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THE 10 BEST Things to Do Near Hampton Court Palace

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Things to do near Hampton Court Palace

Things to Do near Hampton Court Palace

Trusted reviews and ratings, free 24-hour cancellation, low-price guarantee.

The London Pass®: Unlimited access to 90+ top attractions
Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace Tour
Private Guided Tour of Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace Private Tour - Secrets of Henry VIII
Hampton Court Palace private tour with an accredited expert guide
(1.43 mi) Incognito
(4.02 mi) Be At One - Richmond
(4.28 mi) Incognito Richmond
(6.86 mi) Be At One Putney
(1.61 mi) The Masons Arms
Discover over 1,000 restaurants near Hampton Court Palace
Discover over 1,000 hotels near Hampton Court Palace

20 Attractions to Explore Near Hampton Court Palace

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National Trust - Claremont Landscape Garden

5.97km from hampton court palace.

One of the beautiful iconci attraction in this area, The Claremont Landscape Garden, just outside Esher, Surrey, England, is one of the earliest surviving gardens of its kind of landscape design, the English Landscape Garden — still featuring its original 18th-century layout. The garden is Grade I listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. It will be a new experience for you all.

Horton Country Park

7.17km from hampton court palace.

Horton Country Park is a rural landscape of fields, hedgerows, ancient woods and ponds of great wildlife and historical interest. The park is a wooded recreation and amenities area occupying the east of a narrow upland watershed between two tributaries. Part of the area is occupied by Hobbledown Children's Farm, which contains various folkloric themed adventure playgrounds and a small zoo hosting domestic farm animals, and exotics such as meerkat, nilgai, emu and Bactrian camel.

Epsom Common

8.52km from hampton court palace.

Epsom Common is a beautiful widllfie sanctuary covers 176 hectares and has a range of habitats including woodland, grassland and scrub. Stane Street a famous Roman Road is only a mile away. This is a nationally important wildlife location because it is a breeding site for birds. Moreover, insects endemic to the area depend on the dead wood on location. Other fauna include roe deer, herons and purple emperor butterflies. Additionally, there are flora such as common spotted orchids and southern m

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

8.85km from hampton court palace.

Houses the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world. It consists of 132 hectares (330 acres) of gardens and botanical glasshouses. Its living collections includes some of the 27,000 taxa and the herbarium, which is one of the largest in the world, has over 8.5 million preserved plant and fungal specimens.

River Wey & Godalming Navigations

8.93km from hampton court palace.

The River Wey Navigation and Godalming Navigation together provide a 20-mile continuous navigable route from the River Thames near Weybridge via Guildford to Godalming. Both waterways are in Surrey and are owned by the National Trust. The Wey was one of the first rivers in England to be made navigable; the River Wey Navigation opened in 1653, with 12 locks between Weybridge and Guildford, and the Godalming Navigation, with a further four locks, was completed in 1764.

Nonsuch Park

9.09km from hampton court palace.

A very large open space with an extensive network of both surfaced and unsurfaced paths. It is home to a variety of different species of flowers, birds and insects. The park contains Nonsuch Mansion, also known as Nonsuch Park House. It is the last surviving part of the Little Park of Nonsuch, a deer hunting park established by Henry VIII of England surrounding the former Nonsuch Palace. An iconic attraction which attracts people for a cqalm and quiet time.

Ashtead Common

9.78km from hampton court palace.

Ashtead Common is an absolute treasure, right on the doorstep of SW London. Wide grassy avenues, dormice, an ancient earthwork & the site of an Old Roman Villa are all there. It is owned and managed by the City of London Corporation. 180.5 ha of the common are a National Nature Reserve. Together with Epsom Common it forms part of a larger area of open countryside called Epsom and Ashtead Commons, which is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

9.79km from Hampton Court Palace

Painshill, near Cobham, Surrey, England, is one of the finest remaining examples of an 18th-century English landscape park. It was designed and created between 1738 and 1773 by Charles HamiltonPainshill is regarded as one of the foremost and finest examples of the English Landscape Movement. A style of landscape design that has been described, by architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner, as “Britain’s’ greatest contribution to the visual arts”.

London Bus Museum

10.24km from hampton court palace.

The London Bus Museum is a purpose-built transport museum, open daily to the public and located at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey It houses a remarkable collection of around 35 buses and coaches, the largest collection of working historic London buses in the world. The vehicles are all of London origin and date from about 1875 to 1979 and are arranged in a timeline from the early horse bus to more modern buses similar to those on London’s streets today.

Brooklands Museum

10.34km from hampton court palace.

Brooklands Museum is on the site of the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit and displays a wide range of Brooklands-related motoring and aviation exhibits ranging from giant racing cars, motorcycles and bicycles to an vast collection of civilian and military aircraft, including the Second World War Wellington Bomber and the only Concorde with public access in South East England.

SAW - The Ride

12.07km from hampton court palace.

Saw - The Ride is a steel rollercoaster manufactured by Gerstlauer. This Euro-Fighter model roller coaster is located at Thorpe Park in the United Kingdom. The ride is themed around the horror movie franchise, "Saw". The ride was opened to the public as the steepest freefall roller coaster in the world on 14 March 2009, with a drop angle of 100 degrees.

Thorpe Park Resort

12.11km from hampton court palace.

THORPE PARK Resort is ‘An Island Like No Other’ and the must-visit UK destination to scream louder, laugh harder and share endless fun. Enjoy over 30 thrilling rides, attractions and live events like ANGRY BIRDS LAND or the UK’s first winged rollercoaster THE SWARM. Make sure to also check in and chill at the fin-tastic THORPE SHARK Hotel – a unique sleepover experience featuring bite-sized rooms that sleep up-to four people.

12.16km from Hampton Court Palace

Colossus is a steel roller coaster at Thorpe Park in Surrey, England, and the park's first major attraction. It was built by Swiss manufacturers Intamin and designed by Werner Stengel as an adaptation of Monte Makaya in Brazil, with consultation from Tussauds attraction developer John Wardley. Colossus was the world's first roller coaster with ten inversions; an exact replica, called the 10 Inversion Roller Coaster, was later built at Chimelong Paradise in Guangzhou, China.

The Walking Dead: The Ride

12.19km from hampton court palace.

The Walking Dead: The Ride is the world’s first roller coaster themed around the global TV phenomenon. It was themed around a rave and had the strapline "Ride on a wave of light and sound" — when it was titled X — but currently The Walking Dead: The Ride's slogan is “Those who ride, survive”. It is a complete transformation of the former roller coaster X with all new theming and effects throughout, including a pre-show, walkthrough and live actors.

Flying Fish

12.22km from hampton court palace.

The Flying Fish is a powered steel roller coaster located at Thorpe Park in Surrey. The ride was known as Space Station Zero upon opening in 1984, until being moved outdoors in 1990. It was removed in 2005 to make way for Stealth, but reinstalled in a different location two years later.

Derren Brown's Ghost Train

12.25km from hampton court palace.

Derren Brown's Ghost Train: Rise of the Demon, previously called Derren Brown's Ghost Train, is a dark ride at Thorpe Park in Surrey, England. The attraction incorporates virtual reality, motion simulation and illusions in collaboration with British mentalist Derren Brown. It is set in a derelict Victorian railway depot with a loose theme of fracking. It first opened in July 2016.

Nemesis Inferno

12.36km from hampton court palace.

Nemesis Inferno is THORPE PARK Resort's Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) inverted coaster, meaning that for the entire ride your feet are dangling beneath you! Themed around a tropical volcano island, the inverted ride position offers a variety of thrilling forces, foot-chopper elements, and with B&M's pioneering ride technology you can ensure your ride will be glass smooth. Nemesis Inferno has been found to have matured with age, offering a much more intense ride than during its first few seasons.

12.38km from Hampton Court Palace

Stealth is a launched roller coaster in the Amity area of Thorpe Park located in Surrey, England. This rollercoaster designed by Intamin of Switzerland for £12 million, the Accelerator Coaster model opened in 2006, a year after another Accelerator, Rita, opened at sister park Alton Towers. It reaches a height of 62.5 metres and accelerates from 0 to 80 mph in 1.9 seconds. It is the fastest roller coaster in the UK, and the second tallest after the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Great Cockcrow Railway

13.21km from hampton court palace.

This miniature railway is one of the most extensive of its kind in the country. There are two different routes you can choose from, both departing and returning to Hardwick Central Station. t is usually open on Sunday afternoons from May to October inclusive, plus Wednesday afternoons during August as well as May Bank Holiday.

RHS Garden Wisley

13.76km from hampton court palace.

RHS Garden Wisley is a garden run by the Royal Horticultural Society in the English county of Surrey, south of London. It is one of five gardens run by the society, the others being Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall, Rosemoor, and Bridgewater . Wisley is the second most visited paid entry garden in the United Kingdom after the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, with 1,232,772 visitors in 2019.

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Know more about Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton ct way, molesey, east molesey kt8 9au, uk.

Along with St James' Palace, it is one of only two surviving palaces out of the many the King Henry VIII owned. The palace has two distinct contrasting architectural styles, domestic Tudor and Baroque. It currently is open to the public displaying many of its original furnitures still in their original position, in addition to the works of art from the Royal Collection.

Visiting Hampton Court Palace: 12 Top Attractions

Written by Bryan Dearsley and Barbara Radcliffe Rogers Updated Dec 27, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Historic Hampton Court Palace, on the north bank of the River Thames, is one of England's top tourist attractions, and should rank high on your UK travel itinerary. Located just a short rail ride to the southwest of Central London, this famous English landmark has been at the center of British history since the 16th century.

Hampton Court Palace was built in 1514 as a private residence for Cardinal Wolsey , an advisor to King Henry VIII and a Catholic bishop. Wolsey later gifted the palace to the king as a means to secure his rank in English society and in Henry's court.

Five of Henry's six wives lived here as his Queen, and the ghosts of the third and fifth – Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard – are said to still haunt the palace. It was also a favorite residence of Queen Elizabeth I, whose lengthy reign from 1558 to 1603 saw England firmly cement its position on the world stage.

It was also here that Elizabeth was staying when news broke of the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Charles I also lived here, both as King and as Oliver Cromwell's prisoner. The palace was opened to the public during Queen Victoria 's reign, and although no longer a royal residence, parts of it are occupied by individuals granted "grace and favor" apartments by the monarch.

Hampton Court Palace is a wonderful place to spend a day of exploration and offers numerous things to do. Highlights of popular tourist activities include participating in staged royal feasts, or taking in a medieval festival or flower show. Also fun are fishing adventures, unique overnight stays, and bicycle tours.

To learn more about these and other things to do when visiting this important piece of English history, check out our list of the top attractions, tips, and tours when visiting Hampton Court Palace.

See also: Where to Stay near Hampton Court Palace

1. Henry VIII's Apartments and the Great Hall

2. william iii's state & private apartments, 3. the chapel royal, 4. the tudor kitchens and cellars, 5. the clock court, 6. the royal gardens, 7. hampton court maze, 8. the king's guard chamber, 9. cumberland art gallery, 10. staying overnight at hampton court, 11. hampton court palace festival and flower show, 12. tennis, fishing, and golf, where to stay near hampton court palace, tips and tours: how to make the most of your visit to hampton court palace.

The State Apartments are a highlight of any visit to Hampton Court. A good place to begin your visit is in the Buttery, with its excellent film depicting the lives (and deaths) of Henry VIII's wives.

Highlights of the surviving sections of Henry's quarters consist of the magnificently decorated Great Hall and the Great Watching Chamber. Also worth seeing here are the King's Council Chamber and the Processional Route linking the rooms.

The Great Hall in particular is a worthy place to linger. Not only is it England's greatest medieval hall, it became one of the country's most famous theaters, even hosting Shakespeare 's company in 1603.

The apartments of King William III were designed by Christopher Wren. They were decorated throughout with beautiful and delicate wood carvings created by the 17th-century master craftsman Grinling Gibbons. In the State Apartments, the opulent Great Bedchamber wasn't where the king actually slept, but was where he dressed in the presence of his courtiers.

Downstairs in Williams III's Private Apartments, rooms are more livable and display his personal collections of favorite art. The apartments of Mary II have been restored as they would have appeared to George II's wife, Queen Caroline, between 1716 and 1737.

In continuous use for more than 450 years, Hampton Court's royal chapel has a breathtaking timber and plaster ceiling that is said to be perhaps the finest example of Tudor interior decoration in the palace. Also here are the historic Royal Pews, where Henry VIII sat as he read the accusations of his young wife Catherine Howard's supposed indiscretions before their marriage.

A replica of King Henry's Crown of State , the original of which was melted down by Cromwell, sits in the Royal Pew. Visitors can also attend Sunday services here. These include Holy Communion at 8:30am, Choral Matins at 11am, and Choral Evensong at 3:30pm.

The vast medieval kitchens and cellars at Hampton Court provide a fascinating insight into the logistics of having to feed the palace's 600 members of the court, who dined here twice daily. Built in 1530, the kitchens were a central part of palace life and employed numerous Master Cooks and their staff.

You can also visit the recently discovered 18th-century Chocolate Kitchen with its original braziers and equipment. Dining events are also regularly held here, allowing guests a unique opportunity to try the traditional period dishes prepared in the kitchens.

The famous Clock Court, located in the center of Hampton Court, is home to the spectacular astronomical clock . This mechanical marvel was made for Henry VIII in 1540.

The clock is connected to a set of three bells situated in the Belfry, the oldest dating to 1478 and presented to Cardinal Wolsey by the Knights of St. John. Made by French clockmaker Nicholas Oursian, this fascinating timepiece is certainly impressive in size. Measuring 15 feet across, it consists of three copper dials indicating the hour, month, and day, along with the signs of the zodiac, and even the position of the sun.

Be sure to allow plenty of time to explore the palace's 60-acre grounds . Consisting of the Privy Garden, the Pond Garden, the Elizabethan Knot Garden, the Broad Walk, and the Wilderness, it's a particularly pleasant place to visit in springtime. Around mid-May, the more than one million bulbs here are in full bloom and provide a stunning backdrop to a visit to the palace.

Also of interest is the Great Vine, the largest grape vine in the world at more than 200 years old. It's 81 inches thick and still produces fruit. Other things to do include visiting the Lower Orangery, which contains Mantegna's masterpiece, The Triumph of Caesar , and having the kids try out the world's oldest maze.

Entering Hampton Court's huge maze will probably be the one time you won't mind getting lost in England.

Planted around 1689 and covering a third of an acre, this trapezoid maze contains half a mile of paths separated by thick hedges too tall to see over, and is the oldest such maze in the world.

The King's Guard Chamber offers a fascinating look at the arms and armor of Henry VIII's time.

The collection includes more than 2,840 muskets and pistols, swords and daggers, as well as pieces of armor all arranged in decorative patterns on the room's walls.

The newest addition to the attractions at Hampton Court is the Cumberland Art Gallery. The gallery displays some of the finest works from the Royal Collection.

Here, you'll see one of Rembrandt's self-portraits; a Grand Canal scene by Canaletto; and paintings by Holbein, van Dyck and Gainsborough. Entrance is included in Hampton Court Palace admission.

Ever wondered what it would be like to sleep in a palace? Well, wonder no longer! Now you can enjoy a sleepover in the imposing 18th-century Georgian House, an elegant building at Hampton Court Palace that was built as the kitchens for George, Prince of Wales. On the alley leading to Henry VIII's tennis court, the Georgian House has been renovated as a self-catering home that sleeps eight and has its own private walled garden.

