Kew Palace is a small red-brick royal residence inside the Royal Botanic Gardens in Richmond, west London. Built in 1631 as a private house, it later became a retreat for King George III, Queen Charlotte and their family. Its restored rooms give a close-up view of Georgian royal life, with personal belongings and exhibits throughout. Next door, the Royal Kitchens reveal how food was prepared for the household. Entry to the palace is included with a ticket to Kew Gardens, so it fits naturally into a day among the gardens and historic buildings.
A merchant’s house becomes a royal retreat
The red-brick building now called Kew Palace began as a private house. Samuel Fortrey, a silk merchant of Dutch background, had it built in 1631. Its stepped gables and brickwork reflect its Dutch influence, and the house was known as the Dutch House. It is the oldest surviving building in Kew Gardens and the best-known part of a larger complex that once included other buildings.
Royal use came later. The house entered royal life in 1729, and members of the Georgian royal family stayed there before it became a summer home for King George III and Queen Charlotte. They lived at Kew with their 15 children. The modest scale of the house gives the visit a domestic feel: this was a family residence, not a palace built for grand ceremonies.
Inside the palace
The rooms are arranged to show the house as it would have looked in the Georgian period. Restored interiors, furniture, paintings and personal objects help explain the lives of the people who occupied them. Exhibits and room signs provide context as you move through the house, and audio guides are available in several languages.
The palace is closely associated with George III’s periods of ill health, when Kew was a place of retreat for him and his family. Queen Charlotte also lived here and died at the palace in 1818. These events are part of the building’s history, presented alongside details of ordinary royal life. The visit is compact compared with larger royal residences, so the rooms themselves, rather than a long sequence of grand state spaces, are the focus.
The Royal Kitchens and the gardens
The Royal Kitchens stand beside the main house and offer a separate view of life at Kew. Restored to their Georgian-era appearance, they show the rooms and working spaces used to prepare food for the royal household. They add practical detail to the palace rooms, including how meals were made and served.
Kew Palace sits within the Royal Botanic Gardens, so it works well as one stop on a wider visit. The gardens also contain Queen Charlotte’s Garden, which grows plants associated with medicinal use in the seventeenth century. As the palace is open seasonally and the garden grounds are extensive, check the palace dates before you go and leave enough time to reach it during your day at Kew.
FAQ
Is Kew Palace inside Kew Gardens?
Yes. It is within the Royal Botanic Gardens in Richmond, west London.
Is palace entry included with a Kew Gardens ticket?
Entry to Kew Palace is included with admission to Kew Gardens.
When is Kew Palace open?
It is usually open from April to late September. Check the seasonal opening dates before your visit.
What can you see at Kew Palace?
You can explore restored Georgian rooms, exhibits about the royal family and the adjacent Royal Kitchens.
