The ground and first floors have been restored and furnished to recreate their appearance when occupied by George III. The third floor can be seen just as it was when abandoned in the 19th century. The Palace makes an interesting visit. It and the Cottage were curated by young ladies in period costume on the day of my visit.
At the other end of the park is Queen Charlotte’s Cottage. This rustic building, once used for Royal picnics, is notable for its size ( similar to a 4-bedroom detatched villa), and its inefficient use of interior space (two large stairwells and only two rooms of any size.)
Practical Details: Kew Palace is situated in the north-east part of Kew Gardens. To visit it you need to purchase an admission for the Gardens (not cheap!), then a Palace admission ticket at the welcome suite about 100 metres from the Palace. It is therefore suggested that, unless you like throwing your money about, you allot a whole day to visit both. Queen Charlotte’s Cottage (within the West end of the Gardens)is open weekends during the warmer months. There is no entrance charge for the cottage.