Not only will you have the unique opportunity to wander the grounds after the gates have shut for the day, but you can make yourself at home to explore the gardens, courtyards, and public rooms of the palace during opening hours as often as you like.

You'll get to know the palace staff and become part of palace life yourself. For details and reservations, visit the Landmark Trust website. And be prepared to plan ahead, as these hot luxury accommodations book well-ahead.

Two major events take place inside the grounds of Hampton Court each year. For two weeks in June, the Hampton Court Palace Festival draws some of the biggest names in pop and classical music for concerts in the stunning setting of the palace. It's one of the country's most popular outdoor music events. For tickets and details, visit the Hampton Court Palace Festival website.

For a week in July, the already beautiful grounds are turned into a wonderland of colorful blooms with the week-long Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Sponsored by the Royal Horticultural Society, this is the world's biggest annual flower show, filled with specially designed gardens, spectacular flower displays, and shopping for everything garden or flower-related. For dates and tickets, visit the Royal Horticultural Society website.

A resting deer on the Hampton Court Palace Golf Club

Sports enthusiasts won't be disappointed by a trip to Hampton Court. The palace's long association with tennis began in 1528 after Henry VIII built the country's first tennis court. Although the palace's tennis club is private, introductory lessons are available.

Golfers may find themselves sharing the greens with members of Hampton Court's large herd of deer, but they'll have the pleasure of playing on the only course in the country set in a Royal Park. Hampton Court Palace Golf Club is a 6,514-yard, par-71 course. Fishing is also popular on the grounds, in the waters of Hampton Court and Bushy Park, and annual permits are available from the ticket office.

We recommend these convenient hotels near Hampton Court Palace:

The Mitre Hotel : 4-star B&B, beautiful riverside terrace, elegant decor, large rooms.
The Lion Gate Mews : mid-range pricing, steps from the palace and park, lovely apartments, fully equipped kitchens.
Tours and Tickets: As it's one of England's most popular sightseeing destinations, you can expect lines, especially during holiday periods. You can bypass these with priority admission, with a Skip the Line: Hampton Court Palace Entrance Ticket . This one-day pass allows you to arrive even at the busiest times and walk straight inside to explore on your own or join one of the free tours by authentically costumed guides. On a three-hour Hampton Court Bike Tour , you can explore the palace grounds and adjoining Bushy Park with a lively and well-informed guide. On the leisurely eight-mile ride, you'll see and learn about President Eisenhower's WWII base; King Henry VIII's former hunting grounds; and the Long Water canal, modeled after Versailles gardens, with fine palace views.
For Kids: Actors playing the roles of King Henry VIII and his courtiers bring to life historic events that took place here (pick up a schedule as you enter), and a Family Trails tour leads you on a self-guided palace walk designed for children. Tickets for admission to the Magic Garden (a fun park for kids) and the Maze can be purchased separately without full palace admission.
For Your Comfort: Prepare for a lot of walking, especially if you plan to explore the magnificent gardens. A luggage facility off Clock Court contains lockers.
Getting To Hampton Court Palace: Buses run regularly from Kingston, and trains run every half hour from London's Waterloo station. A riverboat service operates from Westminster, Richmond-upon-Thames, and Kingston-upon-Thames in the summer.

Address: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey

Official site: www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace

THE 10 BEST Things to Do Near Hampton Court Palace

Europe
United Kingdom (UK)
England
Surrey
Molesey
East Molesey
Things to do in East Molesey
Things to do near Hampton Court Palace

Things to Do near Hampton Court Palace

Trusted reviews and ratings, free 24-hour cancellation, low-price guarantee.

The London Pass®: Unlimited access to 90+ top attractions
Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace Tour
Private Guided Tour of Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace Private Tour - Secrets of Henry VIII
Hampton Court Palace private tour with an accredited expert guide
(2.29 km) Incognito
(6.43 km) Be At One - Richmond
(6.85 km) Incognito Richmond
(10.97 km) Be At One Putney
(2.57 km) The Masons Arms
Discover over 1,000 restaurants near Hampton Court Palace
Discover over 1,000 hotels near Hampton Court Palace

Visiting Hampton Court Palace – Tickets, Tours & FAQs

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: May 4, 2023

Everything you need to know to plan and book your visit to Hampton Court Palace

Visiting Hampton Court Palace – Tickets & Tours

Hampton court palace facts, hampton court palace opening times, when is the best time to visit hampton court palace, hampton court palace gardens, what other uk attractions are located near hampton court palace, tips for planning your visit to hampton court palace, more to see in london.

Nearest train station – Hampton Court

How long to set aside for your visit?

Allow at least three hours to fully explore Hampton Court Palace and its grounds – you may well want to stay for longer.

Tickets

Hampton Court Palace and Gardens ticket

Good to know – Hampton Court Palace entry is included with The London Pass and the Go City London Explorer Pass

Combi tours

⭐️ TOP PICK John England Tudor day tour : 8.5 hour private driver guided tour to Hampton Court Palace and gardens plus Hever Castle in Kent, the former home of Anne Boleyn
River Thames bike tour with Hampton Court Palace : 3.5 hour tour including Richmond Palace, Ham House, an 800-year-old market and a picnic in a hunting ground with dee r
Hampton Court Palace and Windsor Castle black taxi tour : 8 hour tour by London black cab to Windsor Castle, Eton College, Windsor Great Park and Hampton Court Palace

Guided tours

⭐️ TOP PICK John England Hampton Court Palace tour : 5 hour tour with our partner and private tour guide John England
Secrets of Hampton Court Palace tour : 1.5 hour tour with Tudor and Baroque State Apartments and the history of Henry VIII led by a published historian
Hampton Court Palace tour with afternoon tea : 2.5 hour guided tour of the palace and gardens plus afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, cakes and scones
Private Hampton Court Palace tour : 2.5 hour tour including Henry VIII’s kitchens, the Great Hall, artworks and the gardens
Skip-the-line 5 star Hampton Court Palace tour : 4.5 hour tour with a licensed guide including hotel transfers by private car and the history of the palace and gardens

places to visit near hampton court palace

How to get to Hampton Court Palace from central London

There is no London Underground station near Hampton Court Palace.

Instead, you can take a mainline train to Hampton Court train station , which is in zone 6.

Trains leave about twice per hour from London Waterloo.

There is a tube station here connecting mainline trains to the Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern and Waterloo and City lines.

The closest tube stations to Hampton Court Palace are Richmond and Wimbledon.

You can then catch a bus to reach the palace.

From Richmond (where there is a tube station), the R68 bus can take you to Hampton Court Palace.

The 111, 216, 411, 461 and 513 buses also go there from Kingston.

Hampton Court Palace is on the A308, and can also be accessed via the A307 or A309. The A308 can be reached from the M25 junction 12, or you can take junction 10 for the A307.

From the A3, you can take the A309. Brown (tourist attraction) signs will point you in the right direction.

Parking at the palace is available and is charged hourly. If the main car park is full, there’s another at Hampton Court Green. This is around 500 yards from the palace.

Read our comprehensive guide to how to get to Hampton Court Palace from central London (all transportation options covered)

Visiting Hampton Court Palace in London.

The famous maze at Hampton Court Palace is the oldest of its type to be found anywhere on earth. It dates back to around 1700, and still puzzles visitors to this day.
Hampton Court Palace is the home of the Tudor feast. Visitors can still see Henry VIII’s kitchens, where extravagant spreads were prepared. These date from the 1500s, have half a dozen fireplaces and were used by up to 200 cooks at a time before a big banquet.
It wasn’t only about food during Tudor times. Base Court at Hampton Court Palace is where guests would wait to be called inside by Henry VIII. He installed a wine fountain here, so they could enjoy a drink while they waited!
Thomas Wolsey was the one who ordered the palace to be built. He was a prominent advisor to King Henry VIII and a Catholic bishop. Though he commissioned it, he gave it to the King a few years later when both men realised it was finer than any of the King’s own palaces.
Queen Victoria was responsible for Hampton Court Palace being opened to the public. This was in 1838. Before that, the palace had been empty from 1760, after the death of King George II. He was the last royal to live at the palace.

Hampton Court Palace was something of an entertainment and leisure centre in its day. During the reign of Henry VIII, it offered facilities for archery, bowling, jousting and tennis. The gardens occupy 60 acres, and a royal hunting ground can also be found nearby.
Both William Shakespeare, the English playwright, and Vincent Van Gogh, the Dutch artist, have visited the palace. Shakespeare stayed here during the Christmas period of 1603 when his theatre company put on plays for James I. Van Gogh was one of the first visitors once the palace was opened to the public, as he wanted to see the tapestries for himself.
Two of Henry VIII’s former wives – numbers three and five of the eight – are said to haunt the palace. They are Jane Seymour, who died during childbirth at Hampton Court Palace, and Catherine Howard. The latter was arrested here before being beheaded at the Tower of London .
In winter, you can ice skate at the palace. Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink opens between mid-November 2022 and early January when members of the public can pay to skate for up to 45 minutes. Season tickets are available to locals, as well as one-off entry.
The Great Hall is the oldest remaining Elizabethan theatre in England. Celebrated architect Inigo Jones designed the scenery. Both Queen Anne and William Shakespeare have acted here too – the former in plays written by Samuel Daniel, and the second in some of his own.

Hampton Court Palace is usually open daily between 10 am and 5.30 pm during the UK’s Easter, summer, Christmas and half-term school holidays. At other times, it’s open between Wednesday and Sunday only and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Last admission is an hour before closing. It’s worth checking the palace’s opening times page for any planned closures before you visit.

The Magic Garden often opens an hour later than the rest of the buildings and gardens.

Hampton Court Palace is only open to visitors between Wednesday and Friday, except for the school holidays, when it opens daily. The palace opens at 10am and the last entry is at 4.30pm, an hour before closing time.
Though the palace is open during more days per week in school holidays, it also tends to be busier then. If you can, visit between Wednesday and Friday in term-time for the best chance of experiencing a more peaceful palace and gardens.
Though the palace is always popular, it can be less busy between 10 am and midday, so do visit in the morning if possible.
Saturdays and Sundays are busy all year round, which is why a weekday visit is the best option.
The summer season is also a busy time for any tourist attraction in the London area. UK school summer holidays take place between mid July and early September, so the palace will be busy during this time. Tourists from overseas also often visit the UK during summer for drier, warmer weather. European schools also have holidays at around the same time.

What to see at Hampton Court Palace

Tudor sights to see at Hampton Court Palace include the Great Hall with its phenomenal tapestries, Henry VIII’s kitchens and the Haunted Gallery in the State Apartments which traces Henry VIII’s route from his quarters to the chapel.

At the Great Watching Chamber, you can see where guards controlled who entered the palace: only those of high rank would be permitted to venture within.

You can also see the state apartments of William III and Mary II and the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace. If you’re into art, don’t miss the Cumberland Gallery, which houses works by some well known artists such as Caravaggio and Rembrandt.

Other things to see in and around the palace include Christopher Wren’s Fountain Court and the restored Chocolate Kitchens, which are 3 centuries old.

Out on the grounds, there’s also lots to discover. Get lost in the 300-year-old maze, or discover the colourful Magic Garden. You can also see the Privy Garden and the tennis courts here.

There are no major tourist attractions close to Hampton Court. However if you do find yourself with any free time after taking in the palace and gardens, you could enjoy some time in Bushy Park by the palace.

You could also spend some time in the riverside suburb of Richmond (think Ted Lasso!) , or head to Richmond Park. This works particularly well if you take a tube and bus to Hampton Court.

Buy Hampton Court tickets in advance if you can. This means you can avoid delays when waiting to get in. It’s popular and thus very busy, especially in summer or on weekends.
Try to time your visit for a Wednesday or Thursday morning if you can, for the best chance of avoiding the crowds.
It’s best to allow a full day to travel to the palace and explore all the grounds and historic buildings offer. Plus there’s also artwork to see.
Don’t forget to allow enough time to do the grounds justice. Hampton Court Palace Maze is world-famous, and the oldest of its kind. The Magic Garden, Privy Garden and tennis courts are also worth a look.
Wear comfortable footwear – you’ll do a lot of walking while discovering the sprawling site. You only need to look at the pictures to see how vast the palace is!
If you have any questions, do ask the guides at the palace, who are dressed in Tudor costumes. They’ll only be too happy to share the history – and any stories they may have.
There are several eateries at the palace for meals and refreshments. Or if it’s a dry day, pack a picnic to enjoy the outdoors, instead of waiting in line at the cafe or restaurant.

If you’re particularly interested in Tudor history, it’s worth booking a private tour with a historian guide who’s even been on TV talking about the palace.

Visiting the palace is a bucket list kind of thing, so it’s worth the investment for a day that you’ll remember forever. There’s no finer place on earth to get a real feel for Tudor history.

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A Visitor's Guide to Hampton Court Palace in London

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Hampton Court Palace was a royal residence from the 1520s when King Henry VIII took over its development from Cardinal Wolsey, and its many royal occupants over the years have granted the palace its stunning furnishings, tapestries, and paintings.

Hampton Court Palace also contains an important part of the largest private collection of art in the world, the Royal Collection , which is the property of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This collection is on full display and contains material from the 16th, 17th, and early 18th centuries.

In 1689, Sir Christopher Wren demolished large parts of the Tudor palace and began building a new palace for King William III and Queen Mary II, but by 1760, George III became king and abandoned Hampton Court as a royal residence.

In 1838, Queen Victoria opened the gardens and state apartments to the public free of charge. It is no longer free (see ticket information) but is well worth a visit. The Hampton Court Palace estate includes 60 acres of formal gardens, requiring 200,000 flowering bulbs each year and another 40,000 plants grown in the nursery.

Hours of Operation, Photography Rules, and Audio Guides

Hampton Court Palace and the Formal Gardens are closed December 24, 25, and 26 each year while the Informal Gardens are closed December 25. Home Park is open year-round, however, the hours of operation are subject to change depending on the season, so always be sure to check the official website for more detailed information.

General photography, without flash, for personal, non-commercial use is allowed within the palace and gardens, with the exception of the Chapel Royal and Royal Pew.

Audio guides are included in the ticket price and can be collected from the Information Center in the far left corner of Base Court. Languages offered for this service include English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Russian, and Korean.

Directions: Getting to Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace is next to the River Thames to the south west of London , and while there are WPSA riverboats to the palace from Westminster in the summer months—a journey that takes four hours—there are also a variety of other means of public and private transport that can get you there. Use Journey Planner or the Citymapper app to plan your route by public transport.

Address: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9A
Nearest tube stations: Richmond (R68 bus) or Hounslow East (111 bus)

Public Transit From London and Its Airports

South West Trains run services direct from London Waterloo to Hampton Court, and the journey takes only 35 minutes, resulting in a 200 meter walk across the bridge from the station to the palace. The train service passes through Wimbledon station, where the London Underground District Line begins, and Hampton Court is in Travel Zone 6.

If you do travel by South West trains they have an offer for a combined travel and Palace ticket. That also means you've got your entry ticket in your hand so won't need to go to the Ticket Office when you arrive. Be sure to check out local bus routes for the following lines, which all run past Hampton Court Palace: 111, 216, 411, 451, 461, R68, and 513.

