The flamboyant Henry VIII is most associated with this majestic palace, extended and developed in grand style after he acquired it from Cardinal Wolsey in the 1520’s. However the elegance and romance of the palace owes much to the Baroque buildings commission by William III and Mary II at the end of the 17th century.
Explore Henry’s magnificent State Apartments, feel the heat of the vast Tudor Kitchens, the eerie chill of the Haunted Gallery and then stroll through the elegant Baroque Apartments and glorious formal gardens before disappearing into the Maze, where whispers of the past will haunt every step to the centre of this topiary puzzle.
At Hampton Court Palace in 2008 you can discover Young Henry, a fascinating permanent exhibition uncovering the stereotypes that have over shadowed the true characters and stories of Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey and Katherine of Aragon for centuries.
Everyday at the palace the history and enchanting stories are brought to life by our costumed guides, find out what tickled a Tudor’s taste buds as your senses are sent wild with the smell of the boiling beef, sound of bubbling cauldrons and feel the heat of the fire as a banquet is prepared for the king!
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| Opening times: | Winter (Mon - Sun):10.00-16.30 Summer (Mon - Sun):10.00-18.00 Both informal and formal gardens open from 10am-early eve. |
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Latest 5 reviews of Hampton Court Palace
Very pretty and calm
This is really easy to find. You can take the southwest train from Waterloo to Hampton Court. When you get out of the train station, walk over the Thames River and the Palace is on the right side. The gardens are beautiful and everything is kept up wonderfully.
Most Beautiful Garden I Ever Saw
I visited Hampton Court a few weeks ago. I was staying in London and it took about an hour to get to the palace. The buildings and structures were pretty. I didn't not take a guided tour, but instead walked around with my group and we still learned and enjoyed the insides. One bad thing is that you can't take pictures inside the palace. The cafe was very good. I had strawberries and they were so fresh. The scones with jam were good, too. It was a bit expensive though. The gardens were amazing. I sat and admired them for about an hour. It was very quiet and nice. The flowers and trees are so colorful and well kept. I did the hedge maze, it was easy but fun. I recommend that you go spend some time at Hampton Court. The history of the place is interesting and the gardens are fabulous.
Definitely make the trip here
Staying with locals in Woking, we had originally discussed going to Windsor but settled on Hampton because it was a little bit cheaper and seemed like there was more to do. And there was!
The palace itself was incredibly interesting- who knew they needed a public bed and a private one? The kitchens and other displays, included period dressed employees, brought the history to life.
The gardens were probably the most spectacular part- in May especially, they were in full bloom. I was blown away at how vivid the colors were, and how painstaking the current staff must be in taking care of it all.
We stayed almost four hours, including doing the maze, walking around the entire gardens and throughout the palace. We got our money's worth as there is a lot to see!
Pain to get to but worth a day's trip!
IT's a bit hassly getting to Hampton Court Palace but once you get there it's pretty amazing!
Place is filled with so much history and stunning architecture. The gardens are very pretty and the tours are somewhat entertaining.
Set aside a day to spend there and enjoying the spaciousness and greenery which is seldom seen in London itself!
Pricey, but worthwhile
Hampton Court is a architectural hotch potch of a place, part tudor part later period baroque. We spent 3 hours here as we were on a schedule, but you could easily stay longer if you wanted to. Audio guides are inlcuded in the L13 adult admission fee (as of nov 2007)
Highlights were the remarkably intact Tudor kitchens and indeed all of the Tudor wing. I thought the georgian rooms were a little less impressive. Nothing out of the ordinary when you have visited a few houses of this type. BUT Wren's south front is very impressive from the exterior and the gardens are magnificent.
On the whole i'd recommend a visit to this place over Buckingham Palace, there is much more history here. But L13 is a bit steep.
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Gardens Exhibition Special event
1 Mar 2008 to 31 Dec 2008
Situated adjacent to the East Front Gardens, this new exhibition will help visitors understand the evolution of the historic Royal gardens at Hampton Court, from their Tudor beginnings in the early 16th Century right up to the present day.Young Henry VIII Exhibition Exhibition
1 Mar 2008 to 31 Dec 2008
An exhibition exploring the stereotypes that have overshadowed the true characters and stories of Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey and Katherine of Aragon for centuries. Historic paintings from the Royal Collection, together with audio-visual and hands-on displays, will help you explore and discover a very different King Henry VIII.Guided Tours of Hampton Court Palace Guided walk
1 Mar 2008 to 31 Dec 2008
Be guided through 500 years of royal history by a costumed guide who will reveal the stories and the secrets of Hampton Court's former residents.The Royal School of Needlework Workshop
19 Apr 2008 to 25 Oct 2008
The RSN offers a Certificated Course which may be studied flexibly and can be started at any time through the year. The four core techniques are crewel work, canvaswork, silk shading and goldwork. Leisure classes are also offered so students may try new techniques or explore some areas in more detail.
Prices and Booking for Hampton Court Palace
Prices:
| Adult: | £13.30 full price |
|---|---|
| Adult online price: | £13.30 per ticket |
| Child under 5: | Free |
| Child (5 -15): | £6.65 child |
| Senior/Student (with valid id): | £11.30 concession |
| Senior Citizens online price: | £10.00 per ticket |
Location Information Hampton Court Palace
| Address: | Hampton Court Palace London KT8 9AU |
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| Telephone: | 0844 4827777 |
| Email: | events@hrp.org.uk |
| Website: | www.hrp.org.uk |
| Public transport: | Hampton Court - South West Trains run services direct from London Waterloo to Hampton Court. The journey takes only 35 minutes and the palace is a 2-minute walk across the bridge from the station. The train service passes through Wimbledon station, where the London Underground District Line begins. Hampton Court is in travel zone 6. Bus routes: 111*, 216*, 411*, 451, 461, R68, 416, 513. Riverboat: Riverboats run in the summer from Westminster, Richmond upon Thames and Kingston upon Thames. The journey from Westminster can take up to 4 hours, depending on the tides. For information services from Westminster and Kew, contact Westminster Passenger Services +44 (0)20 7930 2062 or www.wpsa.co.uk and for services from Richmond and Kingston, contact Turks Launches on +44 (0)20 8546 2434 or www.turks.co.uk/tl/tl.html. |
| By road: | The palace is located on the A308 and is well signposted from all the major local roads; drivers should follow the brown tourist attraction road signs. From the M25 take either exit 10 on to the A307 or exit 12 on to the A308. The palace is also accessible via the A3 and then the A309. For a map to help you plan your journey, visit www.multimap.com. Some parking is available at Hampton Court Palace at the cost of £3.50. Alternative parking is available nearby on Hampton Court Green at a cost of £3.00, Bushy Park free of charge, or at Hampton Court train station (please check at the station for pricing details). |
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