Kensington Palace

I just returned from a 8-night vacation in London. We spent our Sunday visiting Kensington Palace and Hyde Park. I do NOT agree with the 3 previous reviewers, saying the tour is not a must see in London. Yes, it is nothing like Windsor Castle and the breathtaking furnishings and paintings; however, the Princess Diana photo collection by Mario Testino is simply beautiful. These were photos taken a few months before she passed away. They show a fun and softer, more down to earth and playful side to the Princess. In addition to the several rooms of photographs, the Palace has a display of 9 of Princess Diana's dresses that had been sold at auction before her death. One is particular is the black velvet, off the shoulder dress she wore at her first White House dinner as Princess, where she danced with John Travolta. Besides, the Princess Diana collection, guests are shown the apartment where Princess Margaret lived and artifacts from the Royal Seamstresses, etc. You get to feel the fabrics used in construction of beautiful Royal clothing in the 1600's. Outside the Palace is a large and beautiful statue of Queen Victoria, as she was born and lived in Kensington Palace.

Tickets to Kensington Palace are shockingly expensive, but the tour started off well enough, with several rooms with large glass cases with wax figures getting prepared for a Royal event. After the first three rooms or so, though, it turned into "filler" material- Interesting and vaguely amusing exhibition, but not worth the price of the ticket. Things pick up when you go back upstairs into the Palace, but in all honesty, if you're planning to go to Windsor, skip this. The rooms are lovely, but many are unfurnished, and even the audio tour kind of peters out, like it really doesn't have much more to say. DO stop a moment and look at the staggeringly beautiful (and probably staggeringly heavy!) silver court gown at the end of the tour.

The actual highlight of Kensington Palace is it's Orangerie restaurant. You do not need a ticket to the Palace to go to the restaurant. This lovely building is just nice to sit in, even on a rainy day, with it's airy ceiling and large windows. The food was fantastic, especially the chicken pot pie, which is more a thick, rich soup with flaky chips of pastry on top. Prices weren't cafe cheap, but they were reasonable (no more than an inexpensive restaurant) and the food was superior. The Orangerie is also supposed to be known for it's tea selection. We are casual tea drinkers, but went with the waitresses recommendation, and it was the best tea we had in England.