Hampton Court Palace

• Visit the astounding home of Henry VIII and learn all about the dramas of the Tudor court and the king’s six infamous wives.
• Discover the grandeur of the Great Hall, delve into the world of Tudor feasting at Henry VIII’s Kitchens and marvel at the beautiful Baroque palace.
• Hampton Court Palace also boasts 60 acres of expansive gardens to explore, including a mythical Magic Garden children’s playground and 300-year-old maze.
• Don’t miss the wonderful events held here throughout the year including the HCP Food Market, The Luna Cinema, Hampton Court Palace ice skating and Hampton Court Festival.
   

Set in the regal Richmond upon Thames, Hampton Court Palace has been a firm favourite with families for years. The Palace was the former home of King Henry VIII and a visit here will be sure to make you feel like a royal, with affluent apartments to peer into, a traditional Tudor Great Hall complete with exquisite tapestries, and an eerie Haunted Gallery to walk along - if you dare. In the largest Tudor Kitchens in England, you can experience what life was like for Henry VIII’s 200 cooks serving over 800 meals a day for the huge Hampton Court household!
 

Some of the best fun lies outside of the Palace walls, though, in Hampton Court Palace’s gardens. Between the 750 acres of gorgeous parkland and 60 acres of formal gardens, you’ll find the world’s oldest maze (which has been baffling visitors for 300 years!), tantalising Great Vine grapes and no end of wildlife to explore, including some descendants of the King’s beloved deer herd. For little adventurers, the Hampton Court Palace Magic Garden is a dream come true. This unique children’s playground invites imaginations to run wild with regal towers to defend, battlegrounds to lay siege on, mythical beasts to discover and even an enchanted secret grotto. Love an epic children's playground? Why not check out Kew Gardens too!

Hampton Court Palace is cared for by the Historic Royal Palaces and is still owned by Her Majesty The Queen. It was built in 1515 by Cardinal Wolsey, a favourite of King Henry VIII, who ended up bringing all six of his wives to the Palace. Hampton Court first opened to the public in the 19th century and has attracted hundreds of visitors every year since.‍

What to know before you go

• HCP offers BSL tours, audio guides and braille guides.
• Hampton Court Palace opening times are weekdays 10am - 4.30pm, and weekends 10am - 5pm. The last time slots for entry are at 3.30pm, and the Gardens close at 6pm daily.
• Toilets are currently open at the Base Court and Wilderness, both of which have disabled access and baby-changing facilities.
• The Tiltyard Cafe is currently open from 10.30am - 4.30pm, serving pastries, cakes and hot and cold drinks, and The Wilderness Kiosk is open from 11am - 4pm serving ice cream and snacks.
• There are plenty more places to eat near Hampton Court Palace; The Mute Swan pub is located near the ticket office, as well as Zizzi and Pizza Express restaurants just over the bridge. You are also welcome to bring your own picnic to enjoy in the East Front gardens.
• The Palace and Undercroft gift shops are open if you want to buy a souvenir.
• Only assistance dogs are allowed on the HCP grounds.
• Hampton Court Palace welcomes buggies and wheelchairs, but there are some uneven surfaces. Staff-operated lifts provide access to most exhibitions.

Getting there

• Hampton Court train station is a five-minute walk away, with National Rail services running from London Waterloo every 30 minutes. It is in Zone 6 and Oyster cards are accepted.
• Buses 111, 216, 411, 461 and 513 run from Kingston, and the R68 runs from Richmond.
• The nearest tube stations are Wimbledon and Richmond with connecting bus routes.
• If travelling by car, HCP is on the A308 and is well sign-posted with brown tourist signs.
• Hampton Court Palace parking is limited and their paid car park gets filled up quickly - it is £1.60 per hour. Hampton Court Green car park is 500m from the Palace, and more public car parks can be found in nearby Kingston upon Thames.