The light and spacious interior of the new shop and cafe at Kensington Palace, London, United Kingdom

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Kensington Palace Shop and Cafe

London, UK


In 2008, John Simpson Architects won the architectural competition to design a masterplan that has reorganised Kensington Palace into a vivid visitor experience and a vibrant community facility. It incorporates the creation of a new entrance and approach from Kensington Gardens, a new extension providing visitor facilities such as a cafe and shop, a lift inserted into the historic core of the Palace to provide level access, and a visitor orientation hub from which narrative routes and exhibition spaces start from. These routes bring the stories of the Palace and its inhabitants to life through pioneering engagement techniques particularly for young children and families. A vital part of the £11.5 million restoration was to reintroduce an architectural hierarchy within the Palace so that visitors can use the architecture of the building to navigate around it.

The masterplan also encompasses a suite of education rooms, flexible spaces for temporary exhibitions and community use, new offices and conservation rooms, and conservation storage for the Royal Court and Ceremonial Dress Collection.

The main works were completed for Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

View of cafe counter of new shop at Kensington Palace, London, United Kingdom

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Kensington Palace Shop and Cafe

London, UK


In 2008, John Simpson Architects won the architectural competition to design a masterplan that has reorganised Kensington Palace into a vivid visitor experience and a vibrant community facility. It incorporates the creation of a new entrance and approach from Kensington Gardens, a new extension providing visitor facilities such as a cafe and shop, a lift inserted into the historic core of the Palace to provide level access, and a visitor orientation hub from which narrative routes and exhibition spaces wstart from. These routes bring the stories of the Palace and its inhabitants to life through pioneering engagement techniques particularly for young children and families. A vital part of the £11.5 million restoration was to reintroduce an architectural hierarchy within the Palace so that visitors can use the architecture of the building to navigate around it.

The masterplan also encompasses a suite of education rooms, flexible spaces for temporary exhibitions and community use, new offices and conservation rooms, and conservation storage for the Royal Court and Ceremonial Dress Collection.

The main works were completed for Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

View looking across the cafe and shop at Kensington Palace, London, United Kingdom

Next
Prev · 

Kensington Palace Shop and Cafe

London, UK


In 2008, John Simpson Architects won the architectural competition to design a masterplan that has reorganised Kensington Palace into a vivid visitor experience and a vibrant community facility. It incorporates the creation of a new entrance and approach from Kensington Gardens, a new extension providing visitor facilities such as a cafe and shop, a lift inserted into the historic core of the Palace to provide level access, and a visitor orientation hub from which narrative routes and exhibition spaces wstart from. These routes bring the stories of the Palace and its inhabitants to life through pioneering engagement techniques particularly for young children and families. A vital part of the £11.5 million restoration was to reintroduce an architectural hierarchy within the Palace so that visitors can use the architecture of the building to navigate around it.

The masterplan also encompasses a suite of education rooms, flexible spaces for temporary exhibitions and community use, new offices and conservation rooms, and conservation storage for the Royal Court and Ceremonial Dress Collection.

The main works were completed for Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.