Kew Palace

Kew Palace stands on the banks of the River Thames within Kew Gardens in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The oldest surviving part is the Dutch House, built in 1631 on the undercroft of a 16th-century building. Its name comes from the Artisan Mannerist style, popular in London and East Anglia at the time. The palace was a royal residence from 1728 to 1818, with a brief return in 1844. It is Grade I listed and cared for by Historic Royal Palaces. The Dutch House housed three of George II’s daughters in the 1730s, while their brother Frederick turned the nearby Capel House into the White House. Frederick remodelled the gardens and entertained figures like Alexander Pope. After his death in 1751, his widow Augusta continued the work, later teaching her sons George III and Edward in the Dutch House. George III expanded the art collection there, including works by Canaletto and Zoffany. Visitors find the Dutch House open to the public, along with its 18th-century service wing and restored royal kitchens. Nearby are the Great Pagoda and Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, also managed by Historic Royal Palaces. The grounds include remnants of Frederick’s garden layouts and a sundial marking James Bradley’s 1725 discovery of the aberration of light. The site blends royal history with the wider landscape of Kew Gardens.