Hampton Court Palace

Overview

Experience the public dramas and private lives of Henry VIII, his wives and their children in the world of the Tudor court. Admire Great Hall and Tudor kitchens, and discover the spectacular baroque palace built for William III and Mary II. Explore 60 acres of magnificent gardens and the popular Magic Garden adventure playground.

The Great Hall
Sitting at the heart of the Tudor Palace, the Great Hall towers over the surrounding buildings. Commission by King Henry VII, the grandeur and size of the Great Hall remains impressive even today.

The Magic Garden - Let the adventure begin.
Hidden within the grounds of Hampton Court Palace is an extraordinary secret garden designed for little ones to adventure in. Here, they can come face to face with mysterious mythical beasts, storm the battlements, besiege the towers and more. It’s the perfect way for children under the age of 12 to explore history and storytelling in a safe, fun environment as part of their visit to Henry VIII’s famous palace and 60 acre gardens.

Henry VIII’s Kitchens
See Henry VIII’s Kitchens and transport yourself back to the heydey of Tudor cooking and entertainment.
Henry VIII's Kitchens at Hampton Court Palace were the largest of Tudor England. 200 cooks, sergeants, grooms and pages worked to produce over 800 meals a day for the hungry household of Henry VIII.

The State Apartments and private rooms of William III (1689-1702)
Wander through the world of William III, who ruled alongside Mary II as England's first and only joint sovereigns.
The King’s Apartments were commissioned by William as part of Hampton Court’s transformation into an elegant Baroque palace, while the Queen’s Apartments were begun as a counterpart for Mary II (though they were not completed until long after her death).
These rooms may look empty to modern eyes but they would once have been filled with beautifully dressed courtiers meeting, gossiping and playing politics. Imagine yourself entering William's court.

The Maze
Enter the UK's oldest hedge maze. Commissioned by William III in 1700, it is a third of an acre in size with many twists and turns, and dead ends. It takes visitors an average of 20 minutes to reach the centre.
The Maze was designed by George London and Henry Wise and is trapezoid in shape. Originally planted using hornbeam, it was later replanted using yew. It is referred to as a multicursal or puzzle maze.

Beano Havoc at Hampton Court Palace (25 July - 23 August 2026)
Calling all kids! Dennis and his pals from Beanotown need your help this summer.
Dennis, Minnie, Harsha, Rubi and Gnasher were late for their Bash Street School trip to Henry VIII's palace. To save the day, Dennis has turned his go-kart into a time machine with Rubi's flux capacitor - but "whoops"! it has malfunctioned and crash-landed in Hampton Court Palace. Now the timeline's in a right royal muddle and Henry VIII is not amused. It's utter chaos!
It's up to YOU to help the Beano friends fix their busted time machine. Grab your special Hampton Court Palace Beano comic strip story on arrival, packed with clues to track down the missing pieces scattered around the palace. Keep your eyes peeled for real-life Hampton Court Palace history-makers who've been 'court up' in the chaos.

Usual Opening Hours
Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 - 17:30. Last admission: 16:30 (except the below dates)
Closed Monday and Tuesday (except during peak dates when the palace is open daily)


CLOSURES
- The Mantegna Gallery is closed until Spring 2027. Two paintings from The Triumphs of Caesar can be seen in The Georgian Story during this time
- The Chapel Royal can be viewed only from The Royal Pew every day. The Chapel will remain open for services only
- From 28 November 2026, much of Hampton Court Palace is transformed into the Winter Palace experience. For visitors who prefer to explore the Palace’s history without the festive displays, a selection of historic routes will remain available