From Heathrow Airport take the 111 bus, from Gatwick Airport take a train from the airport station to Clapham Junction and change to the Hampton Court train, and from London City Airport, take the Docklands Light Railway to Canning Town and then the Jubilee Line to Waterloo, then catch the Hampton Court train from there.

Ticket Information, Accommodations, and Luggage Storage

Tickets can be purchased on the day or in advance from the Palace ticket office—located just inside the main gates on the left-hand side of the drive—or in advance from any staffed South West Trains station.

To save money on trips to Hampton Court Palace, you can buy a London Pass , which gives you unlimited admission to loads of top London attractions including Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace and the Tower of London , or you can book online in advance on the official website and oftentimes score discounts on tickets.

If you're traveling with luggage or a backpack, Hampton Court Palace has some lockers, located off Clock Court, where hand baggage and small rucksacks or overnight bags can be left (locker size: 45cms wide x 45cms deep). A £1 coin is required to use them, which is returned after use. Large bags or suitcases may be left at your own risk in the Warders Office by the West Gate. Please speak to the Warders when you present your ticket if you would like to use this facility.

There are two self-catering apartments at the palace available to visitors for hire. Fish Court sleeps up to 6 people and the Georgian House sleeps up to 8 people. For bookings and information contact The Landmark Trust .

Hampton Court Palace Highlights

With over 500 years of royal history, Hampton Court Palace has something to offer all visitors, from the Tudor Kitchens to the famous Andrea Mantegna painting set "The Triumphs of Ceasar," you won't want to miss these highlights on your tour of the grounds.

From 1529, the Tudor Kitchens comprised 55 rooms, covered 3,000 sq ft, were staffed by 200 people providing 600 meals twice a day for the Royal court. What's more, King Henry VIII's court would have drunk an incredible 600 gallons of ale every year. Explore this section of the palace then venture into the Great Hall, England's last and greatest medieval hall which once served as King Henry VIII's dining hall for his staff and is still decorated with the tapestries hung to impress visiting ambassadors.

We always think of King Henry VIII as a large man with many wives but he was an attractive young man and was married to his first wife, the Spanish Catherine of Aragon, for 20 years and they were very much in love. They had 6 children die leaving him with no male heir and Henry saw this as God punishing him for marrying his brother's wife. Hence the story we know: the new Church of England was formed so he could divorce and his further five marriages in his quest to produce a male heir.

You'll also want to check out William III's and the Georgian Private Apartments, both of which were the results of different monarchs living in the palace. Mary II and her husband William III commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to rebuild a third of Hampton Court, which includes the "necessary office" (the king's toilet).

The Georgian Private apartments now host the Cartoon Gallery, which was designed to display the large Raphael cartoons, but instead features 17th-century copies as Queen Victoria gave the originals to the Victoria and Albert Museum .

The Chapel Royal has been in continuous use for over 450 years, and it's constantly changed depending on who occupied the palace. When Cromwell lived at the palace he removed the ornate stained glass, and Queen Anne later put a wooden altar in front of the removed windows.

The Hampton Court Palace Gardens offer 60 acres of gardens that run down to the River Thames, with another 750 acres of tranquil royal parkland. Look out for the Privy Garden—King William III's garden restored to its 1702 glory, and the Great Vine, which was planted in 1768 by the celebrated gardener "Capability" Brown and still produces a yearly crop of black grapes that are sold in the palace shops in early September.

The Maze, the most visited attraction in the gardens, takes an average 20 minutes to reach the center. Also, look out for the Royal Tennis Courts , the oldest tennis court in England, which is still used daily.

Fun for All Ages: Family Activities

The Hampton Court Palace is a family-friendly attraction that entertains thousands of tourists each year and features activities focused on kids of all ages. For families with small children, or who are carrying buggies already, pushchairs or buggies may be taken around the palace and may also be left at the left luggage facility off Clock Court, which features a Buggy Park. Speak to a warder if you wish to use the lifts that are available for anyone unable to manage the stairs.

There is a Family Room off Base Court for the little ones to play freely within the confines of the palace. There is a similar children's play area in the Tiltyard Café, which is not available during school holidays, and there are also a variety of Family Trails available from the Information Centre for young children to do as they go around the palace.

However, not all the Family Trails are little ones. There are also some of older children that will enhance their knowledge of the Tudor period, and four family audio tours are available to guide children over 6 through the palace. During school holidays, the palace also offers costume guided events and craft activities that are aimed at children aged 5 to 11.

Dressing up clothes are available in the Information Center, where you collect your free audio guide. There are costumes for the whole family and it can make it easier to spot each other when the Palace is busy if all of your party dresses up. However, guests cannot come in costume as there are costumed actors in the Palace every day and the staff doesn't want others to confuse you with them.

The Maze is also recommended for all ages, and admission to the Maze is included in your palace ticket. Don't forget the gardens are beautiful and a great place to have a family picnic—you can bring your own meal or buy sandwiches and snacks from the Tiltyard Cafe!

Hampton Court Palace Disabled Access Information

Hampton Court Palace is very large so be aware visitors wishing to see all of the palace interiors and the gardens will travel over two miles. Since Hampton Court Palace is a historic building with uneven surfaces, it may be difficult to traverse. However, many of the staircases are wide and shallow because of William III, who was asthmatic, built them so they would be easier for him to climb!

Most of the routes within the palace are accessible to visitors unable to climb stairs as there is an elevator to take visitors to the State Apartments on the first floor. Speak to any warder for assistance. Manual wheelchairs are available for use within the palace and single-person scooters are available for use in the gardens only, but neither can be booked in advance.

Visitors with disabilities are admitted at the standard rate but an accompanying carer, personal assistant, or a companion is given a free entry—please notify the admissions staff when purchasing your tickets if your accompanying person is a service person. Guide dogs are also welcome.

There are accessible toilet facilities in Base Court, Fountain Court, on the first floor, in the Wilderness Garden, and the Tiltyard Cafe. Nine disabled car parking spaces are available on site on a first come, first served basis. Two of the four shops are accessible to wheelchair users: the Barrack Block Shop and the Garden Shop.

Those unable to get to the Young Henry VIII exhibition in the Wolsey Rooms can see a virtual tour—be sure to check out the full access details on the exhibit's official website.

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13 Places To Visit In Britain If You Love The Royal Family

G reat Britain is known for its historic landmarks, beautiful gardens, and passionate sporting culture, yet no other icon is more closely associated with the country than the royal family. For centuries, the world has been fascinated by the lifestyles of kings and queens, from where they live to what they like to eat, but the British royal family remains one of the most recognizable monarchies in the world.

Along with the world's interest, the monarchy's appeal within the United Kingdom is also apparent. Throughout the U.K., there are museums, castles, landmarks, and gardens dedicated to the monarchy, which celebrate the royal family's history and legacy.

While it may seem like royal residences and gilded carriages would be off-limits to the average tourist, it's perfectly possible to get a taste of royal life during your next visit to Britain. Whether you're looking for a history lesson or a spot of the Queen's favorite tea, there are plenty of places to visit if you love the royal family.

Read more: 28 Bucket List Destinations That Everyone Needs To Experience At Least Once

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is a working royal palace and the King's official residence. Built in 1825, Buckingham Palace was commissioned by King George IV who asked architect John Nash to design a grand palace fit for a king within the city of London.

The "palace fit for a king" has a total of 775 rooms, many of them filled with paintings by Old Masters and rare antiques. While the private living quarters are off-limits to visitors, a tour does include the 19 staterooms where the royal family entertains. The White Drawing Room is the grandest of all staterooms, with gilded ceilings and white pilasters; it is frequently the setting for pre-dinner gatherings. The largest is the Ball Room, completed in 1855 during Queen Victoria's reign. It is the setting for concerts and state banquets. The Throne Room holds the two coronation chairs originally commissioned for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, but they were most recently used for the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Buckingham Palace is only open for 10 weeks a year from late July through September while the King is at Balmoral in Scotland on summer holiday. Still, the palace often holds special events for ticket holders throughout the year.

Westminster Abbey

As one of the country's greatest landmarks, Westminster Abbey is a cathedral with 1,000 years of history, much of it tied to the royal family. Originally built as a Benedictine monastery, Westminster Abbey was rebuilt in 1065 by Edward the Confessor, and later rebuilt by King Henry III between 1220 and 1272. Designed in the Gothic style, the cathedral is recognized worldwide as an architectural masterpiece.

Westminster Abbey has been the site of every coronation since 1066, as well as the setting for numerous royal occasions. The Abbey held state funerals for both Queen Elizabeth II, as well as Princess Diana, and was the site of the 2011 wedding of Prince William of Wales and Princess Catherine. Westminster Abbey is also the burial site of more than 3,000 prominent Great Britons, including many royals. Queen Anne, Edward the Confessor, Mary Queen of Scots, and Queen Elizabeth I are all buried here.

St. Paul's Cathedral

Designed by famous architect Sir Christopher Wren, St. Paul's Cathedral in London is a city icon that has been hosting cultural and religious events since 1665. The Baroque-style cathedral sits on Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the city of London. At 365 feet, its dome is one of the highest in the world, and the cathedral was the tallest building in London until 1963. The prominent dome and surrounding church spires are some of the most recognized landmarks in London.

St. Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral and serves as the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral has hosted many prominent religious services, including the state funerals of Margaret Thatcher and Sir Winston Churchill. Both Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II celebrated their Jubilee Services at the cathedral. The wedding of King Charles and Princess Diana was also celebrated at the cathedral in July 1981, which was one of the most-watched television events in history.

As a working cathedral, St. Paul's hosts daily Anglican services, but visitors can purchase tickets for private and self-guided tours. Highlights include The Grand Organ, which has operated since 1695, the throne of the Bishop in the Quire, and The American Memorial Chapel, dedicated to the 28,000 Americans who lost their lives in Britain during World War II.

Hampton Court Palace

Famous for its extensive gardens and maze, Hampton Court Palace is a Tudor masterpiece that has hosted royals since the early 16th century. Originally commissioned by Cardinal Wolsey, Hampton Court caught the attention of King Henry VIII, who eventually made it his home, bringing all six of his wives here.

Henry VIII used the palace as a place to entertain, and its grand design was considered both modern and ostentatious at the time. The centerpiece of the palace is The Great Hall, a towering space designed by Henry VIII that was meant to convey his power. Boasting a magnificent hammerbeam roof, the Great Hall contains artifacts like Anne Boleyn's coat of arms. Many historic events occurred at the palace, including the divorce of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves. He also married his wife Catherine Howard at the palace.

The palace also served as a working royal residence until the 19th century, when Queen Victoria decided to open it to the public in 1838. Today, visitors can tour the palace, its grounds, and its ornate chapel. One of the most popular sites of Hampton Court is the garden hedge maze. Originally commissioned in the early 1700s, it is the oldest surviving hedge maze in Great Britain.

Tower Of London

While Hampton Court Palace was the location of everyday life for Tudor-era royals, the Tower of London is where some Tudor royals met their end. Built in 1070 by William the Conquerer, the Tower of London was built as a fortress-like structure designed to defend London against its enemies. A mighty stone tower sits as its centerpiece and the structure took 20 years to build with stone imported from France. For the next two centuries, the Tower was expanded to include a defensive wall, an armory, and a national mint. The Tower of London was frequently used to house royals and their precious possessions during times of distress.

The Tower of London has been the site of many tragedies involving the royal family. It is where both Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey spent their final days before execution; it is also where two princes, the children of Edward IV, would perish during the War of the Roses.

Throughout history, the Tower of London has served as a fortress, palace, and prison. Today, it remains one of London's most popular attractions. Visitors can tour the Tower and view its collection of armor or meet one of the 37 Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters, who guard the Tower. The most secure and highly protected wing of the Tower is the Jewel House, which contains more than 23,000 gemstones, including precious tiaras, necklaces, and other gems that make up the official Crown Jewels.

National Portrait Gallery

Established in 1856 by Lord Ellesmere, the National Portrait Gallery is located in the heart of London near Trafalgar Square. One of London's best museums for art-lovers, the gallery has more than 22,000 works and houses the most extensive portrait collection in the world. Recently reopened after a three-year refurbishment, it has thousands of portraits of prominent Britons, from historical leaders like Winston Churchill to contemporary figures like Elton John and David Bowie.

The National Portrait Gallery holds official portraits of every prominent member of the royal family and has extensive collections from the Tudor, Elizabethan, Edwardian, and Victorian reigns. The gallery also contains the official portraits of every modern royal, including King Charles, Kate Middleton, and Prince William. A popular site for tourists, visitors can take guided tours or view rotating exhibitions of British arts and culture. Most recently, the gallery hosted a collection of photography and a Beatles retrospective by Sir Paul McCartney.

London's most famous park was originally founded by the monks of Westminster Abbey until Henry VIII purchased it to use as his hunting grounds. It remained a private park until Charles I permitted the public to access it in 1637. Throughout the park, you can find monuments and statues dedicated to the royal family. The Diana Memorial Fountain, unveiled by Queen Elizabeth in 2004, is built of Cornish granite and is designed to reflect the ebb and flow of Princess Diana's life. The Queen Elizabeth Gates in Hyde Park was designed to honor Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. They were unveiled in 1993 and feature a whimsical design of a lion and a unicorn, representing England and Scotland.

The park's winding paths, lake, and gardens are a popular outing in central London any time of year. At Speakers Corner, visitors can see where radicals used to "get on their soapbox" and preach about everything from politics to religion. The centerpiece of the park is The Serpentine Lake, where visitors can rent paddle boats or dine at the boat house. In the winter, Hyde Park turns into a winter wonderland, with an ice rink, food stands, and a Santaland with carnival rides. Visiting the park is a must-do in London at Christmas .

The Royal Mews

Ever dreamed of seeing a real gilded carriage fit for royalty? At The Royal Mews, a working stable and museum adjacent to Buckingham Palace, you can. The Royal Mews is responsible for all road travel for the King and the Royal Family, from horse and carriage ceremonies to official car processions. The organization has been around since the 14th century, and its headquarters was built in the gardens of Buckingham Palace in 1825.

A visit to the Mews might include seeing one of the stable's Cleveland Bay or Windsor Grey horses, or trying out a replica open carriage like the one Queen Victoria used. Visitors can also see the livery worn by the King's coachmen or learn how to tack a horse on a wooden pony. The real draw, however, is the fleet of carriages used to carry the royal family throughout history, including the 260-year-old Gold State Coach. The coach features gilded woodwork, intricately carved sculpture, and painted panels of Roman gods and goddesses. Weighing over four tons, the carriage has been used to transport the monarchy in every coronation since that of William IV. As a note, The Royal Mews is closed until March 1, 2024.

Madame Tussaud's

It is possible to get close to members of the royal family -- wax versions, that is. The world-famous Madame Tussauds wax museum in London is home to 150 lifelike figures, including members of Britain's royal family. The museum's Royal Palace exhibit includes a throne room with wax figure renderings of every major royal, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Queen Elizabeth, King Charles, and Queen Camilla.

Open since 1884 on Baker Street in London, Madame Tussauds is a London institution that not only offers a lighthearted look at the world's most famous faces, but the museum has the direct support of the monarchy. The museum's Queen Elizabeth figure is the 23rd incarnation the museum has created throughout her historic 70-year reign. During its creation, Madame Tussauds' sculptors collaborated with Buckingham Palace by providing images of the clay sculptures as they were in progress to create the most authentic and lifelike incarnation of "Her Majesty."

