Lady’s 11 Royal Palaces in London You Should See

One of the things I love about living in London is being surrounded by all things royal. I had a view of Buckingham Palace from my flat for years, and frequently came across the Changing the Guard ceremony on my morning walks. If you love royal palaces in London, today I bring you A Lady in London’s guide to my favorites in the city.

Royal Palaces in London

While Buckingham Palace takes center stage, there’s a surprising number of other royal residences in and around the UK capital. From medieval fortresses to 18th-century gems, there are great houses to discover.

They span not only time, but also geography. Some are located in the heart of London, while others are tucked away in unassuming parts of the greater capital. Wherever they are, the royal palaces in London are impressive to see.

I’ve toured a lot of these palaces, and have even had the luck to attend a lunch with Prince Andrew, shake hands with Prince Philip, and see Eric Clapton in concert in Buckingham Palace.

These experiences will always be some of my most memorable in London. I hope you’re able to create lasting memories on your own visits, too.

1. Buckingham Palace

I’ll start my list with Buckingham Palace since it’s the current London residence of the monarch. Opened in 1703, it was originally built for the first Duke of Buckingham and called Buckingham House.

King George III acquired the palace in 1761, making it a private residence for Queen Charlotte and renaming it The Queen’s House.

In 1837, it became the London residence of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria and was given its current name, Buckingham Palace.

It’s best known to visitors and locals for its sumptuous interiors and Changing the Guard ceremony. If you visit one royal palace in London, this should be it.

2. Eltham Palace

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Eltham Palace is a little-known royal residence in southeast London.

But it hasn’t always been that way. From the 14th to the 16th century, it was an important royal palace in London. Many monarchs stayed and hunted here until Henry VIII’s time.

From the 16th to the 20th century, Eltham Palace fell into neglect. But in 1933, the palace was leased to Stephen and Virginia Courtauld.

They built a modern home with Art Deco interiors that incorporated the 1470s great hall that Edward IV built.

Today visitors can tour both the 20th century and 15th century parts of Eltham Palace, as well as the grounds and gardens. It’s a great place to spend a few hours soaking up London’s history.

3. Kensington Palace

Back in central London, Kensington Palace is still in use as a royal residence. Set right in Kensington Gardens, it first attracted William III and Mary II, who chose it as their country retreat in 1689.

Subsequent Stuart and Georgian monarchs made Kensington Palace fashionable, and Queen Victoria lived here until she moved into Buckingham Palace in 1837.

In modern times, everyone from Princess Diana to Princess Margaret has resided in this royal palace in London. It’s even been home to Will and Kate and Harry and Meghan.

Visitors can tour Kensington Palace, although I’ve always felt there’s not enough on display to justify the steep entry fee. I prefer to see it from the outside and walk around the gardens, which are beautiful in the warmer months.

4. Whitehall Palace

There’s not much left of Whitehall Palace, but it was once the largest palace in Europe, with more than 1,500 rooms.

This most historic of royal palaces in London was the primary residence of the English monarchs from 1530 until 1698, when a fire destroyed all but architect Inigo Jones’s Banqueting House.

Built in 1622, Banqueting House has stunning painted ceilings by Peter Paul Rubens. They’re the main draw today, and bean bag chairs allow visitors to take them in without hurting their necks from looking up for long periods of time.

5. Palace of Westminster

Just down the road from Whitehall Palace, the Palace of Westminster is better known for being the Houses of Parliament than one of the royal palaces in London.

But that wasn’t always the case. There has been a royal palace on this site since the 11th century, and it was the primary residence of the monarchs of England until a fire destroyed much of it in 1512.

After that, it served as the home of parliament and continues to do so today. The Palace of Westminster is still owned by the monarch and retains its status as a royal residence, though.

Visitors can tour the Houses of Parliament, or just admire their stunning facade from the outside. Westminster Hall and several other areas survived the fire and are worth taking a tour to see.

Across the street, the 14th-century Jewel Tower also survived the fire. It was built to house the personal treasures of King Edward III in 1365. It’s an English Heritage site and can be visited for free if you have an English Heritage membership.

6. St James’s Palace

Back over by Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace is another of the great royal palaces in London.

It was built in the 16th century by Henry VIII, and Elizabeth I lived here during the threat of the Spanish Armada. Charles II, James II, Mary II, and Queen Anne were all born and baptized here, too.

Substantial parts of the original brick building still survive, including the Chapel Royal (where Queen Victoria married Prince Albert), gatehouse, turrets, and Tudor rooms in the state apartments.

Today St James’s Palace is used for receptions and is the home of several members of the royal family and their offices.

7. Hampton Court Palace

On the outskirts of London, Hampton Court Palace is one of the most lavish historic royal palaces in London.

It was begun by Cardinal Wolsey in the early 16th century, but Henry VIII soon took over and made it into a proper Tudor extravaganza.

William III and Mary II commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to build a new baroque palace during their reign, and later Queen Victoria opened the palace to the public in 1838.

Today visitors can tour the state apartments, get lost in the hedge maze, explore the gardens, and soak up the atmosphere.

8. Kew Palace

Often overlooked, the intimate Kew Palace was the home and private retreat of Georgian monarchs. The smallest of all the royal palaces in London, it was originally a wealthy silk merchant’s mansion.

George II and Queen Caroline acquired it in the 1720s, and it later became a retreat for George III when he suffered from mental illness. Today visitors can tour its interiors on a visit to Kew Gardens.

9. Queen’s House

While not technically a palace, the Queen’s House in Greenwich deserves a place on my list because it sits on the site of a Tudor gatehouse that was once part of Greenwich Palace.

Designed by Inigo Jones in 1616 for Anne of Denmark, wife of James I, it’s the earliest surviving neo-Classical villa in the country.

Palladian in style, its interiors feature a stunning spiral staircase and paintings by Rubens and Canaletto. The house is open for free visits and is worth touring to take in the stunning art and architecture.

10. Tower of London

Also not officially a royal palace in London, the Tower of London still ranks among the most important buildings in the UK.

Its royal connections are deep, what with it being built by William the Conqueror shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and still housing the Crown Jewels today.

The Tower of London is worth visiting for its rich royal and architectural history, from the mysterious murder of young Edward V and his brother in the 15th century to the executions of queens Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Jane Grey in the 16th century.

11. Clarence House

Clarence House is another place that’s not officially one of the royal palaces in London, but was home to King William IV in the 19th century and has such strong ties to the current royal family that it merits inclusion on my list.

Situated between St James’s Palace and Buckingham Palace, Clarence House was built in the early 19th century to a design by architect John Nash.

It was commissioned and lived in by the Duke of Clarence, who later became King William IV. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip also lived here after their marriage in 1947.

Today Clarence House is the official London residence of the Prince of Wales. It has limited openings for tours during the summer months, when visitors can take in the interiors of the royal residence.

Best Royal Palaces in London

I hope you’ve enjoyed this virtual tour and are excited to discover all the royal palaces in London.

There are so many fascinating places and so much history to delve into that it’s easy to keep going back and uncovering more on each visit.

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