Once you're done touring Kensington Palace, stop and have a snack at the Orangerie next door.
The Orangerie was built by Queen Mary's sister and successor, Queen Anne, in 1703. The classically-designed brick building was created for entertaining in the summer and for sheltering fruit trees in the winter.
Now, you can stop there and have morning coffee, a light lunch, or afternoon tea in the bright and airy space. The contrast in decor is especially striking when compared with the rich, dark paneling that swaths the walls of the Palace--the Orangerie (not surprisingly, as it's a greenhouse) has floor-to-ceiling windows, providing a view of the palace and its lawn. Walls and ceilings are decorated with restrained neoclassical plasterwork, while statues of nymphs peer from alcoves. The centerpiece of all this, however, isn't architectural at all--it's the table in the center of the long room, covered in white linen, that holds the day's cakes, tarts, and other delights.
The Orangerie Cake is especially good--dense yellow cake with a delicious orange butter cream icing (it's made with real butter, so leave your diet at the door).
Also good, but less decadent, are the light lunch selections of sandwiches and soups. Soup and a cheese scone costs about £6, a pot of tea costs about £2, and assorted cakes and scones are between £1 and £3.50. The soups that the Orangarie serves change on a daily basis. The last time I visited, I had a warming cup of broccoli-cheese soup.
Have a pot of tea and a slice of Orangerie Cake for me.