Kew Palace

The smallest of the royal palaces, Kew palace sits within the Royal Botanic Gardens and was originally built in 1631 as a fashionable country retreat for a wealthy silk merchant. A jewel-like structure with a red brick facade, it later attracted George II and Queen Caroline, who sought a more private, domestic life here with their daughters. Toward the end of the 18th century, George III retreated to Kew during his first bout of illness, and the palace became a secluded and tranquil setting for his care.

Gifted to the nation by Queen Victoria, Kew Palace first opened to the public in 1898. Beginning in 1996, Historic Royal Palaces undertook a decade-long conservation project to restore the building and its interiors. Today, visitors can explore Queen Charlotte’s Drawing Room — the grandest and largest space in the palace — which displays her beautiful tea set, musical instruments collected by George II and fashionable Italian paintings. Nearby are George III’s Library and Ante Room, which includes a Madame Tussaud bust of the monarch and his prize transverse flute. Alongside Kew Palace are the Royal Kitchens, originally part of the now-demolished White House, which were left untouched for nearly 200 years and preserved in their original Georgian style.

Surrounding the palace are other remnants of the historic Kew estate, including Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, an intimate hidden gem tucked away in a secluded part of the gardens known as the Wilderness. The Great Pagoda, originally built in 1762 as one of 16 decorative garden structures displaying unique architectural styles, underwent a major conservation project and was returned to its 18th-century splendor in 2018.

^{Queen Charlotte’s Bedroom at Kew Palace. © Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd 2026 | Royal Collection Trust.}