Booking choice: The Royal High Tea, from $169 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The Orangery is the building behind every "royal high tea" listing. It is run as a restaurant by Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that looks after Kensington Palace, and it reopened in May 2024 after a restoration.
You can reach it on a guided tour or book it yourself, and you do not need a palace ticket either way.
The quick answer
The Orangery is a restaurant in a 1704 building by Nicholas Hawksmoor, a short walk from Kensington Palace. It is open daily 10 AM to 6 PM with last entry at 4:30 PM, apart from event days, and serves afternoon tea from £55 per adult. No palace ticket is needed. Book ahead: walk-ins are limited at busy times.
What is the Orangery?
A long, white baroque building designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor in 1704 for Queen Anne, as a winter home for her orange trees and a place for summer entertaining.
Historic Royal Palaces describes 24 white Corinthian columns inside and decorative carving by the royal craftsmen of the day. It has been a tea room and restaurant for decades, and after restoration it reopened on 1 May 2024 with heritage wallpaper and new interiors.
Is the Orangery inside Kensington Palace?
No. It is a separate building a short walk north of the palace, facing Kensington Gardens.
That is why no palace ticket is needed. It also means the "royal high tea" is not served in the State Apartments; it is served in the palace's historic garden building.
Do you need a ticket to Kensington Palace to eat at the Orangery?
No. Historic Royal Palaces says you do not need a palace admission ticket to visit the Orangery or the palace cafe.
Combine them if you like: add palace entry at tour checkout or buy it separately. The guided tours end here; see the price guide for how the costs stack up.
Want the table booked for you, plus a guided walk? The Royal High Tea ends at the Orangery.
Check dates for the Royal High TeaWhat is on the afternoon tea menu?
Finger sandwiches, scones with Cornish clotted cream and preserve, and a selection of cakes and pastries, with loose-leaf tea.
The menu changes with the season. The last published menu included a lavender eclair and Queen Victoria's favourite Victoria sponge, with Hope & Glory teas. A vegan afternoon tea is offered, and the tours arrange gluten-free and halal teas on request.
How much does it cost?
Afternoon tea is listed from £55 per adult, £64 with Pimm's, £68 with English sparkling wine and £29 for children.
Prices are from the last published menu; check the current one when you book. A sitting is about 90 minutes.
When is the Orangery open?
Daily from 10 AM to 6 PM, with last entry at 4:30 PM, except on days it closes for private events.
The palace's opening calendar lists the Orangery's hours day by day; check your date, especially on Fridays and around events. Kensington Palace itself has been closed on Mondays and Tuesdays outside summer.
Prefer to see the Sunken Garden first? The best-rated garden tour ends with royal tea at the Orangery.
Explore the gardens tour and royal teaHow do you book a table?
Book online through Historic Royal Palaces' Orangery page or by phone on 020 3206 7781; walk-ins may not be available at peak times.
If you book a tour, the operator reserves the table for you. Members of Historic Royal Palaces get 10% off, though not on set menus.
Is the Orangery accessible?
Yes. The restaurant is step-free with an accessible toilet, and large-print menus are available.
The tours involve about an hour of walking, and some are marked not wheelchair accessible, so check the listing. The private tour lists wheelchair-accessible routes.
Ready to choose a date? Check the Royal High Tea's availability.
Check dates for the Royal High TeaFrequently asked questions
Is the Orangery at Kensington Palace open?
Yes. It reopened on 1 May 2024 after restoration and is open daily 10 AM to 6 PM, apart from private-event days.
Is there a dress code at the Orangery?
No formal dress code. Smart casual is ideal.
Can you just have a coffee at the Orangery?
Yes. It serves breakfast, lunch and drinks as well as afternoon tea, though tables at peak times go to bookings first.
Is the Orangery the same as the Pavilion?
No. The palace has used other spaces, such as a garden pavilion and a cafe, for tea over the years. Today's tours serve tea at the Orangery.
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Choose your tea
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Royal High Tea at Kensington Palace
- Guided walk from Queensway station: Italian Gardens, Peter Pan, Round Pond, Diana's stories
- Full afternoon tea at the Orangery: sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, cakes, tea
- Private table (not shared with strangers); small group of up to 12
Kensington Gardens Tour & Royal Tea
- Guided walk through Kensington Gardens, with the Cradle Walk and Sunken Garden
- Royal afternoon tea at the Orangery: pastries, cakes and sandwiches
- Timed Kensington Palace entry only if you select that option
VIP Afternoon Tea at Kensington Palace
- Guided small-group walk through Kensington Gardens and the palace grounds
- Reserved table at the Orangery
- Afternoon tea and sparkling wine only on the options that include them