Fortnum And Mason

London's most famous tea shop, Fortnum and Mason , has had a long and storied relationship with the royal family since it was first established in 1707. Founder William Fortnum was originally a footman for Queen Anne. He later established his tea shop with Hugh Mason, and the two would go on to create a culinary empire that still provides tea to the royal family today. The flagship store in Picadilly sells everything from the Royal Blend tea to Sandringham coffee blend and has held a Royal Warrant (products approved by the monarchy) since 1910.

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was known to do her Christmas shopping annually in person at the store, and every modern royal has visited the shop in recent years. Queen Elizabeth, Queen Camilla, and Princess Catherine all visited together in 2012 for the opening of the store's Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. Today, thousands of tourists and shoppers visit the store to purchase tea, coffee, and gourmet food as well as the shop's famous Christmas hampers. One can also enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in London in the tea salon where treats like cucumber sandwiches, scones, and pastries are served on the store's iconic blue plates.

Windsor Castle

The oldest occupied castle in the world, Windsor Castle has been home to 40 monarchs. Built by William the Conquerer in the 11th century, Windsor Castle was built high on the River Thames at the edge of hunting grounds. It was designed to serve as a military fortification to guard the western approach to London. King Edward II began converting it into a royal residence in the 14th century.

Windsor Castle remained a preferred residence of royals for centuries and was the favored respite of Queen Victoria, who spent much of her reign here. Today, visitors can see the castle's state apartments or view attractions like Queen Mary's doll house. The Grand Reception Room contains real gold chandeliers and gilded ceilings; as the most luxurious room in the castle, it was Queen Elizabeth II's favorite room to entertain guests.

Another highlight of Windsor Castle is St. George's Chapel, located within the castle grounds. St. George's Chapel is the burial place of 11 monarchs, including Henry VIII, Charles II, and most recently, Queen Elizabeth II. The chapel has also been the site of several royal weddings, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as well as The Earl and Countess of Wessex. A worthwhile day trip destination from London , Windsor Castle is located about an hour from the city.

Kensington Palace

Originally built as a modest home known as Nottingham House, Kensington Palace started out as the country retreat of King William in 1687 and was gradually expanded over the years to become the palace that stands today. It was the birthplace of Queen Victoria, who spent most of her childhood here until she moved to Buckingham Palace. Kensington Palace has been home to many royals over the years, including Princess Margaret and Princess Diana. It currently serves as the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Wales and their three children.

Visitors to Kensington Palace can see the King's and Queen's State Rooms, as well as a permanent exhibition on the life of Queen Victoria. The exhibit offers a glimpse of her reimagined childhood rooms, as well as her collection of jewelry gifted to her by her beloved husband Albert. Kensington Palace is surrounded by expansive gardens, including the Sunken Garden, an all-white garden dedicated to the memory of Princess Diana. The garden features a statue of the late Princess with her sons, William and Harry. The statue was unveiled in 2017 on what would have been the Princess of Wales' 60th birthday.

The palace museum is open year-round and also hosts seasonal exhibits highlighting the fashion, decor, and history of the royal family. The Orangery at Kensington Palace serves traditional afternoon tea daily, and the palace shop sells an extensive collection of royal-inspired merchandise.

St. James Park

Similar to Hyde Park, Henry VIII originally acquired St. James Park in 1532 to serve as royal hunting grounds. St. James Park is London's oldest Royal Park and one of its most beautiful. The park is bordered on all sides by The Mall, Green Park, Buckingham Palace, and Whitehall. It is also adjacent to Birdcage Walk, the site of the Churchill War Rooms. Listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, the park is laid out in a series of gardens surrounding a small lake. The lake is home to various waterbirds, including the park's famous pelicans, which were introduced as a gift from a Russian ambassador to King Charles II in 1664.

St. James Park's location near The Mall offers an ideal viewing site for royal processions and historical celebrations that occur along the route to Buckingham Palace. It also provides views of The Changing of the Guard from its northern entrance, and from the Blue Bridge, which spans the lake at the center of the park, you can enjoy picture-perfect views of the London Eye and Buckingham Palace.

Read the original article on Explore .

Things to do

Hampton court palace.

Step out of the door of the hotel and Hampton Court Palace is right there. Discover the intriguing history of King Henry VIII’s Palace, wander around the stunning gardens, get lost in the maze and let the kids run around the Magic Garden. It’s a wonderful place to visit for all of the family. We are fortunate enough to be neighbours!

Royal Bushy Park

With over 1000 acres, Bushy Park is London’s second-largest Royal Park, sitting right on the doorstep of the hotel, just north of Hampton Court Palace. It’s a wonderful place to explore with gardens, waterways and roaming herds of red and fallow deer. Look out for the spectacular Diana Fountain, a centrepiece of the mile-long Chestnut Avenue designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

River Thames Boat Tours

If you fancy heading into the city, a relaxing and inspiring way to get into London is by boat. There are numerous boats that can take you to Central London and what a way to get a spectacular view of the city from the river. Enquire with our team and we can assist you with any bookings.

The impressive River Thames is the longest river in England and runs through London and runs along the grounds of the Palace. In fact 750 acres of parkland that belong to the Palace are all set within the loop of the Thames. It is a great way to travel up to Richmond and Kew Gardens, all the way to London and take in the stunning grasslands and flora on the banks of the river.

If you are visiting the UK but don’t want to stay in the hustle and bustle of central London then the Kings Arms is a good place to base yourself and travel into London with ease. Only 14 miles away and less than an hour by train. The hotel is a 10 minute walk from the lovely Hampton Court station and you will be transported to Waterloo in no time. A perfect way to spend a day is gazing around the museums, art galleries and shops and then visit the theatre in the evening.

Epsom Downs

Epsom Downs Racecourse, or, the “Downs”, as it’s known, is located only 11 miles (25 minutes) from The Kings Arms Hotel. A grade 1 racecourse located in the heart of Surrey and home to thoroughbred racehorse racing. Every year the famous Derby is run there and boasts a crowd of 130,000 people, usually including the Queen.

Kew Gardens

Yet another amazing attraction so close to the hotel is the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. The gardens are rated as a UNESCO World Heritage site and have 50,000 living plants. You are really spoilt for choice with things to see and do, from the dramatic rock garden to the peaceful Japanese garden and interactive children’s area, there is something for everyone.

Nearby shopping

Kingston is the nearest town to the hotel with a huge array of shops, cafes and eateries. We are only moments away and is based on the river so if you wanted a stroll to the local market town it’s a nice day out. Once an ancient market town where Anglo Saxon Kings were crowned. Now a buzzy metropolis.

Garsons Farm

Take your pick at the Farm!

Garsons Farm in Esher, a mere 20 minutes from the hotel, offers pick your own crops and is open rain or shine. It is a wonderful family day out with entry for all ages. Currently there are strawberries, gooseberries, broad beans, beetroot plus many more to choose from. The crop picking list is updated daily / hourly.

Once you’ve gathered your fruit and veg make sure to pop into the excellent Farm Shop (voted Surrey’s best) where you can stock up on a wide range of cheeses, pies and freshly baked bread from the deli and bakery.

If two wheels are more your thing, The Merry Peddlar bike tours offer great days out exploring the surrounding area. There’s a wide range of choice from quiet River Thames routes, the stunning scenery of the Royal Parks, circular Hampton Court Palace tours to beer tastings, Kew Botanic Gardens trips and enjoying tea picnics.

Comfortable, lightweight geared bikes are specially chosen for you so you can guarantee a smooth, enjoyable ride.

Guide To Hampton Court Palace: Henry VIII’s Royal Stomping Ground

Here’s my guide to visiting the iconic Hampton Court Palace. The palace is one of the most famous landmarks in England and a must visit attraction near London. It’s the perfect easy day trip from London .

Hampton Court Palace is the world’s greatest surviving medieval palace. It has a deliciously rich and scandalous history and is filled with great art. History nerds, royalists, and art lovers will be in heaven.

Hampton Court Palace was the favored playground and leisure complex of England’s infamous King Henry VIII and other notorious characters in English history.

Pinterest pin for guide to Hampton Court Palace

“Golden Boy” Henry suffered an injury there that would change the course of his life. It transformed him from a dashing energetic king into a tyrannical monster.

In this Hampton Court Palace guide, I give you an overview of the history of Hampton Court Palace and the life of Henry VIII. I cover everything you need to see at the palace.

the Fountain facade of Hampton Court Palace outside London

History of Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace is really a tale of two palaces smooshed together.

It’s a combination of the Gothic Palace of Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII and the Baroque Palace built by the Stuart monarchs William and Mary. The palace was a royal residence from the early 1500s until the 1730s.

1. The Wolsey Palace

Built between 1514-25, the palace was originally the home of Henry VII’s chief minister, Thomas Wolsey, the Archbishop of York.

Wolsey was the second most powerful man in England. Wolsey did the royal administrative work, while a young Henry partied.

the Gothic facade and main entrance to Hampton Court Palace

Wolsey wanted a home befitting his prestige. He used red brick, a new architectural “wonder” material at the time.

The palace was lavish. So lavish that gossip quickly spread that Hampton Court exceeded Henry’s other 50-60 castles in beauty.

A spiteful Henry became jealous of Wolsey’s masterpiece. He became covetous. The best places were supposed to belong to the king, after all.

Wolsey reassured the king that he only built Hampton Court for Henry’s glory and benefit. He prepared lavish royal apartments for the king and his 1,000 person entourage.

Henry VIII by Unknown Artist, 1509 -- when Henry was just 18 and the only portrait where Henry is given a receding chin

2. Henry VIII’s Palace

A young Henry VIII used to “play” at the palace. It was his favorite summer retreat. There, with his never-ending energy, he would joust, play tennis, and bowl. Hampton Court became the ultimate royal playground.

Dr. Kent Rawlinson, curator of historic buildings at Hampton Court Palace, said:

Hampton Court was a pleasure palace for Henry VIII, where guests were entertained with spectacular revels and festivities, and wine and beer were drunk in enormous quantities, as evidenced by the great cellars that still survive here.

But it was here that tragedy struck in 1536. A tragedy that would change the course of English history.

Despite being a passionate and skilled sportsman, Henry seriously injured his leg while jousting. The ulcers festered and never healed.

Henry may even have injured his cerebral cortex when thrown from his horse. He went from a cheerful sort to a glowering moody monarch who capriciously abused his wives and ministers.

When the palace officially passed into his possession (I’ll get to that later), Henry quadrupled the size of the original palace while retaining the Gothic-inspired architecture. In 1540, King Henry VII had a large astronomical clock added to the inner courtyard gatehouse tower.

Hampton Court became Henry’s preferred royal residence. All of his six wives and his three children lived there during his reign.

the astrological clock on a gate in the inner courtyard of Hampton Court Palace

3. The Baroque Addition of William & Mary

After Henry’s death, Hampton Court Palace slipped into neglect. But it blossomed again under the reign of William and Mary, crowned joint monarchs in 1689. The pair thought Hampton Court was terribly old fashioned. They wanted a splashy Baroque palace like Versailles.

They hired Christopher Wren to transform it. Wren originally intended to demolish everything except the Great Hall. Unfortunately, funds were tight and Wren only redid half of the palace. His additions included the spectacular Fountain Court facade.

The Georgian kings, who succeeded the Stuarts, didn’t like Hampton Court palace much. In 1737, George III — the man who lost the American colonies — left for good.

He began the custom of granting living space at the palace to favored courtiers and royal servants. Hampton Court became the home of so-called “grace and favor” apartments.

In 1838, Queen Victoria ordered that Hampton Court be opened to the public. In 1838-51, in light of the renewed public interest in Hampton Court, the palace was extensively renovated.

Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of King Henry VIII of England, 1537 -- in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid

Who Is Henry VIII?

To understand Hampton Court Palace, you’ve got to know Henry VIII.

1. A Marrying and Murdering King

Hampton Court Palace and Henry VIII are practically synonymous. Henry and his plethora of besieged wives all lived there.

His poor wives didn’t fare well. The saying goes “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. And that was their sequential fate.

Henry’s first wife was Catherine of Aragon, his brother Arthur’s widowed wife. Initially, the king was madly in love with the Spanish queen, who was 5 years his elder. But after 20 years of marriage, she failed to give Henry the one thing he most craved: a male heir.

Portrait of Catherine of Aragon, Henry's first wife

Catherine tried. She had 6 pregnancies, resulting in either stillborn children or babies who quickly died. Only their daughter Mary survived.

Mary I would go on to become “Bloody Mary,” a Catholic zealot who burned Protestant resisters at the stake. Her father obviously didn’t set a good example for her.

When Henry wasn’t trying to create an heir, he was off in battle. In 1529, Henry had a great summit with an equally alpha monarch, Francois I. Their meeting was known as the Field of the Cloth of Gold . Paintings at Hampton Court Palace depict the sumptuous occasion.

But with no son, Henry still grew increasingly frustrated. Glorious battle victories weren’t enough when the Tudor dynasty was at stake. Henry’s eyes began to wander.

Anne Boleyn, late 16th century copy of a lost original of c.1533-1536

2. Henry VII’s “Great Matter:” I Need a Divorce

In 1526, Henry fell in love with the courtier Anne Boleyn . Anne was young, charming, and witty. But Anne steadfastly refused to become his official mistress, holding out for marriage instead.

Over time, Henry became convinced that his marriage to Catherine was cursed — he shouldn’t have married his brother’s wife.

Desperate to marry Anne, Henry had the high flying Wolsey try to procure an annulment from the Catholic Church in Rome.

To no avail. The church sided with Henry’s wife, a devout Catholic from a devoutly Catholic country.

John Pettie, The Disgrace of Wolsey, 1869

In 1525, Wolsey tried to placate a bitterly disappointed Henry for failing in “the great matter” by gifting him Hampton Court Palace. It didn’t work.

In 1529, Wolsey was arrested for treason. Because that’s what Henry did if you received a poor job performance review.

3. The Unstoppable Henry VIII Launches A New Religion

Henry didn’t rest. He roared. Henry broke away from the Catholic church and formed his own religion, his most lasting legacy. He declared himself “the Supreme Head on earth of the Church of England.”

Finally, Henry could annul his marriage to Catherine and marry Anne, the girl of his dreams. After 7 long years of waiting.

Rome ex-communicated Henry. But he didn’t care. It only made Henry richer when he dissolved the monasteries and seized their land and treasures.

What did Henry do with the money? Well, among other things, he used it to make Hampton Court Palace the ostentatious pride of England.

But a state of the art palace and his many years of love and lust with Anne meant little to Henry. When Anne gave him a daughter in 1533, who would become Elizabeth I , the Virgin Queen, Henry was once again disappointed.

When Anne miscarried a son, he didn’t hesitate to get rid of her. Anne had failed to live up to her part of the bargain.

Trumped up rumors of Anne’s supposed infidelity — she was called the “Great Whore” — led to charges of adultery and treason. In 1536, Anne lost her head on the Tower of London green.

the memorial site where people, including Henry's wives, were executed on the Tower Green

By then, Henry was besotted with another young girl, Jane Seymour. He married her 11 days after Anne’s execution.

Jane gave Henry a son, who would become Edward VI, and then promptly died. Henry was distraught. He took to comfort eating and became obese, weighing over 400 pounds.

