our palaces and the people who lived in them.
On 24th May 1819 at Kensington Palace, Queen Victoria was born. in 2019, as part of the work to recreate the rooms where Victoria grew up, Historic Royal Palaces curators carried out extensive research into the decorative schemes she would have known as a little girl.
The Tower of London has witnessed some of our nation’s most testing moments and is a symbol of our collective resilience. This blog explores some of these trials, and the small but important part the Tower and its people played in tackling them. We begin our story in the Middle Ages…
Jane Seymour's last days were spent at Hampton Court Palace. Chief Curator, Tracy Borman, explores Jane’s final fortnight at the Palace.
Explore Queen Victoria’s private life behind her carefully-managed public image in this major new exhibition at Kensington Palace.
Closed 5 Jan 2020
Kensington Palace
Included in palace admission (members go free)
See the Bacton Altar Cloth, a rare survival of Elizabethan dress worn by Elizabeth I, and the iconic Rainbow Portrait at Hampton Court Palace.
Closed 23 February 2020
Hampton Court Palace
Included in palace admission (members go free)
Experience the splendour of the Tudor court in Henry VIII's Great Hall, complete with his magnificent tapestries.
Open daily
Hampton Court Palace
Included in palace admission (members go free)