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Kensington Palace Orangery – London W8
When Queen Anne came to the throne she soon started to improve the somewhat neglected gardens at Kensington. In September 1704 the building of a new ‘greenhouse’ was begun.
The style of the Orangery suggests that it might have been designed through a unique collaboration by Nicholas Hawksmoor, the resident Clerk of Works, and Sir John Vanburgh. The level of decoration, including carved detail by Grinling Gibbons, reflects its intended use, not just as a ‘greenhouse’ but as a ‘summer supper house’ and a place for entertainments.
The venue is situated within its own private grounds, metres from Kensington Palace and overlooking beautiful lawns with majestic bay trees. This is the ideal spacious, light and elegant venue for events with style. The Orangery may be combined with a marquee on the terrace or lawns to accommodate receptions of more than 1000 people. It is perfect for large receptions and dinners and guests may take a private tour of the State Apartments and view any current special exhibitions.
Room Capacities
| Maximum Venue Capacity | Reception | Dinner | Dinner & Dance | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orangery | 300 | 150 | 120 | 200 |
| Orangery with marquee | 600 | 300 | 0 | 0 |
Hire Periods
| Access Times to Venue: | Available evenings and limited daytime |
|---|---|
| Venue Closed Periods: |
Venue Notes
| smoking | No | |
|---|---|---|
| marquee | Yes | |
| dancing | Yes | |
| garden | Yes | |
| marriage | No | |
| parking | No |