Nonetheless, a king must be married, so Henry was duly betrothed to Anne of Cleves. But he didn’t take to her. When he met her, Henry shouted in horror “I like her not! I like her not!” Perhaps falsely, Anne was then known as the “ugly queen.”

Six months later, they speedily divorced. Anne had the good sense to sign the divorce papers without squabbling. She subsequently became an honorary family member, known as “the King’s Beloved Sister.”

As was his habit, Henry quickly became enamored with another flirty young girl, Catherine Howard. When she predictably cheated on him, Henry beheaded Catherine on the tower green, as he had done with Anne.

In his dotage, Henry married Catherine Paar, who became a caretaker to the king until he died at age 56 in 1547.

Tickets & Tours For Hampton Court Palace

Click here for a skip the line entrance ticket to the palace. The palace is also included in the London Pass , which is a great pass if you’re visiting many attractions in London.

Once you’re there, you can book a 3 hour guided tour of the palace.

You can book a guided day trip tour from London. You can also book this popular full day 9 hour guided tour for both Hampton Court Palace and Windsor Palace. Or a Tudor themed full day tour to Hampton Court Palace and Hever Castle .

the spectacular Fountain Court of Hampton Court Palace

Guide To Hampton Court Palace: What To See

Henry’s seat of power is imposing. And so vast that it’s impossible to review every room.

The surviving sections of Henry’s quarters consist of the Great Hall, the Great Watching Chamber, the Great Council Chamber, the Processional Route linking the rooms, and the Tudor Kitchens.

Here are the main highlights of Hampton Court Palace:

1. The Great Hall

The highlight of the interior is Henry’s Great Hall. It has a lavishly gilded hammer-beam roof, 60 feet high.

In Tudor times, the Great Hall was the center of palace life, a place to see and be seen. Up to 600 people ate meals there.

The Great Hall was built as a token of Henry VII’s love for Anne Boleyn.

It was also known as the “Eavesdroppers Hall” because of the tiny sculptured figures in the ceiling who “listened” to conversations.

When Henry beheaded Ann, he wiped all traces of her from the Great Hall. Except for one spot the workers missed, which bears Anne’s initials.

2. The Great Watching Chamber: The Gateway To Henry VIII

Right next door, Henry VIII built the Great Watching Chamber, or Courtier’s Room, in Jane Seymour’s honor.

It has a gilt ceiling adorned with badges. You can see the phoenix of Jane Seymour and Henry’s court of arms.

Flemish tapestry from the early 1600s in the Great Watching Chamber

The Great Watching Chamber is hung with tapestries made of cloth of gold. They’ve faded with time. But in their day, they would have been brilliantly neon colored.

Here, members of the Yeoman Guard stood “watch” and controlled access to Henry in this important part of the palace. Only visitors of high rank were permitted to enter.

Those deemed important enough were led through the doors into a sequence of further chambers, each one more exclusive than the last. This royal “filtering system’”was designed to restrict access to the King and funnel people into rooms appropriate to their rank.

3. The Royal Chapel

The Chapel Royal is a beautiful room. It was essentially the birthplace of a new religion. It was built by Cardinal Wolsey. And it’s still in regular use for religious services.

In the 1930s, Henry installed the vaulted ceiling in a starry azure blue. It features glorious painted gilded pendants and decorative vaulting ribs.

The chapel’s reminiscent of the Henry VII Chapel in Westminster Abbey, which is turn reminiscent of Sainte-Chapelle in Paris .

The Royal Chapel was the setting for key events in Henry VIII’s turbulent marriages. He worshipped in the chapel with Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn.

He learned of Catherine’s adultery there. And Henry married his sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr, in a chamber adjacent to the chapel.

A replica of the Henry’s crown is on display in the Royal Pew of the chapel, where Henry himself sat wearing it. It’s said that Jane Seymour’s heart and lungs are in a lead box behind the altar.

4. The Haunted Gallery

The Haunted Gallery is where the ghost of Catherine Howard, Henry’s fifth wife, is said to appear.

Legend holds that, when Catherine learned she was charged with adultery, she desperately tried to find Henry and plead her innocence.

Before she could reach the king, Catherine was dragged to her rooms, screaming for mercy.

She was beheaded on the Tower Green in 1542. Her ghost is said to still appear, haunting the gallery.

one of the fireplaces in the Tudor Kitchens

5. The Tudor Kitchens

Dating from the 16th century, the kitchen was a busy place when the king arrived.

Henry would bring almost 1000 men in his entourage. They all wanted roast meat, the favorite of the Tudor court.

There were six massive fireplaces in the kitchen. Cooking the meat was a tough job.

The men would literally almost be roasted to death as they cooked. But at least they had unlimited beer to help cool off.

6. Wolsey’s Closet

Wolsey’s Closet is possibly the most elaborately decorated chamber in the entire palace. It’s the only remaining remnant of Thomas Wolsey’s living quarters.

Commissioned by Henry VIII, the panels of the room depict “The Passion of Our Lord.” The ceiling is decorated with gilded Renaissance motifs and badges incorporating the Tudor rose.

7. Processional Route: the Holbein Propaganda Portrait

The Processional Route was Henry’s “Coming Forth” space. After emerging from his private apartments, Henry would proceed down this long corridor to the chapel or to make himself available to the court.

The corridor is lined with portraits of Henry and his family, including his father Henry VII, his mother Elizabeth of York, and his children.

Check out the Princess Elizabeth portrait. She’s wearing an “A” necklace that belonged to her mother, Anne Boleyn.

The star of the gallery is Hans Holbein’s famous life size painting of Henry VIII.

Holbein’s portrait is meant to intimidate and convey a favorable impression of the then ailing king. It depicts Henry as aggressive and defiant, exuding unquestionable authority and gravitas.

the Family of Henry VIII, British School, 16th century

But is this really an accurate depiction of Henry VIII? At this point, at age 45, Henry was physically declining and hobbled by leg ulcers.

He had no male heir and had alienated the Catholic church. The Tudor dynasty looked rather doomed.

Holbein attempted to dispel this image. He flattered Henry with jewels, padded out shoulders, and a swaggering pose. Henry looks like a virile and victorious warrior king, not a beleaguered king.

This wasn’t what Henry really looked like. But Holbein succeeded in cementing this image in the public mind forever.

The Field of the Cloth of Gold (painting c. 1545)

8. The Prince of Wales Chamber

An ornate marble staircase with wrought iron railing leads to the Prince of Wales Chamber. This room contains a famous painting, The Field of the Cloth of Gold.

The painting captures a grand fortnight summit between Henry and his rival, Francois I of France. It’s a nice bit of propaganda.

Henry dominates the large painting, wearing brilliant gold. There’s a specially created temporary palace. The fountain in the painting poured expensive red wine.

In 2008, archaeological remains of the actual 16th century fountain were discovered in the Base Court. In 2010, the fountain was recreated and is engineered to serve wine on special occasions.

the recreated 16th century Tudor wine fountain from the Field of the Cloth of Gold summit

Beginning in April 2020, England will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Field of the Cloth of Gold. In May, there will be a recreation of the festival-summit, complete with live jousting and wresting. This will be a hot ticket in 2020.

There’s also a legend about the Prince of Wales Chamber’s most famous prince in waiting, Frederick (later George III). The story is known as “the Midnight Flit.” Frederick and his parents didn’t get on.

His mother once called him the “greatest ass, liar, and beast in nature.” Not exactly motherly. But he may have deserved it.

Anyway, Frederick’s wife was pregnant. When she went into labor, he refused to allow his son to be born in his parents’ house. So Frederick scooped her up in the middle of the night and left.

Another lesser known fact is that Queen Anne, the last Stuart monarch, had a room hidden away in the Prince of Wales Chamber. She commissioned a fancy bed with 11 mattresses.

But she only slept in it one night before she died. The bed was recently restored , requiring 150 man hours.

9. The Royal Apartments

You proceed up the grand King’s Staircase, with 1724 murals by William Kent, to access the royal apartments. Henry VIII’s apartments are long gone.

The King’s Apartments face the Privy Gardens on the south side and the Queen’s face the Fountain Garden on the east side.

The King and Queen Apartments are linked by a grand gallery running the length of the building, inspired by the hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

Christopher Wren decorated the apartments of King William III. They boast beautiful and delicate wood carvings by the 17th century craftsman Grinling Gibbons.

The opulent Great Bedchamber features a lush canopied red bed. But that wasn’t where the king actually slept, only where he dressed in the presence of his courtiers in a strange royal tradition. He slept in a gold bed next door.

William III's ceremonial bedchamber. The gold "gate" was to keep the public from pressing in too closely.

The ceiling of William’s bedrooms was decorated with a colorful mural of naked men. Seizing on William’s lack of children, jealous courtiers spread rumors that, based on the home-erotic mural, William was gay. Gay slurs were a common means to discredit someone back in those days.

The Orangery is also on the main floor of the King’s Apartments. It’s a long gallery paved in a distinctive pattern of purple and grey Swedish limestone.

The Orangery served as a greenhouse for exotic plants. It also gave the royals a place to promenade in the winter months.

The Queen’s Apartments mirrored the king’s. They’ve been restored as they would have appeared to George II’s wife, Queen Caroline, between 1716-37. In an unusual move, Queen Caroline had locks on her door for privacy.

The Drawing Room was the most important and exclusive rooms of the Queen’s apartments. This was where Queen Caroline set up several card tables in the evening for entertainment.

10. Georgian Private Apartments

This suite of rooms was created for George II and his family. The rooms are pretty tame compared to the ebullient baroque designs of William and Mary’s apartments. But the art work is superb, including works by Caravaggio and Sir Peter Lely.

Another Georgian creation was the Chocolate Room. It was manned by Thomas Tosier, the chocolate chef for Kings George I and George II.

He was tasked with bringing the kings a luxurious cup of hot chocolate each morning. Chocolate was a sign of high status at the time.

The location of the Chocolate Room was only discovered in 2014. It was faithfully re-created using documentary evidence.

11. Cumberland Art Gallery

The Cumberland Art Gallery at Hampton Court Palace opened in 2014. It displays art works from the royal collection.

It contains a fine selection of English paintings, including masterpieces by Holbein, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, and other artists. Even an Andy Warhol.

The gallery is housed in a newly restored suite of rooms. They were designed in the 1730s by William Kent for William Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland and the youngest son of King George II.

In 2014, after two years of meticulous research, the Cumberland Suite was returned to its original state. Humphries Weaving created blue silk moiré for the walls.

Andrea Mantegna's The Triumphs of Caesar, 1505

12. Mantegna Gallery

Hampton Court Palace is home to the most important series of early Renaissance paintings outside of Italy. They’re nine large paintings depicting the Triumphs of Caesar by Andrea Mantegna.

READ : Guide To The Best Art In Italy

Art historian Giorgio Vasari calls these paintings Mantegna’s masterpiece. They depicts a single procession, culminating in a final episode — the arrival of Julius Caesar on a triumphal chariot after his military success in Gaul. In Ancient Rome , a triumph was a the greatest accolade a general could receive.

The paintings were originally created for the Ducal Palace in Mantua Italy . But Charles I purchased them in 1630 and placed in Hampton Court Palace.

The paintings are not in the best condition. They’ve been restored many times, but most restorations were misconceived.

the formal Fountain Gardens of Hampton Court Palace

13. Hampton Court Palace Gardens

There are over 60 acres of gardens at Hampton Court Palace. Today, the gardens represent a fusion of Tudor, Baroque, and Victorian influences.

Throughout the year, the gardens host various events and festivals, including the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. It attracts gardening enthusiasts from around the world.

Wolsey laid out the first small gardens in the early 1500s. When Henry VIII took over the palace, he added the Privy Garden.

Hampton Court gardens with purple flowers

William and Mary created the magnificent Fountain Garden on the east side. It contains 13 fountains and two avenues of yew trees.

The formal garden showcases symmetrical patterns, vibrant flower displays, and intricate water features, including the famous Tijou Screen and the impressive Great Fountain itself.

There’s also the beautiful Pond Garden, which you can’t enter, and was formerly used to shelter exotic plants. You’ll also find the Rose Garden, the Kitchen Garden, and the Maze.

At the end of the Pond Garden, you’ll find a glass house containing the world’s largest vine, complete with a Guiness Book of World Records certificate. It was planted in 1768 by George III.

14. The Garden Maze

In 1690, King William III commissioned the Maze of the Hampton Court Palace Gardens. The maze was designed and planted by George London and Henry Wise.

It covers a third of an acre. The maze takes about 30-45 minutes to navigate with its many twists, turns, and dead ends.

The Maze was originally planted with hornbeam. Later, it was replanted using yew. It’s England’s oldest surviving maze.

Hampton Court Palace Becomes A Filming Location for the Movie The Favourite

In the spring of 2017, Hampton Court Palace became a filming location for the award-winning 2019 movie, The Favourite . The Favourite is a dark period comedy.

It’s the beguiling story of the ailing Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) and the power struggle between two favorites in her court — courtier Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) and ambitious maid Abigail Hill (Emma Stone).

Queen Anne came to the throne after William III and spent significant time at Hampton Court Palace during her reign. She also lived at Kensington Palace and Windsor Castle.

In the movie, the directors used Henry VIII’s Kitchens, The Cartoon Gallery, the Fountain Court, The Queen’s Drawing Room, and The Chapel Royal.

Costumes from the film are currently on display in the Cartoon Gallery. (I haven’t mentioned the Cartoon Gallery, as it only contains replicas of Raphael paintings.)

costumes from The Favourite on display in the Cartoon Room of Hampton Court Palace

Is Hampton Court Palace Worth Visiting ?

Hampton Court Palace is definitely worth a half day or day of your time. To me, it’s the most interesting palace I’ve visited in or around London.

You’re steeped in Henry VIII lore and get true insight into this fascinating historical character. The palace is England’s largest and grandest Tudor structure, and a beautiful blend of Tudor and “restrained” Baroque architecture.

There is some amazing art in the palace. And you can actually take photos in the palace, unlike others.

Practical Information for Visiting Hampton Court Palace:

Address : Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU, UK, 14 miles from London

Getting there : Trains run from Waterloo Station in London every 30 minutes. The train ride takes approximately 40 minutes.

Opening Hours :

Summer (March 25 to October 27)

10:00 am to 6:00 pm, with last admission to Palace at 5:00 pm Last admission to Magic Garden and Maze at 5:15 pm

Winter (October 28 to March 30)

10:00 am to 4:30 pm, with last admission to palace at 3:30 pm Last admission to Maze at 3:15 pm

Entry fee : Ticket prices, free entry with London Pass . The ticket includes access to all public areas of the palace, the gardens, courtyards, the Maze, and the Magic Garden.

Pro Tip : There’s an introductory film you can watch once you arrive to get your Henry VIII history lesson.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to Hampton Court Palace. You may enjoy these other London travel guides and resources:

5 Day Itinerary for London
Harry Potter Places in London
Guide to the National Gallery of Art
Guide to St. Paul’s Cathedral
Guide to Tate Britain
London Tourist Traps To Avoid
Guide To Free Museums in London
Guide to the Tower of London
Guide to the Churchill War Rooms
Guide To the Henry VII Chapel in Westminster Abbey
Guide To Hatfield House

If you’d like to visit Hampton Court Palace outside London, pin it for later.

