Kensington Palace + London Sightseeing Tour

The Queen's Gallery was built in the shell of the former Holyrood Free Church and Duchess of Gordon’s School at the entrance to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The buildings were constructed in the 1840s with funds from the Duchess of Gordon, but fell into disuse in the late 19th century. Benjamin Tindall Architects were appointed project architects for the new Queen’s Gallery in October 1999. Their central visual theme was a celebration of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, expressed through a series of arches and screens that lead visitors from the Gallery entrance to the exhibition spaces beyond. Their design complements the original 19th-century architecture, elements of which were incorporated into the new spaces. Unsympathetic later internal alterations were removed, and a new exposed steel and concrete floor inserted to reflect the original ‘gallery’ of the Church.   A new stone arched entrance was created at the centre of the Horse Wynd frontage, opposite the new Scottish Parliament building. The use of a stone archway, with a courtyard beyond, is a traditional entrance device in Scottish architecture. The main walling is of Catcastle stone, the dressed work and lettering is of Stainton stone and the base is of Kenmay granite. ‘THE QUEEN’S GALLERY’ lettering above the entrance is the work of John Neilson, a calligrapher and carver. The letters were cut from single pieces of stone. Above sits Scotland’s heraldic lion, designed by Jill Watson. The lion sedant is based on a small red lion that sits at the feet of Mary, Queen of Scots on her tomb in Westminster Abbey. (The Palace of Holyroodhouse was once home to Mary, Queen of Scots.)   The monumental entrance doors of oak have gilded bronze hinges by Jill Watson. Continuing the heraldic theme, the main hinges are decorated with the Scottish lion and unicorn. The beasts are set against the adjacent urban scene of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and the rural scene of Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags. The upper hinges are made as golden boughs of flowering native trees – chestnut and laburnum, oak, rowan and hawthorn. The stone archway is decorated with a carved and gilded garland of Scottish flowers, including daisies and thistles, created by Graciela Ainsworth, an Edinburgh-based sculptor, carver and conservator. Over the old entrance to the former church is a stained-glass window by Christian Shaw.  The design shows a perspective drawing of the interior of a gallery. At night, the shape of the archway is reflected by the glass lights by Keiko Mukaide set into the paving. The artist has given the tiles a water flow pattern, mirroring the stream of visitors walking in and out of the Gallery. Inside, the reception desk by Hamid van Koten is made from curved pieces of Scottish elm with kilned glass and patinated copper. The pendant lights were designed and made in Edinburgh by Ingrid Phillips. Dividing the reception from the main Gallery area is a patterned glass screen by Jacqueline Poncelet. The screen’s bronze handles by Jill Watson incorporate figures looking at art in a gallery.   The dramatic central stair of native timber leads to the Gallery spaces above. The complex shape was designed by the architects with Charles Taylor Woodwork, who were responsible for the construction. Lights set into the first floor illuminate the curved balustrading.  

New York CityPASS®: See New York's six best attractions at one great price. Skip most ticket lines and save over $82.00. The New York CityPASS® program packs six of New York’s best attractions into a prepaid ticket book that saves over 42% off regular combined admission — and allows users to skip most main-entrance ticket lines. CityPASS New York tickets are valid for 9 days from start of use, give priority entry to many attractions and come with an informative pocket-sized booklet. With your CityPASS you can see breathtaking views of New York from the 86th floor Observation Deck of the Empire State Building or enjoy free entry to the American Natural History Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can also choose between Top of the Rock Observation Deck at the Rockefeller Centre or the ultra-modern Guggenheim Museum and a vast array of iconic attractions. The CityPASS New York also offers a choice of two river cruises for more relaxed sightseeing. New York CityPASS® ticket books include: • Empire State Building Experience (day/night entry to the 86th-floor Observatory  • American Museum of Natural History • The Metropolitan Museum of Art (same-week admission to The Cloisters museum and gardens after visiting the Met) • Top of the Rock® Observatory OR Guggenheim Museum • Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island OR Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises • 9/11 Memorial & Museum OR the Intrepid, Sea, Air & Space Museum Option Tickets — You choose which of the two attractions you prefer to visit, but you do not need to decide this at the time of purchase. We have done all the work so you can save time and money. Each ticket booklet is packed with useful information, such as hours of operation, transportation information, contact information and insiders’ tips so you can use each moment of your vacation to its fullest - yet it is so compact, it will fit into your back pocket. It’s all you need to see the best of the city that never sleeps - New York City! Why not combine this ticket with an 2 Day Hop-on/Hop-off Double Decker Bus Tour?  

Duration is 1 hr and 30 mins. If you have any dietary requirements please contact us at [email protected] as soon as you make your booking.  

All visitors (including members and visitors 18 and under, who always receive free admission) require a ticket so we can ensure the museum does not exceed capacity. Order tickets in advance for all members of your party so everyone can enter the galleries at the same time. No eating, drinking, smoking, or sleeping is permitted in the Museum. Eating and drinking are permitted in designated areas only (Café 5, Sightglass at SFMOMA, and In Situ). Sealed food and drink containers are allowed if they are packed away inside a bag. Backpacks may not be carried on your back; they must be carried or worn on your front at all times.  

NOTE: Children of 13 years or younger must be accompanied by an Adult in order to climb the Monument. Please note that in order to preserve the Monument’s original structure, visitors with large bags are requested to leave these at the base of the staircase.

Winter: Daily Departure time: 10:00, 12:00, 15:00 or 09:00 / 10:00 / 12:00 / 13:00 / 15;00 Departure from Pyramides Agency: 2 rue des Pyramides, 75001 Paris Important Operation Information: In 2018, Eiffel Tower will renovate its lifts. The renovation will last at least 12 months and implies that one lift will be out of service during this period. We will keep you informed of any further notice.