Kensington Palace

The crowds thin out noticeably if you time it right - early morning on a weekday beats the school holidays rush by miles. Kensington Palace sits in the middle of Kensington Gardens, a proper royal residence that still functions as one, with parts remaining private. You can actually walk around the outside and through the gardens for free, which most visitors don't realise. The State Rooms are where it gets interesting if you're willing to pay for entry. Diana's story looms large here - her apartments, her wedding dress displayed, the whole narrative of her time as Princess of Wales. It's emotionally heavy stuff if you're at all invested in that particular bit of royal history.

The palace itself is modest compared to what you'd expect - Kensington wasn't exactly the crown jewel of royal residences, more of a country retreat that gradually became rather grand. The rooms tell the story of various monarchs who lived here, and the design is genuinely worth noticing rather than just walking through taking photos.

For families, Kensington Gardens does more heavy lifting than the palace itself. There's the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, playgrounds, proper space to run around. Young kids might find the actual palace rooms a bit dull - it's text-heavy and requires a bit of attention span. Adult history enthusiasts and royal junkies will get more from it.

If you're staying at Lovat Parks just two miles away, this works perfectly as a day trip into London proper. The gardens alone justify the journey. Budget two to three hours if you're doing the lot, including the State Rooms.