Hotels near Hampton Court Palace, Kingston upon Thames

Enter your dates and choose from 245 hotels and other places to stay, featured hotels near hampton court palace, star rating, review score.

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The Lion Gate Mews

Hotel in Kingston upon Thames (0.2 miles from Hampton Court Palace)

The Lion Gate Mews offers self-catering accommodation in East Molesey. The apartments offer free WiFi, and private off-road parking with 24hr recorded CCTV.

The Kings Arms

Kingston upon Thames (0.2 miles from Hampton Court Palace)

The Kings Arms Hotel is steeped in history and looking over Hampton Court Palace to one side and the Bushy Park on the other.

Mitre Hotel

Set on the River Thames opposite Hampton Court Palace, the Mitre Hotel has a rich history as a place to stay, dating back as far as Charles II in 1665.

Tulana Taggs - floating home on island idyll

Hampton Hill (0.8 miles from Hampton Court Palace)

A recently renovated boat situated in Hampton Hill, Tulana Taggs - floating home on island idyll features a garden. This property offers access to a balcony, free private parking and free WiFi.

The Lion Gate Apartments

East Molesey (0.2 miles from Hampton Court Palace)

Situated in East Molesey in the Surrey region, with Hampton Court Palace nearby, The Lion Gate Apartments features accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

Kingston Flat

Hampton Wick, Kingston upon Thames (1.6 miles from Hampton Court Palace)

Set in Kingston upon Thames in the Greater London region, Kingston Flat has a balcony.

Top 10 trending hotels near Hampton Court Palace

Discover our most popular hotels from the last 30 days, enjoy breakfast at the hotels near hampton court palace.

Holiday Inn Express - London Heathrow T4, an IHG Hotel

Holiday Inn Express London Heathrow T4 is directly connected to Terminal 4 via a covered link-bridge which is now open at Heathrow Terminal 4.

Everything was very easy. No fuss and no overkill.

Crowne Plaza London Heathrow T4, an IHG Hotel

Set in Hillingdon and with Hounslow West reachable within 4.8 km, Crowne Plaza London Heathrow T4, an IHG Hotel offers concierge services, non-smoking rooms, a fitness centre, free WiFi throughout the...

Great location great view of planes and facilities as expected

DoubleTree by Hilton London Kingston Upon Thames

Offering a terrace and fitness centre, DoubleTree by Hilton London Kingston Upon Thames is situated 350 m from Kingston train station and 2.5 km from Hampton Court Palace.

Great location, very clean & comfortable thank you.

The Oatlands Chaser by Innkeeper's Collection

Built on one of Henry VIII’s old hunting spots, The Oatlands Chaser by Innkeeper's Collection is located 1.5 miles from Weybridge city centre and 5 minutes’ drive from Weybridge Rail Station.

Well decorated rooms, nice Bar area, excellent food.

Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Airport

On the eastern perimeter of Heathrow Airport, Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Airport is a 5-minute walk from Hatton Cross Underground Station.

Lovely atmosphere. Child friendly. Food was great.

Hotel du Vin Cannizaro House Wimbledon

On the edge of Wimbledon Common and near the famous tennis courts, this luxurious boutique hotel has a 2 AA Rosette restaurant, elegant accommodation, beautiful gardens and payable parking.

Friendly and attentive staff. Comfortable, spacious rooms

The Alexander Pope Hotel

A few minutes south of Twickenham High Street, The Alexander Pope Hotel is a modern, fully air-conditioned hotel with a traditional pub, overlooking the River Thames.

Perfect location. Amazing rooms. Brilliant pub and food.

Warren House Hotel

A 5-minute walk from Richmond Park, Warren House is a stunning Victorian mansion complete with private gardens.

Very beautiful hotel, friendly staff, amazing breakfast

Budget hotels near Hampton Court Palace

ibis budget London Heathrow Central

Set 1.9 km from Hounslow West, ibis budget London Heathrow Central offers 3-star accommodation in Hounslow and has a bar.

Good location, comfortable rooms and welcoming staff.

ibis budget London Hounslow

Located 4 miles from London’s Heathrow Airport, the ibis budget London Hounslow is perfectly placed for travellers to access the airport as well as the regular transport connections to central London.

Everything is good cleaning, washroom,and location

Warren Lodge

With a beautiful, peaceful location on the banks of the River Thames, this charming hotel faces out onto Church Square in the old historic village of Shepperton.

We were upgraded to cottage which was really lovely

Hounslow Central Hotel

Situated in Hounslow, 1.5 km from Hounslow West, Hounslow Central Hotel features accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

Very clean and staff very nice. Property very safe

The Bridge Inn

Set in Isleworth, The Bridge Inn offers accommodation with free WiFi and flat-screen TV, as well as a bar. At The Bridge Inn you will find a restaurant serving Thai cuisine.

the staff were so much fun and super accommodating

Heston Hyde Hotel

Around 10 minutes’ drive from London Heathrow Airport, Heston Hyde Hotel offers accommodation including a gym, indoor pool, bar and restaurant.

they gave me the Spartan room which was absolutely lovely

The Bull and Bush Hotel Kingston

Just 10 minutes’ walk from Norbiton Railway Station, The Bull and Bush Hotel Kingston offers modern rooms with en suite bathrooms. Kingston Upon Thames centre is just a short walk away.

Excellent location once l got to know my way round.

Spotlessly clean and tidy Paul was very good and I was very impressed

Hotels with great access to Hampton Court Palace!

Coach & Horses Hotel

This 17th-century inn is located by Kew Green, across from the Royal Botanical Gardens. Enjoy a great location, fine food and good public transport to Central London.

Aleysha the hotel manager is so incredible. What a lovely person.

The Queen's Head

Situated within 3 km of Hampton Court Palace, The Queen's Head in Kingston upon Thames has a number of amenities including a garden.

Staff very friendly and helpful Excellent breakfast

Situated in Claygate, The Foley has been a village pub since the 1780s. Now a coaching inn, it offers boutique-style bedrooms, a stylish pub, and a dining room. WiFi and parking are free.

Great food and service. Room was very comfortable.

Sleeplicity London Heathrow

Set in Feltham, 4.1 km from Hounslow West, Sleeplicity London Heathrow offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking and a bar.

How spacious and comfortable the rooms and the hotel was

Atrium Hotel Heathrow

Located opposite Hatton Cross Underground Station, Atrium Hotel Heathrow offers a fitness centre with a 20-metre swimming pool and a jacuzzi.

Maids Guest Rooms

Located in Kew and within 600 metres of Kew Gardens, Maids Guest Rooms features a terrace, non-smoking rooms, and free WiFi.

Great breakfast, however not included in the price.

The Selwyn, Richmond

The Selwyn is a boutique hotel in the heart of Richmond Upon Thames, offering warm hospitality and well appointed rooms.

Lovely relaxed breakfast. Food was very nice too !

Orange Tree

Located in a leafy suburb of London and with easy connections to Twickenham Stadium and the city centre, The Orange Tree offers a boutique hotel experience. Free Wi-Fi is accessible throughout.

We loved EVERYTHING about this lovely little hide away!

Hampton Court Palace

Rising majestically over the River Thames, Hampton Court Palace is an impressive testament to England’s lauded past. One of only two surviving palaces owned by the infamous Henry VIII, this massive red structure boasts gorgeous grounds, a historic tennis court and a beloved maze. Spend the day here and you’re sure to fall in love with the beauty and history round every bend.

People are talking about Hampton Court Palace! Explore guest hotel reviews featuring "Hampton Court Palace"

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First Timer’s Guide to visiting Hampton Court Palace

Things to do in London London Attractions Landmarks in London Hampton Court Palace

A link that we can now observe between all great monarchies of the world is that they have left behind some of the greatest architectural wonders for us to behold. Their buildings used to represent their might and ideals. They used to be the stronghold of their mental strength and political authority. And all grand historical monuments of the world are known for their ability to immortalize their heydays within their walls. The Hampton Court Palace in Richmond upon Thames serves this purpose for the erstwhile mighty House of Tudor. The symbol of sophistication during its time, Hampton Court Palace is one castle that you should not miss if you find yourself around London.

Here's all you need to know before visiting Hampton Court Palace, a little bit about its history, the highlights of your Hampton Court Palace tour, getting to Hampton Court Palace and the best priced Hampton Court Palace tickets that will transport you years back in British history.

Hampton Court Palace History

The current site of the Hampton Court was taken over by Thomas Wolsey , King Henry VIII’s chief minister, in 1514. He then spent a fortune to build one of the grandest castles in England in accordance with the renaissance school of architecture. However, very little of Wolsey’s original structures remain. In 1528, he transferred the ownership of the castle to king, Henry VIII who began rebuilding several parts of the castle as soon as he gained ownership. Hampton Court Palace saw through the end of Tudor era and the beginning of the Stuart era.

The Hampton Court Conference held in the castle was the one where King James’ Bible was commissioned. Henry III and Mary II went on another major rebuilding spree on the Hampton Court Palace. More than half of the grand structure was destroyed, altered and repurposed. Further refurbishment was undertaken by King George II and Caroline of Ansbach.

Interesting facts about Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace is one of only two surviving palaces in which Henry VIII took residence. The other one is St. James Palace.
William Shakespeare and his company performed several shows over the course of three weeks at the Great Hall of the Hampton Court Palace for King James I around 1604.
The Hampton Court Garden has the oldest surviving shrub maze in Britain dating back to 1700. It is open for public admission now.
In 1540, an astronomical clock was installed at Hampton Court Palace facing the inner court. It is 15 feet tall and has three separate dials that can tell the time, the date, the position of the Sun relative to the Earth, the phases of the moon, the age of the moon in days, and when the moon crosses the meridian. As such, it can predict the tides of the river Thames.
During its affluence, the Hampton Court Palace employed 600 people.
Henry VIII married six times. However, his wife from the only Hampton Court Palace marriage, Catherine Parr, survived the wedlock without execution, divorce, or death from other causes.

Where can I get tickets to Hampton Court Palace?

Purchasing your Hampton Court Palace Tickets online is highly recommended. This way, you can avail a few discounts and cashbacks on your tickets. You can also purchase your Hampton Court Palace tickets from the gate from the ticket office located by the car park or just inside the main gates on the left-hand side of the drive.

All Hampton Court Palace tickets come with a complimentary audio guide available in 9 languages ( English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Russian, and Korean ) which you must collect from the Information Centre off Base Court once you enter the premises.

Save £7 on Hampton Court Palace Tickets when you use promo code GOLDN

Going from London to Hampton Court

Given its historical significance and architectural grandeur, the Hampton Court Palace is an automatic pick for your next trip to London. Hampton Court Palace lies at a very convenient distance from London city and therefore makes for a great day trip spot.

Distance from London to Hampton Court

Hampton Court Palace lies 14 miles or 23 kilometers from London.

Duration of Travel

The total travel time from London to Hampton Court Palace should not take more than 40 minutes. This means you have to spend less than 90 minutes on traveling back and forth, which gives you plenty of time to explore the vast castle and its numerous attractions.

Best Way to Travel from London to Hampton Court

You can get to Hampton Court Palace by taking a train from London. You may also avail waterways during the summer months and experience a breezy cruise on River Thames before getting to the Palace. Ideally, taking a guided tour from London to Hampton Court Palace is the way to go. Your travel to and fro is taken care of and you are in the company of an expert guide through the day. Doesn't get better! Alternatively, you may follow our highlights guide below and try to hit as many your schedule permits. The entire castle is bound to take you half a day to discover.

Highlights of the Hampton Court Palace Tour

Hampton Court Palace went through several stages of construction and reformation. Therefore, three different schools of architecture makes its appearance within the entire complex. The earliest and the most popular one is mainly Renaissance inspired. Then comes the French style inspired Stuart era constructions, followed by the notably plain Georgian section. The castle has opened most of the structure for the public. There are exciting scheduled demonstrations to keep visitors of all ages interested throughout the entire day. Here's what you must see inside Hampton Court Palace:

Henry VIII’s Palace

After taking over from his chief minister, Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII spent a lot in reforming a living quarter of his own within the Palace. The entire area is well maintained and the audioguide will fill you in with information about day to day life of King Henry VIII and his court in this part of the Hampton Court Palace.

William III & Mary II’s Apartments

The private apartments of William III and Mary II were used for entertaining guests, displaying prized possessions, and spending their off-court hours. Currently, William III’s dining has been laid out like he would do it himself back in the days. The centerpiece in William III’s closet was designed by Steinwich. The accurate representation of the apartment is sure to catch one’s eyes.

The largest single room in the entire castle is also arguably the most stunning. Constructed during King Henry III’s phase of restructuring, the Great Hall features strikingly copious hammer beam ceilings. The Story of Abraham tapestries on the walls is believed to be the best work of Henry III’s times. During his stay, the King used the hall as a performance area as well.

Tudor Kitchens

Henry VIII was known for his vast appetite and therefore encouraged the same in his court. His kitchen at the Hampton Court Palace used to employ 200 cooks, sergeants, grooms, and pages to prepare about 800 meals a day. Know in detail about the complexity of feeding a hungry Tudor court in this part of the palace.

Chocolate Room

Another place of culinary significance is the Chocolate Kitchens. Built around 1690 by Christopher Wren for the use of William III and Mary II, the Chocolate Kitchen was a modern marvel of its time. Besides various equipment used to prepare delicacies out of chocolate, the Chocolate Room has a portrait of Grace Tosier, a popular figure during the heydays of the kitchen.

Wolsey’s Closet

Possibly the most elaborately decorated chamber in the entire castle, this closet remains the only remnant of Thomas Wolsey’s living quarters. The panels of the room depict “The Passion of Our Lord” that was commissioned by Henry VIII. The ceiling of the closet features classic Tudor architecture and it must not be missed.

Cumberland Art Gallery

The Cumberland Art Gallery features a wide selection of artwork that is mostly a part of the Royal Collection. A vast majority of the artworks relate the history of Hampton Court Palace. The Cumberland Suite, originally created by William Kent, was restored in 2014 after years of exhaustive research.

The Triumphs of Caesar

A set of nine paintings enrich the collection within the legendary Mantegna Gallery at Hampton Court Palace. Painted by Andrea Mantegna, these paintings are widely regarded as one of the significant achievements of Renaissance art. The paintings were bought by Charles I and have remained at the Hampton Court Palace for almost 400 years.

Hampton Court Gardens

Home to the largest grape vine in the world, the Hampton Court Gardens are the best place for a siesta should you get tired of exploring the inner chambers. The garden occupies 750 acres of sprawling land. The grape vines and the orange gardens keep the entire area alive throughout the year.

Magic Garden

The Hampton Court Garden does its part to entertain the children with this attraction. The playground unites the element of fantastical beasts with the basic fun of enactment of scenarios. There are separate areas of the playground that are dedicated to myths, legends, and stories that are related to the history of Hampton Court Palace.

Royal Tennis Courts

The first tennis courts were constructed at the Hampton Court Palace between 1526 and 1529. Later on, King Henry VIII used the courts for friendly games. One of the surviving courts dates back to 1625. Currently, you may visit the courts only during the summer.

The Hampton Court Maze

The Hampton Court Maze is one of the most exciting spots within the Hampton Court Gardens. This engaging and rather confusing structure is Britain's oldest surviving hedge maze and takes to the heart of adults and children alike. Planted by George London and Henry Wise for William III of Orange in 1690, the maze comprised of hornbeams then but in 1960, the 'Wilderness Garden' as it was nicknamed was replaced with yew. It is one of the first multicursal or puzzle maze, which makes it harder to find your way in and out of it.

