Historic Royal Palaces: Hampton Court Palace

A tale of two palaces, Hampton Court Palace is perhaps best known for being the home of England’s infamous King Henry VIII but also showcases the stunning Baroque palace built by William III and Mary II. Feast your eyes on the magnificent Great Hall of Henry VIII, where the entwined initials of Henry and Anne Boleyn can still be seen today. Reflect in the breath-taking Chapel Royal where Edward VI, the long-awaited son of Henry VIII was christened and feel the eerie chill of the Haunted Gallery. Be transported from Tudor England to 1689 as you venture through the sumptuous Baroque apartments evoking the age of elegance and grandeur before exploring the 60 acres of beautiful riverside and landscaped gardens.

A palace fit for a king
Walk in the footsteps of Henry VIII and explore the majestic Tudor State Apartments. Be dazzled by the spectacularly ornate Great Hall where feasts and other grand occasions would be held and sneak below stairs to discover the vast Tudor kitchens where extravagant meals were prepared. See if you can feel the presence of Katherine Howard as you tiptoe through the Haunted Gallery on the way to the breath-taking Chapel Royal where Henry VIII’s only son, Edward, was christened.

Baroque Palace
There is no doubt that the Tudor buildings are the most significant in existence, giving insight into the fascinating lives of those who once lived there. However, the elegance and romance of the palace owe much to the baroque building commissioned by William III and Mary II at the end of the 17th century. Explore the sumptuous and regal interiors of the King’s State Apartments and gaze out to the magnificent landscaped gardens. Be dazzled by the elegant decorations of the Queen’s State Apartments and see if you can spot the different influences of Queen Anne and the Hanoverians, George II and Queen Caroline. Adorned with glorious artworks and tapestries from The Royal Collection, they overlook the delightful Fountain Gardens on the east side of the palace.

The Cumberland Art Gallery
Discover some of the world’s most magnificent artworks in the beautifully restored suite of rooms originally designed for the Duke of Cumberland, the favourite son of George I. On display is a selection of The Royal Collection’s finest paintings: masterpieces by Holbein, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Bassano and Gainsborough, and other artists who worked for, or were collected by, four centuries of royal patrons.

The gardens
After exploring all that Hampton Court Palace has to offer, discover the world famous gardens. Relax in over 60 acres of stunning formal gardens fit for a king complete with sparkling fountains and over 200,000 flowering bulbs. Fun for all the family – work together to find your way out of the world’s oldest maze. If you manage to escape, be transported to a world of fairy tales in the Magic Garden where you will find towers to besiege, battlements to storm and even a 25 metre dragon!

Until March 24, they have a new exhibition exploring the story of Indian Army soldiers who camped at Hampton Court Palace in the early 20th century. The return of the Tulip Festival, with over 100,00 tulips across the palaces in 15 April – 6 May 24 dates subject to change depending .

Audio Guides are also available at Hampton Court Palace in multiple languages free of charge and they have now added the movie locations tour which features the Bridgerton series, Queen Charlotte as well as movie like Mission Impossible.

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