Hampton Court Palace began as Cardinal Wolsey’s country residence before Henry VIII took it over and expanded it into one of the grandest palaces in Tudor England. Sitting on the banks of the Thames southwest of London, it later gained a second life under William and Mary, who added a baroque wing designed by Christopher Wren, so the palace today is really two buildings in one — Tudor grandeur on one side, elegant English baroque on the other.
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Top-Rated Hampton Court Palace Tours & Tickets
What to See and Do
The Tudor Kitchens
Restored to working order, these vast kitchens once fed hundreds of members of the royal court daily, and walking through them gives a rare, tangible sense of the sheer scale of provisioning a Tudor royal household.
Henry VIII’s State Apartments
The Great Hall, with its hammerbeam roof and tapestries, anchors this wing, alongside rooms connected to Henry’s numerous wives and the dramatic politics of his court.
The Hampton Court Maze
Planted in the seventeenth century, this hedge maze remains one of the oldest surviving in the world and is still genuinely tricky to navigate — a favorite stop for families and anyone wanting a break from gallery-walking.
The Privy Garden and Great Vine
The palace’s restored formal gardens, along with an enormous grapevine planted in the eighteenth century that still produces fruit today, offer a slower, greener counterpoint to the palace interiors.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and summer show the gardens at their best and allow time to properly explore the maze and grounds without rushing, though the palace is a satisfying visit in any season given how much is under cover. Weekday visits are generally quieter than weekends, particularly during school holidays.
How to Get There
Hampton Court has its own train station with direct services from London Waterloo, taking roughly half an hour, and it’s also reachable by riverboat along the Thames for a scenic, if slower, approach.
Good to Know
Budget at least three hours to see the state apartments, kitchens, gardens, and maze without feeling rushed, and note that costumed interpreters in some rooms add historical context through the day. Tickets booked online in advance are typically cheaper and faster than buying at the gate.
Final Thoughts
Hampton Court Palace offers a rare side-by-side look at two very different eras of English royal life under one roof, all set within genuinely impressive gardens. It’s one of the best half-day escapes from central London.
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