Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century. You can walk from the hotel bluebells which will take 10 minutes. The State Rooms are open to the public and managed by the independent charity Historic Royal Palaces, a non-profit organisation that does not receive public funds.