Description: Kensington Palace was built in the late 18th century and became a royal property when King William III (1688-1702) and Queen Mary II (1688-1694) bought the house from its owner. William was asthmatic and preferred to spend time in this palace far from the smoke-filled centre of the city. Under William and Mary the palace was a modest size, but it underwent a transformation during the era of the Hanoverian kings (1714-1837). George I transformed the interiors and created the King's State Apartments, lavish rooms decorated by the architect William Kent. Queen Victoria was born in Kensington Palace in 1819 and lived in the palace as a child. Although she moved to Buckingham Palace when she became Queen in 1837, the palace continued to be the residence of a number of her children. In recent times the palace is associated with Diana, Princess of Wales. Her sons, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, live in the private apartments with their respective families. Visitors can see the King and Queen's Apartments, in addition to exhibitions on Queen Victoria and her family and Diana, Princess of Wales. Kensington Palace is managed by Historical Royal Palaces. An annual membership costs £50 and allows members to visit four palaces in London for free, including Hampton Court Palace, the Tower of London, and Banqueting House. Members also get discounted entry to Kew Palace.

Sunday: 10:00 - 18:00
Monday: 10:00 - 18:00
Tuesday: 10:00 - 18:00
Wednesday: 10:00 - 18:00
Thursday: 10:00 - 18:00
Friday: 10:00 - 18:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 18:00

Description: The Albert Memorial in Hyde Park was built in honour of Prince Albert and opened in 1872. Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg Gotha married his first cousin Queen Victoria in 1838. Their happy marriage produced nine children before Albert died at the age of 42 in 1861. Albert was a patron of the arts and sciences and was one of the driving figures behind the Great Exhibition of 1851, which took place in Hyde Park. Victoria was heartbroken following Albert's death and wore black for the rest of her life. The memorial was built in the Gothic Revival style by Sir George Gilbert Scott, one of the most famous architects of the time. The Gothic style became popular in the 19th century since it was regarded as a quintessentially English architectural style. The distinguishing feature of the memorial is the seated gilded bronze figure of Albert underneath the canopy. The four corners of the memorial contain two sets of allegorical sculptures. The inner set depicts the industrial arts and sciences which flourished in Victorian England and were championed by Albert (agriculture, commerce, engineering and manufacturing). The outer ring represents four continents: Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe. These sculptures were symbolic of the British Empire's dominance over the world.

Sunday: 05:00 - 23:59
Monday: 05:00 - 23:59
Tuesday: 05:00 - 23:59
Wednesday: 05:00 - 23:59
Thursday: 05:00 - 23:59
Friday: 05:00 - 23:59
Saturday: 05:00 - 23:59

Description: The Royal Albert Hall is situated across the road from the Albert Memorial and is one of the best known concert venues in the country. It was constructed in memory of Prince Albert and completed in 1871. The Albert Hall hosts high profile concerts and events, the best known of which is the BBC Proms. The Proms were first held in the Albert Hall from 1895 under the direction of Sir Henry Wood. Over the course of its history the Proms has become a world-famous festival of classical music. Today, there are around 80 Proms concerts from late July to early September. The series ends with the famous Last Night of the Proms, a celebration of British musical culture including performances of patriotic songs such as Rule Britannia, Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory, and the national anthem God Save the Queen. Please visit the website of the Royal Albert Hall to find more about concerts and tours of the venue.

Sunday: 09:00 - 21:00
Monday: 09:00 - 21:00
Tuesday: 09:00 - 21:00
Wednesday: 09:00 - 21:00
Thursday: 09:00 - 21:00
Friday: 09:00 - 21:00
Saturday: 09:00 - 21:00

Description: The Victoria and Albert Museum boasts one of the best collections of artistic treasures in the world. It was founded in 1852 and serves as a prime example of Victoria and Albert's efforts to encourage learning in the arts and sciences. The collection is exhibited across six floors and the items encompass 5,000 years of world history from cultures and civilizations throughout the world. Its particular strengths include its East Asian collection and the European Renaissance galleries. These extensive collections are a legacy of the British Empire, which covered a quarter of the world's surface in the 19th century and conducted trade, often on unequal terms, with Asia and the Middle East and beyond. Please take the time to stop for a coffee or a meal in the luxurious surroundings of the V&A cafe. The museum is one of the largest in the world, so plan your visit in advance. More information about the museum and its collection can be found on the website.

Sunday: 10:00 - 17:45
Monday: 10:00 - 17:45
Tuesday: 10:00 - 17:45
Wednesday: 10:00 - 17:45
Thursday: 10:00 - 17:45
Friday: 10:00 - 22:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 17:45