Welcome to Stately Homes

Discover the magnificence of the great Tudor King Henry VIII’s favourite royal residence, and the home of over five hundred years of fascinating history. It took just ten-years for Henry VIII to transform Hampton Court from a courtier’s country home into a magnificent royal residence. Much of his majestic Tudor palace still survives today, and is among the most important of its kind in existence.

Step back in time and marvel at the breathtaking splendour of the state room including the Great Hall, the Chapel Royal, and the infamous Haunted Gallery.

A palace of two halves - Henry VIII wasn’t the only monarch to leave his mark on Hampton Court. William III and Mary II commissioned Christopher Wren to transform the palace in the elegant baroque fashion. However, Wren’s grand designs were never completed leaving a palace of two halves; one Tudor, one baroque. Explore the opulent King’s and Queen’s ceremonial State Apartments and wander through the comparative intimacy of the Georgian Rooms.

The Tudor Kitchens - what tickled a Tudor’s taste buds? This is your chance to explore the fascinating, practical side of royal life in the enormous Tudor Kitchens, which are the most extensive surviving 16th-century kitchen in Europe today.

The gardens - relax in over 60 acres of beautiful gardens, which run down to the River Thames. Featuring sparkling fountains, the beautifully restored 18th-century Privy Gardens and the magnificent Maze. There is plenty of space to picnic on the Tiltyard gardens and don’t forget to visit the oldest and largest grape vine in the world at over 229 years young!

Highlights for 2007 - to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Andrea Mantegna’s death, The Triumphs of Caesar, often regarded as the artist’s finest works, have been re-presented. While this summer a new permanent exhibition about Young Henry will open in the Wolsey Rooms.

Bringing history to life - every day the history and enchanting stories of Hampton Court Palace are brought to life by their costumed guides.

Audio guides are included in your palace ticket and are available in a range of languages with first-hand accounts and stories of Henry VIII and many more.

Visit their Website for details about forthcoming live events and daily programmes.

Refreshments:

The Tiltyard Café and Privy Kitchen Coffee Shop provide a wide range of refreshments from morning coffee, salads, sandwiches and hot meals to delicious afternoon teas.

Brought a picnic? You are welcome to use any of the benches around the palace or the gardens and in the summer you will find ice-cream kiosks open in the palace grounds.

Hospitality:

Over the centuries the palace has hosted some of the most lavish celebrations ever seen. Today it provides a stunning variety of rooms for your entertaining needs from the Tudor Great Hall for a grand banquet or conference to a state apartment or the pretty Garden Room for an elegant wedding reception. William III’s Eating Room, where the King would sometimes dine in the presence of courtiers, is now available for intimate dinners of your own.

For further information about entertaining at Hampton Court Palace, visit their Website.

Opening Times - 2010:

Palace and Maze, Open daily
28th March 2010 - 30th October 2010: daily, 10 am - 6 pm (last admission 5 pm)
31st October 2010 - 26th March 2011: daily, 10 am - 4.30 pm (last admission 3.30 pm)
Closed: 24th - 26th December.

Admission Prices - 2010:

Adult - £14
Child (under 16yrs) - £6.65
Concessions - £11.50
Family (2+3) - £38

Group Bookings:
Adult - £12.60
Child (under 16yrs) - £6.30
Concessions - £10.35


How to get there:

Car: From the M25 take either exit 10 and the A307, or exit 12 and the A308. From central London take the A3 to the Hook underpass and then the A309. Parking is available on site.
Train: South West Trains, 30 minutes direct from London Waterloo
River: From Richmond or Kingston with Turk Launches (Apr –mid-Sept) Tel 0208 546 2434
From Westminster with Westminster Passenger Cruises (Apr-Sep) Tel 020 7930 2062
Bus: From Kingston Nos 111, 216, 411, 416, 451, 461, 513, and 726

Information line: +44 (0)870 752 7777

More information on the garden can be found on The Gardens Guide.

Images © Historic Royal Palaces