The Hampton Court Maze takes an average of 30-45 minutes to complete, and though it is an ‘island maze’ which contains separate sections causing this technique to not normally work, the hedges are grown in a fashion where placing and keeping one’s right hand along a wall will lead them to the center.

A recent addition to the Hampton Court Maze is the audio exhibit - Trace. Spread across the hedges is a gentle “soundwork” composed of music fragments, snippets of conversation, the rustle of fine silks, and tantalizing laughter that disappears upon turning corners; aimed at luring visitors down certain paths, Trace is a permanent art installation that will eventually incorporate one thousand generated sounds.

The Hampton Court Maze remains closed for Christmas, Boxing Day, and on account of adverse weather conditions.

Hampton Court Palace Map

Below is an easy to understand Hampton Court Palace map that will help you navigate around the palace. Download this Hampton Court Palace Map and keep it handy on your phone if you're doing a self guided/ audio guided tour of the Palace. If you're taking a guided tour of the Palace, leave the task of navigating to your expert guide and simply enjoy the intricacies of the Palace.

Hampton Court Palace Opening Times

Summer( until november 1st, 2022).

September 7, 2022 - October 21, 2022: Open from Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with last admission to Palace at 4:30 PM October 22, 2022 - October 30, 2022: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with last admission to Palace at 4:30 PM

Winter (November 2,2022 - March 26,2023)

November 2, 2022 - December 1, 2022 Open from Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with last admission to Palace at 3:00 PM December 2, 2022 - December 4, 2022 Open from Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with last admission to Palace at 4:00 PM December 7, 2022 - March 26, 2023 Open from Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with last admission to Palace at 3:00 PM Closed on:

5, 6, 19, 24, 25, and 26th of December, 2022
January 3, 2023
February 21 and 22, 2023

The Chapel Royal is a working chapel that closes for religious services on Sundays and other religious days like Good Friday.

Getting To Hampton Court

Hampton court palace address.

Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU, UK

Find Hampton Court Palace on Google Map

London to Hampton Court Palace by Train

You can reach Hampton Court Station from Waterloo Station on the South West Trains services. Trains run every half an hour. If you have an Oyster Card, you can use it to travel from Waterloo to Hampton Court Station.

London to Hampton Court Palace by Bus

Hop on to bus numbers 111, 216, 411, 461, 513 from Kingston and get dropped at Hampton Court Palace.

London to Hampton Court by Car

Hampton Court Palace is located on A308. Take exit 12 from M25. You can park your car on-site for £1.60 or at Hampton Court Green ( 500 m away) for £1.50 per hour.

London to Hampton Court by Taxi

Taxi drop off is available at the Palace gate. Taxis can be easily availed from Hampton Court Station.

London to Hampton Court by Boat

You can take a boat from Kingston-upon-Thames to Hampton Court Palace which will take you approximately 35 minutes one way, and a total price of £32. Read more about going from Kingston-upon-Thames to Hampton Court Palace by Turk Boats here.

Know Before You Visit

Luggage : Lockers are available for moderately sized baggage for £1 coin deposit.
Cafe : The Tiltyard Café, The Privy Kitchen Café, and The Fountain Court Café are three eateries within Hampton Court Palace.
Audio Guide : Audio guide prices are included within admission tickets to Hampton Court Palace and be collected when entering the palace.
Hampton Court Palace events : There are frequent events at Hampton Court Palace. Check out the events that are currently running at Hampton Court Palace.

Insider Tips for your Hampton Court Palace visit

Entry to the Hampton Court Palace is free for the holders of the London Pass.
General photography without flash is permitted within Hampton Court Palace premises except for within Chapel Royal and Royal Pew.
Audio guides are available in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Russian, and Korean apart from English.
Most of the Hampton Court Palace is accessible by all. There is no discount for disabled individuals, however, a carer is admitted free of charge with the individual.
If you're visiting Hampton Court Palace anytime from 17 November 2022 to 8 January 2023 (except 25 December), prepare to be swept away by the seasonal atmosphere at the Hampton Court Palace ice rink. The ice rink is open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:45 PM, with the entry closing at 8 PM. Grab tickets for skating at the ice rink here.
The Hampton Court Book Club is a monthly member-only event that starts at 6:30 in the Weston room of the Clore Centre in the Barrack Block at Hampton Court Palace. If you're a bibliophile who loves the Biblichor and the company of other book lovers, joining this book club meeting is highly recommended. Read more about the Hampton Court Book Club .
If you are driving to the Hampton Court Palace, drive a bit farther on Hampton Court Road to find a high capacity car park.
Carry comfortable shoes if you plan to cover the entire Hampton Court Palace complex. You may end up walking as much as 2 miles.

Hampton Court Palace Review

The palace is incredible with history covering several centuries of British history. Starting with Henry VIII and carrying on for at least two centuries. The insteriors are incredible and there is lots to see and do. The grounds are fantastic with the formal gardens and of course the infamous maze.

- Richard M, October 2022 Tripadvisor

The entry price seems high, but when you realise how much there is to see - both inside and in the grounds - it's actually better value than many historical country houses. The gardens include both formal and informal, and include a decent place for food. There are several sets of rooms that illustrate the periods of Henry VIII and the Hanoverians, as well as some rooms used to display art. The audio guide really helps you to understand what you are seeing, and was included in the price. The kitchens are very extensive and we saw people demonstrating some historic dishes. All the staff seemed very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

- Jeremy B, October 2022 Tripadvisor

Read more Hampton Court Palace Reviews on TripAdvisor .

Where is the best place to park near Hampton Court Palace?

There are several car parks located near Hampton Court Palace, including the official palace car park and a number of public car parks.

Is there an annual Hampton Court Palace Festival?

Yes, the Hampton Court Palace Festival is held every summer and features a variety of musical performances.

What are the opening hours for Hampton Court Palace?

The opening hours for Hampton Court Palace vary depending on the time of year, but the palace is generally open from 10am to 4pm.

Is there a dress code for visiting Hampton Court Palace?

There is no formal dress code for visiting Hampton Court Palace, but visitors are asked to refrain from wearing overly casual or revealing clothing.

How long does it take to tour Hampton Court Palace?

Most visitors spend between 2 and 3 hours touring Hampton Court Palace. However, there is no time limit and you can stay as long as you like.

What can I see at Hampton Court Palace?

There are a number of things to see at Hampton Court Palace, including the State Apartments, the Chapel Royal, and the gardens.

Explore More London Palaces

Looking to explore other palaces in London? We strongly recommend the London Royal Palace Pass ! If you're not interested in the pass, check out our detailed guides on other famous London Palaces and plan your visit efficiently.

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Lakshmi Menon

Born to parents bit by the wander bug, Lakshmi calls her love for travel "hereditary and habitual". Perpetually ensconced with a book in her hand and a mug of coffee in the other, she has been to over 15 countries in her 23 years of existence and is currently saving miles and money for her solo trip to Iceland. Always hustling towards the least trodden path, she has encountered some wonderful people during her escapades and if you ever meet her, she won't stop gushing about them.

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The Best Hotels Near Hampton...

The Best Hotels to Book Near Hampton Court Palace, UK

Hampton Court Palace, home of Henry VIII, has immaculate gardens and opulent interiors to explore

Stay near to Hampton Court Palace and you’ll be close enough to London to be convenient, yet far enough from the centre to enjoy leafy surroundings. Here’s our guide to the best hotels nearby – bookable with Culture Trip.

Hampton Court Palace is one of two remaining royal palaces of Henry VIII. It was originally built for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, but when he fell out of favour in 1529, Wolsey gifted the palace to the king, who enlarged it to accommodate his entourage. Today, Queen Elizabeth II owns Hampton Court, but it is also open to visitors, who come to see the palace, its maze and what’s believed to be the oldest and largest grapevine in the world.

1. The Mitre

The Mitre dates from 1665, when King Charles II ordered that it be built as a “hostel for visitors to the Palace”. It’s been substantially altered since those times, yet it’s still a place worthy of its aristocratic origins. The hotel’s 21st-century makeover has given it a bold, quirky design that takes its inspiration from The W ind in the Willows and the Henley Regatta. Check out its riverside terrace, vintage food truck and private boat launch.

2. Richmond Hill Hotel

Timeless Georgian style is embodied in a heritage colour palette and sumptuous period features in this delightful 144-room hotel. Embellished with modern flourishes, the hotel is a luxurious property oozing character. Handy for Heathrow, Richmond Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and of course Hampton Court Palace, its position on Richmond Hill means the view from the terrace and many of the spacious rooms is spectacular.

4. The Lensbury Resort

The Lensbury Resort sits on the banks of the River Thames in Teddington. It started out as the sports and social club of petroleum giant Shell, and its commitment to fitness continues a century on. Guests at this luxury resort enjoy the use of an indoor pool, saunas and steam room, an Elemis spa, tennis and squash courts, water sports on the river and a fabulous gym.

5. Richmond Harbour Hotel and Spa

Little luxuries make all the difference, and they know a thing or two about making guests feel special at this upscale boutique hotel. From monsoon showers and White Company toiletries in the bathrooms, to 400 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and complimentary gin and sherry in the bedrooms, no detail has been overlooked. Complimentary access to the prestigious HarSPA is another bonus (from September 2021).

6. Hotel Bosco

Hotel Bosco in Surbiton is big on contemporary design. Rooms are glamorous and well designed, with Vispring beds and rainfall showers; some have private balconies. The stylish and sophisticated vibe continues into the Bosco Lounge, a cocktail and champagne bar with live music on Thursdays, resident DJs and cocktail masterclasses led by talented mixologists.

7. Oatlands Park Hotel

Oatlands Park Hotel was built in the 18th century on the site of a royal Tudor palace. Celebrated guests include writer Émile Zola, novelist Anthony Trollope and artist Edward Lear, who have all stayed in this upscale Surrey property set in large landscaped gardens. Today, it remains a successful luxury hotel. Rooms have a timeless elegance, their soft grey colour palette enhanced with pops of muted blue, ochre or coral.

8. Bingham Riverhouse

Boutique Hotel

The exquisite interiors of Bingham Riverhouse offer a home from home – if only your own house could be as perfect as this. Each of the 15 rooms is beautifully designed; upgrade to a river room for views of the Thames and a hand-forged copper bath. Emphasis is placed on enabling guests to relax and recharge – the hotel offers a special Knackered Mothers Sleepover package, so you can treat the tired mum in your life, as well as access to their bhuti wellness centre, which offers yoga, complementary therapies and holistic treatments.

Looking for more inspiration? Nearby London is perfect for a city break. We’ve narrowed down the best cheap hotels and the best luxury hotels in London so you can confidently find and book the perfect stay on Culture Trip. There’s plenty to keep you busy, too – from these quirky and unusual things to do in London and this delicious food and drink tour to a relaxing, chilled-out tour of London .

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Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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THE 10 BEST Restaurants Near Hampton Court Palace

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Restaurants near Hampton Court Palace

Sakura Yakiniku

“Friendly restaurant with amazing food” 02/24/2024
“Amazing!” 02/21/2024

“ Bad tea ” 02/29/2024
“ Bring a picnic ” 12/29/2023

“ Excellent meal ” 04/14/2024
“ Gorgeous place ” 04/06/2024

“ Perfect for lunch or coffee wh... ” 04/02/2024
“ Lovely hidden gem, gorgeous fo... ” 02/11/2024

“ Great Lebanese/Spanish tapas r... ” 04/17/2024
“ Excellent food ” 02/18/2024

“ CLEAN & CLEAR your FILTHY tabl... ” 04/14/2024
“ Up your game ! ” 02/01/2024

“ Excellent restaurant ” 04/12/2024
“ Perfect for a casual dinner wi... ” 02/22/2024

“ Too good to miss! ” 03/01/2024
“ A little gem that you must try... ” 02/15/2024

“ amazing ” 03/25/2024
“ Excellent ” 02/03/2024

“ Lunch time experience ” 04/20/2024
“ Amazing food ” 04/09/2024

“ Bizarre service ” 04/11/2024
“ Excellent value for money deli... ” 03/30/2024
“ Nice menu ” 06/12/2023
“ Delicious food and good servic... ” 12/12/2021

“ Little piece of Italy in UK ” 04/04/2024
“ Great little local, wish I’d b... ” 02/19/2024

“ Great!! ” 03/03/2024
“ A great place on Bridge Road ” 11/26/2023

“ Good Food - Recommended 👍 ” 03/05/2024
“ Local Gem ” 02/09/2024

“ Great place loved it ” 02/25/2024
“ Brilliant Restaurant - would h... ” 02/25/2024

“ Excellent (and super fast deli... ” 04/15/2024
“ Mothers Day ” 03/11/2024

“ Bits of ham on my veggie sandw... ” 04/20/2024
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“ Excellent food wine and servic... ” 04/12/2024
“ Best pub in the area ” 04/09/2024

“ Supermarket gluten free offeri... ” 03/20/2024
“ The Six Restaurant and Bar ” 03/03/2024

“ Now expensive ” 04/01/2024
“ Slow ” 03/27/2024

“ Really great experience! ” 11/20/2023
“ Fantastic! ” 11/19/2023

“ Great Local Restaurant ” 07/01/2023
“ Great find ” 05/02/2023

“ Amazing food, friendly staff ” 08/07/2023
“ Fantastic food! ” 07/11/2023
“ Don’t bother. Over priced ” 05/29/2023
“ Best coffee for miles ” 12/28/2018

“ Great Night with Ray lowe musi... ” 03/31/2024
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“ Excellent Sandwich Bar ” 05/29/2022
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“ Not great service and cups are... ” 03/12/2024
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“ Just fantastic! ” 04/16/2024
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9 Reasons Not To Miss Elegant Hampton Court Palace In London

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Hampton Court Palace in London is grand, historic, and surrounded by beautiful gardens. Visitors can freely wander, exploring life in a royal palace from the Tudor, Stuart, and Georgian times.

Managed by Historic Royal Palaces , Hampton Court Palace can tell as many stories as you have time for.

My first visit was a family trip long ago, when our young daughter was studying the Tudors at school.

I had no idea it would be so wonderful. It was the first time I had visited a palace, and I was hooked. I joined Historic Royal Palaces, and I still visit whenever I can.

Here are a few reasons I love Hampton Court Palace.

A statue at Hampton Court Palace in London.

Alexey Fedorenko / Shutterstock

1. It’s The Real Thing

Hampton Court Palace is an actual place where momentous things have happened. Many of them have to do with King Henry VIII, the best-known of the Tudors. For example, the Chapel Royal, which is open to visitors most days, played an important role in Henry’s life.

The pope wouldn’t permit an annulment of Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon. After much argument, Henry decreed that England would no longer be a Catholic country. Generations of religious turmoil followed.

Hampton Court Palace was one of Henry’s many homes during these years. Imagine the many heated discussions he must have had right here.

Years later, Catherine Howard, Henry’s fifth wife, was sentenced to death for adultery. She pleaded unsuccessfully for mercy outside the Chapel Royal while the king prayed within. Catherine was executed by beheading.

In addition to all the real-life events that have happened here, plenty of movies have been filmed at Hampton Court Palace.

The interior of Hampton Court Palace in London.

