Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
temporary art exhibitions. The gallery also commissions a leading architect each year to
design a summer
teahouse pavilion
.
The park's most impressive monument by far, however, is the
Albert Memorial
, erected in
1876. It's as much a hymn to the glorious achievements of the British Empire as to its sub-
ject, Queen Victoria's husband (he died of typhoid in 1861), whose gilded image sits under
its central canopy, clutching a catalogue for the 1851 Great Exhibition. If you want to learn
more about the 169 life-sized depictions of long-gone artists (all men) around the pediment,
and the various other allegorical sculptures, join one of the monthly guided tours
(March-Dec first Sun of month 2pm and 3pm; 45min; £7).
ALBERT MEMORIAL
KENSINGTON PALACE
Kensington Gardens Queensway or High Street Kensington 020 3166 6000,
www.hrp.org.uk
.Easter-Oct
daily 10am-6pm; Nov-Easter 10am-5pm.From £15.40 online.
MAP
Bought by William and Mary in 1689, the modestly proportioned Jacobean brick mansion of
Kensington Palace was the chief royal residence for the next fifty years. KP, as it's fondly
known in royal circles, is best known today as the place where
Princess Diana
lived from
her marriage until her death in 1997. Today, it's the official residence of a number of royals
including Prince William and Kate Middleton.
