Touring Hampton Court Palace
If you’re a fan of the Tudor era and remember the joys of reciting the school mnemonic rhyme of Henry VIII’s wives, then visiting Hampton Court Palace is your history lessons come to life! Once home to the famous figure of the Tudor times and King, Henry VIII and his six wives, Hampton Court Palace is an exciting door into his life, his world, and for those of service to him. Whether you have an initial interest in visiting or already have it as part of your family plans—here’s an easy-to-read list of what to see on your visit to the 500-year-old palace.
Get your complimentary Audio guide
To begin your exploration of the palace, grab yourself a free audio guide inside the souvenir shop. You’ll want to make this your first priority as audio guides may be limited if the palace is busy on the day of your visit. The audio guides will cover every aspect of the palace, history, and use—even for TV! So be sure to enrich your experience.
British Sign Language (BSL)
Dutch (Nederlands)
French (Français)
German (Deutsch)
Italian (Italiano)
Japanese (日本語)
Korean (한국어)
Chinese Mandarin (文)
Russian (Pусский)
Spanish (Español)
Henry VIII’s Tudor Kitchens
The Tudor kitchens have some fascinating facts you may be unaware of as you explore this once busy kitchen. Imagine a total of 200 cooks, in some areas boiling heat and sweat while the logs from the fire cook the meats, the lines of soup in pots being heated, the back and forth movement of new produce coming in and others getting prepped for the feast of the day while the pressure mounts for all the cooks as they cook 800 meals for the staff and Henry VIII households.
The Chocolate Kitchens
Did you know hot chocolate was a delicious drink from the past? At the time of the ruling Georgian Kings, chocolate was a daily treat enjoyed by those in authority. Freshly roasted and grounded cocoa beans, with sugar and imported spices, were all put together in a tailored kitchen in the Baroque building, fit for the taste buds of serving kings at Hampton Court Palace.
The Chocolate Room
The State Apartments
William III
The apartments are sure to be the highlight of your experience! The most exciting part of visiting Hampton Court Palace. Each and every room will have its own character and symbolism, so be sure to have headphones to wear on your audio guide. Starting with William III’s apartments, you’ll enjoy a mixture of Baroque design, real fine art paintings of royals, and a great royal collection which you can get up close to enjoy!
As you make your way up the William III’s apartments, you’ll be met by the Grand Staircase, which has a vibrant painting of Alexander’s victory over the Caesars. As you venture across the apartments, you’ll come across the Guard Chamber—fashionably adorned in weapons, the official throne room, called the Presence Chamber, the privy chamber with a grand view of the privy garden, and much more!
Hampton Court Palace Half-Day Trip from London Including Entry Tickets
From £72
Your Hampton Court Palace tour includes entry tickets and transportation, giving you the freedom to explore its historic halls, opulent state apartments and gardens at your own pace. Walk in the footsteps of King Henry VIII.
Henry VIII
Henry VIII’s apartments follow the theme of the Gothic style, with the consistent traits of dark timber and dressings of tapestries along the walls. Political power with a haunted history represent the apartments. The Great Hall, perhaps one of Henry VIII’s popular places to demonstrate his glory, was a place of entertainment as well as for those of the household to have their meals. On a scarier note, it’s said that Catherine Howard haunts the route Henry VIII used to take to Chapel Royal at Hampton Court.
A route that Catherine Howard would apparently run down screaming to supposedly plead for innocence before Henry. That route is now full of Tudor portraits of past monarchs to enjoy. Connected to the Haunted Gallery are the Great Watching Chamber and Council Chamber. If you’d like to feel the political tension of Henry’s era regarding the Church of England and his wives, then you will love the loud audio re-enactment.
The Great Hall
Chapel Royal
Be sure to step inside the Chapel Royal, a truly stunning space that is still used for worship today. It was here that Henry VIII heard the devastating news of Catherine Howard’s alleged adultery. The chapel’s magnificent blue and gold ceiling, installed for Henry VIII, is a breath-taking example of Tudor craftsmanship that has survived for centuries.
The Gardens
After exploring the palace’s interiors, take a breath of fresh air and wander through the magnificent Gardens, which cover over 60 acres! You can start in the beautifully restored, formal Privy Gardens, which were Henry VIII’s private pleasure garden and today offer stunning symmetry and views back to the palace, before moving to the tranquil and colourful Pond Gardens, once medieval fishponds but now a sheltered spot for exotic plants. For a delightful sensory experience, wander through the fragrant Rose Gardens, especially lovely in summer bloom, and don’t forget the famous Hampton Court Maze in the Wilderness area, originally planted for William III—a fun, traditional challenge to end your royal day out!
Privy Garden
Pond Gardens
Privy Garden
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