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2. You’ll Learn More About The King Who Had Six Wives

Henry VIII did indeed have six wives over many years.

“Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived,” is how children remember his wives.

Some people portray Henry as a jovial fellow, fond of the ladies. Others see him as a ruthless tyrant, obsessed with power and possessed of an overriding desire to preserve the Tudor family dynasty. You’ll be better able to judge after a visit to Hampton Court.

But Hampton Court isn’t only about the Tudors. The Stuarts and the Georgians are also part of the story, up to King George II.

The Fountain Court at Hampton Court Palace.

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3. You’ll See How The Palace Was Altered Over The Years

The palace is a giant building with formal rooms, modest apartments, grand halls, long corridors, and staircases ranging from servants’ speedways to venues for magnificent works of art. There are three major courtyards and several smaller ones. Surrounding the palace are some outbuildings, acres of gardens, and the River Thames.

The two main parts of the building are the Tudor palace of Henry VIII and the baroque palace of the joint rulers King William III and Queen Mary II, designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

From the ticket building, walk to the moat and through the impressive west gate into Base Court. This is the Tudor palace of the 1500s, all red brick and diamond shapes. The many ornate chimneys remind me of fisherman knit sweaters.

Later, you’ll see Clock Court and Fountain Court. The building style changes; white Portland stone enhances the brick. This is the baroque palace, which altered and partly replaced the Tudor palace.

The kitchen at Hampton Court Palace in London.

Benjamin B / Shutterstock

4. It Fed Hundreds Without Electricity

Hampton Court Palace was like a hotel with a thousand rooms. When the reigning monarch was there, so were all the lords, ladies, ambassadors, visiting dignitaries, and others, as well as the many servants and staff needed to keep things going.

The energy and reality of their work shows up brilliantly in the Tudor kitchens , a highlight of any visit. In this great hall, with its high ceiling and massive fireplace, you can see how the Tudor cooks created elaborate banquets for hundreds of people. Some days, the fire will be burning, and if you are really lucky, you might see and smell meat roasting on the spit.

The Historic Royal Palaces organization has carefully researched and recreated Tudor recipes and cooking methods. On a visit, you’ll get to see some of the cooking utensils and ingredients used in the 1500s.

I like to start any visit by following the Kitchen Tour on the free audio guide.

An actor in costume at Hampton Court Palace.

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5. You’ll Hear Stories From Costumed Docents

The costumed interpreters at Hampton Court are extremely good. They stay in character and wear highly detailed outfits. They’re approachable and will answer questions about their life and times. I’ve had the opportunity to meet King Henry VIII himself more than once.

Often, there are interactive mini-performances at different times of the day, in different parts of the palace, based on things that happened here. These always get me into the spirit of the place.

The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace.

Jim Barton / Geograph.org ( CC BY-SA 2.0 )

6. There’s Plenty For Children

Hampton Court Palace is used to having children visit, both with school groups and in families. There’s a big playground called the Magic Garden, a famous maze to get lost in, and plenty of space outdoors for those with a lot of energy.

The palace also offers self-guided interpretive adventures called Family Trails. Sometimes there are royal robes available at the audio-guide station for visitors large and small to try on.

Although there are some precious do-not-touch items here, for the most part, it’s easy to move through the palace without having to worry about breaking something irreplaceable.

Historic Royal Palaces does a good job of making their shops an extension of the site, offering, among other things, speciality items and well-chosen, relevant books and gifts. The Henry Shop is the most child friendly.

For food, I find the Tiltyard Cafe the most comfortable spot for people of all ages.

Tapestries inside Hampton Court Palace in London.

Vito DeFilippo / Shutterstock

7. It’s Simply Magnificent

Hampton Court Palace stopped serving as a royal residence in the 1700s, during the Georgian period. It still exudes luxury and wealth, however, even though the royal family is long gone.

My favorite Hampton Court treasures are the wood carvings by Grinling Gibbons . Created in the late 1600s and early 1700s, Gibbons’s work features lifelike, delicate garlands of fruit, flowers, and cherubs framing some of the doors and works of art in the baroque palace.

Another unique prize, the massive Abraham tapestries hanging in the Great Hall, were commissioned by King Henry VIII and woven in Brussels with threads of gold and silver.

The Tudor ceiling of the Chapel Royal has been repaired and restored over the years. It now looks much as it did in its heyday, a dazzling sky of golden stars. The organ here was commissioned by Queen Anne in the early 1700s and is still played.

The lovely ladies in the paintings along the Communication Gallery are the Windsor Beauties, and in the William III State Rooms, there’s another set, the Hampton Court Beauties.

For more fine art from the Royal Collection, visit the Cumberland Art Gallery .

The massive astronomical clock in Clock Court tells the time, the day, the month, the phases of the moon, the tides, and the sign of the zodiac. It’s simply magnificent. On this clock, the sun revolves around the Earth. That’s what people believed in 1540, when the clock was created.

The moat bridge at Hampton Court Palace.

Charles Bowman / Shutterstock

8. It’s Full Of Fascinating Remnants Of The Past

Many people have left their mark on Hampton Court Palace — literally. You can spot the formally carved initials of different kings and queens above the gates, on the ceilings, and on a wall outside.

The heraldic King’s Beasts lining the moat bridge are copies of a set originally sculpted for King Henry VIII. They represent the Tudor and Seymour ancestral families.

Bored servants, soldiers, guests — no one really knows — scratched graffiti on some of the stone window ledges and door frames. It’s interesting to wonder who traced their hand here or their initials there. So much of the palace is about royalty and famous people that it’s nice to see a common touch as well.

The Privy Garden of King William III at Hampton Court Palace.

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9. The Restored Gardens Are Spectacular

Hampton Court’s gardens are worth a visit on their own, especially in the summer when the flowers are in bloom and the massive rose garden smells heavenly.

The Privy Garden of King William III is the authentic garden William would have had 300 years ago, had he lived. I admire all the research, archaeology, horticulture, and hard work that brought this lost garden back to life so vividly in the 1990s.

What To Know Before You Go

Hampton Court Palace is a flat site. The buildings have stairs. Elevators may be available upon request. Please check the website for the most current accessibility information .

There’s a train from Waterloo Station to Hampton Court Station. From elsewhere in London, you’ll need to use the Transport for London Journey Planner. There’s no Tube station at Hampton Court, but there are buses and a parking lot.

You’ll need at least a half day to tour Hampton Court Palace, but you could easily spend a full day there. Spend the evening or even stay the night in one of the nearby riverside towns. I love Richmond upon Thames, about 30 minutes by bus from the palace. It’s on the Tube’s District Line.

For more to see and do in London, see this page .

Canadian writer Jill Browne lives in Calgary, Alberta, not far from Banff National Park. She travels regularly to London, England, often solo, and has lots of tips for walking and sightseeing there. Jill blogs about London history on LondonHeritageHotspots as well as on Instagram . She loves to plan family history trips for people, especially when their roots connect them to the British Isles. Her website, Genealogy And Travel is devoted to genealogy travel and family history tourism, no matter where you are. You don't have to fly to get in touch with your ancestry.

An experienced road tripper, Jill has driven across Canada and the U.S. multiple times. She and her geologist husband have explored some of Australia and the North Island of New Zealand by car, and are hoping to go back for more. Jill likes gardens, forests, and anything with plants, really. "Adventure without risking life and limb" is her travel motto, and the byline for her blog, Middle of the Road Less Travelled .

IMAGES

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COMMENTS

THE 10 BEST Things to Do Near Hampton Court Palace
The Gardenarium. 16 Reviews. 1 Palace Gate Hampton Court Road, East Molesey KT8 9BN England. Cigarette Island Park. 22 Reviews. Hampton Court Way, East Molesey KT8 9AE England. Hampton Court Emporium. 13 Reviews. 52-54 Bridge Road, East Molesey KT8 9HA England.
20 Attractions to Explore Near Hampton Court Palace
12.38km from Hampton Court Palace Stealth is a launched roller coaster in the Amity area of Thorpe Park located in Surrey, England. This rollercoaster designed by Intamin of Switzerland for £12 million, the Accelerator Coaster model opened in 2006, a year after another Accelerator, Rita, opened at sister park Alton Towers.
THE 10 BEST Things to Do Near Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey
The Gardenarium. 16 Reviews. 1 Palace Gate Hampton Court Road, East Molesey KT8 9BN England. Cigarette Island Park. 22 Reviews. Hampton Court Way, East Molesey KT8 9AE England. Hampton Court Emporium. 13 Reviews. 52-54 Bridge Road, East Molesey KT8 9HA England.
Visiting Hampton Court Palace: 12 Top Attractions
Two major events take place inside the grounds of Hampton Court each year. For two weeks in June, the Hampton Court Palace Festival draws some of the biggest names in pop and classical music for concerts in the stunning setting of the palace. It's one of the country's most popular outdoor music events. For tickets and details, visit the Hampton ...
Top Things to Do Near Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, England
Things to do near Hampton Court Palace on Tripadvisor: See 1,178 reviews and 9,319 candid photos of things to do near Hampton Court Palace in East Molesey, United Kingdom. ... These places are best for bars & clubs near Hampton Court Palace: (2.29 km) Incognito (6.43 km) Be At One - Richmond (10.97 km) Be At One Putney
Visiting Hampton Court Palace Soon? 19 Best Things To Know
You can get Hampton Court Palace tickets directly on-site or on the official website. Prices vary between peak and off-peak seasons, and are as follows: Adults: £26.30 off-peak; £29 peak. Senior (aged 65+): £21 off-peak; £23.20 peak. Students (student id card required) and 16 and 17 year old: £21 off-peak; £23.20 peak.
Visiting Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is only open to visitors between Wednesday and Friday, except for the school holidays, when it opens daily. The palace opens at 10am and the last entry is at 4.30pm, an hour before closing time. Though the palace is open during more days per week in school holidays, it also tends to be busier then.
Hampton Court Palace
Opening times. 31 March - 12 May 2024 (Closed 07 May) Daily: 10:00-17:30. Last admission: 16:30. There are temporary route closures in place around the palace. Check our opening times page for all closures before you visit. The Magic Garden opens at 11:00 on certain dates throughout the year.
A Visitor's Guide to Hampton Court Palace in London
In 1838, Queen Victoria opened the gardens and state apartments to the public free of charge. It is no longer free (see ticket information) but is well worth a visit. The Hampton Court Palace estate includes 60 acres of formal gardens, requiring 200,000 flowering bulbs each year and another 40,000 plants grown in the nursery.
Hampton Court Palace
Telephone: +44 (0)20 3166 6000. Email. [email protected]. Public transport: Train: Hampton Court. By Road: Some parking is available at Hampton Court Palace at the cost of £3.50. Alternative parking is available nearby on Hampton Court Green at a cost of £3.00, Bushy Park free of charge, or at Hampton Court train station (please check at the ...
13 Places To Visit In Britain If You Love The Royal Family
Queen Anne, Edward the Confessor, Mary Queen of Scots, and Queen Elizabeth I are all buried here. St. Paul's Cathedral. Designed by famous architect Sir Christopher Wren, St. Paul's Cathedral in ...
Things to do
Step out of the door of the hotel and Hampton Court Palace is right there. Discover the intriguing history of King Henry VIII's Palace, wander around the stunning gardens, get lost in the maze and let the kids run around the Magic Garden. It's a wonderful place to visit for all of the family. We are fortunate enough to be neighbours!
Guide To Hampton Court Palace: Henry VIII's Royal Stomping Ground
Here's my guide to visiting the iconic Hampton Court Palace. The palace is one of the most famous landmarks in England and a must visit site near London. It's the perfect easy day trip from London. Hampton Court Palace is the world's greatest surviving medieval palace. And it has a deliciously rich and scandalous history as the playground of Henry VIII.
Attractions near Hampton Court Palace
Once at Hampton Court - for which you really need to allocate most of the day - there are a number of possibilities -. 1. Bushey Park is just across the road - Deer & Parakeets and playground if you are travellng with children plus links to Eisenhower and American Army in WWII, but not a a major attraction. 2.
Hotels near Hampton Court Palace, Kingston upon Thames
Mitre Hotel. Hotel in Kingston upon Thames (0.2 miles from Hampton Court Palace) Set on the River Thames opposite Hampton Court Palace, the Mitre Hotel has a rich history as a place to stay, dating back as far as Charles II in 1665. Show more. 8.6.
Visit Hampton Court Palace
31 March - 12 May 2024 (Closed 07 May) Daily: 10:00-17:30. Last admission: 16:30. There are temporary route closures in place around the palace. Check our opening times page for all closures before you visit. The Magic Garden opens at 11:00 on certain dates throughout the year.
10 Things To Know Before Visiting The Hampton Court Palace
The ice rink is open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:45 PM, with the entry closing at 8 PM. Grab tickets for skating at the ice rink here. The Hampton Court Book Club is a monthly member-only event that starts at 6:30 in the Weston room of the Clore Centre in the Barrack Block at Hampton Court Palace.
The Best Hotels To Book Near Hampton Court Palace UK
1. The Mitre. Hotel. Share. Add to Plan. Courtesy of the Mitre / Expedia. The Mitre dates from 1665, when King Charles II ordered that it be built as a "hostel for visitors to the Palace". It's been substantially altered since those times, yet it's still a place worthy of its aristocratic origins. The hotel's 21st-century makeover has ...
Hampton Court Palace Official Website
Hampton Court Gardens & Park. Cardinal Wolsey Conduits were laid in to bring water from Coombe Hill. Henry VIII At the time of his marriage to Anne Boleyn, and possibly under her influence with experience of more sophisticated Continental courts, the formal gardens were developed,…. Acquisition and Rebuilding of Hampton Court.
THE 10 BEST Restaurants Near Hampton Court Palace
3 Palace Gate Hampton Court Road. 0.1 miles from Hampton Court Palace. " Excellent meal " 04/14/2024. " Gorgeous place " 04/06/2024. Cuisines: Bar, British, Pub, Gastropub. Canela Cafe. #7 of 48 Restaurants in East Molesey. 131 reviews. 5 Creek Road.
9 Reasons Not To Miss Elegant Hampton Court Palace In London
9. The Restored Gardens Are Spectacular. Hampton Court's gardens are worth a visit on their own, especially in the summer when the flowers are in bloom and the massive rose garden smells heavenly. The Privy Garden of King William III is the authentic garden William would have had 300 years ago, had he lived.
How to travel to Hampton Court Palace
Trains. Hampton Court train station is located a five-minute walk from the palace. National Rail train services run from London Waterloo every 30 minutes, calling at Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Earlsfield, Wimbledon, Raynes Park, New Maldon, Berrylands, Surbiton, Thames Ditton and Hampton Court. Hampton Court station is in zone 6.
Itineraries
Tudor Kitchens (30 mins) Transport yourself back to the heyday of royal cooking and entertainment. Exit the Tudor kitchens and go right down the corridor, past the cellar to the. The Chapel Royal (10 mins) Visit the spot where kings and queens have worshipped for almost 500 years. Exit the Chapel Royal right and head towards Fountain Court.
Hampton Court Palace tickets
Hampton Court Palace tickets. Book a ticket in advance online or purchase tickets on the day at the ticket office. Ticket prices are different for peak and off peak visits. Peak visits: weekends, bank holidays and events; Off peak: weekday (excluding bank holidays) A ticket includes entry to: All open public areas of the palace

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