Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace, situated along the banks of the River Thames, takes you on a journey through history back to the time of Henry VIII. An icon of English heritage, Hampton Court is a must on your UK sightseeing trip.

Discover the immaculate riverside gardens and world-famous maze at Hampton Court Palace, as well as the wonders of the palace itself.This majestic palace was built by Cardinal Wolsey, and Henry VIII turned it into a royal palace after the Cardinal was forced to give up ownership of the palace to the King.

For almost 200 years, Hampton Court Palace was at the centre of court life, politics, and national history.The history of Hampton Court is filled with stories of mystery and intrigue, including stories of the ghosts of Jane Seymour, Catherine Howard, and Anne Boleyn roaming its halls.

It was at Hampton Court Palace that James I presided at the Hampton Court Conference, resulting in the institution of the authorized King James version of the Bible.Charles I was brought here during the Civil War as a prisoner of Oliver Cromwell’s army, but managed to escape after almost three months of imprisonment.Oliver Cromwell himself eventually lived at Hampton Court Palace.

It was first opened to the public by Queen Victoria in 1838.Visitors can take a step back in time and see what it was like to live at Hampton Court Palace during Henry VIII’s time.There are free tours and presentations by costumed guides in the State Apartments, where you can learn about life at court and the colorful characters who lived at Hampton Court, listen to a sound guide, which walks you through the State Apartments, bringing them to life with a wealth of information and anecdotes, or you can take a walk around on your own and discover Hampton Court’s rich history for yourself – whichever way you choose, you will enjoy your experience at Hampton Court Palace.

The buildings of Hampton Court Palace cover 6 acres, and there are many courtyards and cloisters to explore.You can see Henry VIII’s State Apartments, which still survive today.The King’s Apartments, from the time of William III, are some of the finest and most important Baroque state apartments in the world.Be sure to see the Queen’s State Apartments, which took 30 years to complete.You can enjoy some of the more spectacular interiors of the palace here.The Georgian Rooms show you a more relaxed, informal, and domestic side of palace life.

The Tudor Kitchens at Hampton Court Palace give you a feel for what it was like to prepare a meal for hundreds of people, with real smells, sounds, and huge roasting fires.Take a step back in time and imagine yourself using these grand kitchens!

Make sure you leave enough time to enjoy Hampton Court’s splendid gardens.You can enjoy the Privy Garden, the king’s private garden, which has recently been restored to the way it appeared when it was completed for William III in 1702.Also be sure to see the Great Vine, the oldest known vine in the world, which produces 500-700 pounds of grapes per year!

Complete your journey at Hampton Court Palace by visiting the Royal Tennis Court, and then lose yourself in its famous maze, whose paths amount to nearly half a mile!

Planning your visit to Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace has six visitor routes, 60 acres of landscaped gardens and some of the finest works of art in England. It is open from 10am to 6pm during summer and from 10am to 4.30pm in winter.