London, the capital city of England is steeped in royal history, and if you’re a fan of tracing the lives of the Kings and Queens of England, this is the place to be. Here, you will find many magnificent palaces, grand castles and learn about hundreds of years of regal history of the monarchs. You won’t get a good taste of royal London without visiting at least a few of these places and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a sight of the Queen herself.
This is your one and only guide on where to find London’s best royal sites that you need to explore during your next tour through this incredible city.
1. Windsor Castle
Originally built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century after the Norman invasion of England, Windsor Castle is the favoured weekend home of the Queen. All of the monarchs have used it, making it the longest-occupied palace in Europe.
The Queen takes up official residence here at Easter time each year. She also uses the castle to accommodate and entertain foreign diplomats & political leaders. The upcoming wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is due to take place at Windsor Castle at St George’s Chapel on 19 May, 2018.
2. Kensington Palace
The London home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Will and Kate) along with Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Kensington Palace is also known as one of the most charming of the Royal Palaces. It has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century. Discover stories about Queen Victoria’s life in the ‘Victoria Revealed’ exhibition. This is where she spent her childhood.
Today, the State Rooms are open to the public. The palace also displays many paintings and other objects from the Royal Collection.
3. Hampton Court Palace
The spectacular Hampton Court Palace was Henry VIII’s preferred royal residence. Located in Richmond, London, visit here to see what it was like in the regal era. The palace is (allegedly) haunted, with sightings of many of Henry VIII’s wives shutting doors, running to the chapel and roaming the hallways. How spooky!
See Henry VIII’s many kitchens; get lost in the famous Hampton court maze and explore the beautiful Hampton Court gardens – universally renowned for being among the most striking estates in the world.
4. Buckingham Palace
Possibly the most well known royal residence in the world, Buckingham Palace has acted as the official London residence of Britain’s royals since 1837. The palace is also the current administrative headquarters of the monarchy and the official home of the Queen. The palace has a total of 775 rooms and 78 bathrooms and has the largest private garden in London.
The staterooms, which are used for official and state entertaining, are open to the public each year for most of August and September and on specific days during winter and spring. No visit to London is complete without popping in for a visit to Buckingham Palace. If you time your visit well, you may also get to see the ‘changing of the guards’ which takes place at 11:30 every day during summer.
5. The Tower of London
The oldest building in London, the Tower was built in 1066, the year William the Conqueror invaded and took control of England. This striking fortress held some of the most gruesome events in London’s history, including death, beheadings and torture. It’s since been used as a treasury, an armoury, a zoo and at one time it was home of the royal mint. On the whole, the Tower is actually a complex of many buildings set within the defensive walls and a moat.
Today, it’s a first-class tourist attraction and home to the Crown Jewels. Visit the Tower to see over 24,000 exquisite stones obtained by succeeding rulers that are set in the likes of rings, crowns and necklaces and more. The tower is guarded by the Beefeaters or Tower Wardens, who will give you a knowledgeable tour, including plenty of fascinating and gory stories from the past.
Be sure to visit the exhibition in the White Tower to discover King Henry VIII’s suit of armour, a highlight for many visitors.
6. Westminster Abbey
Gothic Westminster Abbey is a listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Decorated with glass windows and complex stone cuttings, every monarch since 1066 has been crowned here. Many royal weddings have been held here, including the marriage of Prince William and Kate in 2011. The graves of seventeen monarchs are found here along with a list of household names from history like Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Dickens.
7. Kew Palace
This more intimate, yet lesser known royal residence in London was built as a private house in 1631 and used by the royal family between 1729 and 1818. See the beautiful princesses’ bedrooms exactly as they were when Kew Palace was used as the Summer residence of King George III and Queen Charlotte and their 15 children.
Peer inside the workings of a royal Georgian household in the Royal Kitchens. These were newly restored in 2012, yet untouched since Queen Charlotte’s death in 1818. If you’re curious to gain an insight into how simple royal life used to be, you’ll enjoy a visit to Kew Palace.
8. Hyde Park
Well, this site isn’t all that royal, however, it’s definitely worth the visit. Did you know that back in the day, this park was once Henry VIII’s private grounds for hunting deer? Covering a massive 360-acre area, Hyde Park has been open to visitors since 1637. It is here that you can come and pay your respects at the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain.
Feeling regal? Take a look at the most popular tours to England.
