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Hampton Court Palace is two palaces in one: Tudor drama and Baroque showpiece, joined beside the Thames. Explore Wolsey's and Henry VIII's vast kitchens and Great Hall, where tapestries glint under a hammerbeam roof. Cross to Wren's Fountain Court for William and Mary's airy, French-tinged apartments. Outside, formal gardens stretch to the river; the famous yew Maze still confounds. Don't miss the astronomical clock in Clock Court-its gilded dial tracks tides as well as hours. Audio routes keep the stories clear for all ages. Plan a half-day: palace first, picnic or café, then gardens and Maze. Trains from Waterloo make it easy; arrive early in summer for cooler rooms and lighter crowds.
