What Visitors Say
If you like history you will LOVE this. You get to see the kitchens and rooms upstairs. The have excellent signage about the different rooms and items, some presented in really clever ways that help make the information come alive without feeling "gimmicky" or intrusive. You can easily spend hours here. Lovely gift shop. If it's a sunny day definitely remember a hat and sunscreen so you can really walk around the beautiful grounds and gardens.
It took 4 hours for us just to skim the palace and eat food in cafe. Kid enjoyed the park next to cafe. I recommend to plan for whole day if you are visiting London for few days. Totally worth the visit. Lot of art to see inside and history to learn from, garden to enjoy. Most of all, cafe is great, lot of varieties of food, bakery and coffees. Wonderland for kids is amazing.
A fantastic place to visit. The thought that has gone into staging each room is excellent as it really helps you to gain a sense of the events and history of each room. Every member of staff was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Several went out of their way to help with our headset or to show us an interesting feature. The gardens were fabulous too. If you haven't been - go!
This historic palace offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of those who once called it home. Having watched the TV series The Tudors, which portrays the life and reign of Henry VIII, it was especially interesting to see the setting and atmosphere associated with that period of history. The interiors are truly regal and majestic. The rooms are beautifully decorated, and the attention to detail in the artwork, furnishings, and overall design is remarkable. The palace grounds are extensive and provide plenty of space for picnics, leisurely walks, and family activities. One of the highlights is the Magic Garden, a wonderful children's play area filled with swings, slides, and imaginative features. It reminded me of the whimsical world of Alice in Wonderland, particularly the Queen of Hearts' garden. During our visit, we were told that access to the Magic Garden was reserved for visitors accompanied by children, likely for safety and security reasons. Some of the gardens can also be hired for private events, making the venue suitable for special occasions as well as day visits. The palace is definitely worth the admission fee and makes for an excellent family day out. It is particularly convenient for those travelling without a car, as there is a bus stop located directly in front of the palace.
This is the centre for medieval entertainment! The palace itself is interesting, but the shows arranged in the gardens are truly unique. Jousting show is one of the highlights. It is designed with respect to history combined with a great sense of humor, and it is executed professionally by a team of stunt performers. The park also has a maze and hugely popular playgrounds for kids. Alltogether, it's good enough to keep family entertained for the whole day out, if weather permits.
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
Hampton Court’s Maze is the UK’s oldest surviving hedge maze, commissioned around 1700 for William III, and it was the first hedge-planted maze in Great Britain.
The current Royal Tennis Court was built for Charles I in 1625, but one of its external walls still survives from Cardinal Wolsey’s original court of 1526–29.
Hampton Court has the only surviving royal Chocolate Kitchen in Britain; its exact location was only pinned down in 2013 through an 18th-century palace inventory.
In 1871, workmen unearthed two male skeletons beneath a cloister in Fountain Court. A resident who had long complained of unexplained knocking said the disturbances stopped once the remains were properly interred.
The Great Vine, planted in 1768 under Capability Brown, is considered the largest grape vine in the world; its longest rod reaches 36.5 metres.
