Hampton Court Palace is one of the UK’s best preserved royal palaces and a must-see for any history buff. Located in East Molesey, Surrey, this magnificent palace and its grounds hold over 500 years of history and can make for an enjoyable day out.
Boasting gorgeous gardens, impressive artwork, and a collection of fascinating historical artefacts, the past is brought to life here and there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
So, if you’re thinking of visiting, here are seven things to do at Hampton Court Palace, as well as a brief look into its history.
The history of Hampton Court Palace
The Tudor palace
Hampton Court Palace was built in the early 16th century by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. As Lord Chancellor, Wolsey was a key figure in Henry VIII’s government. At Hampton Court, Wolsey spent vast sums of money transforming what had been a country house into a grand palace.
Henry VIII was so impressed with the result that he seized the palace for himself just four years after it was completed. Within six months, the palace had quadrupled in size and the king used it to host courtiers, throw decadent banquets, and flaunt his power. All six of Henry VIII’s wives spent time at Hampton Court.
The Stuart palace
Royal use of the palace continued after the Tudor dynasty ended and the Stuarts came to power. Just like their forebears, the Stuarts enjoyed the palace’s luxuries and a number of significant moments took place during this period. Notably, James I hosted the 1604 Hampton Court Conference which led to the publication of the King James Bible in 1611 (an English translation of the Bible for the Church of England).
In 1689, William III and Mary II were crowned joint sovereigns. This ushered in a new era for the palace as they appointed the acclaimed architect Christopher Wren to expand the complex by building an additional baroque palace. William and Mary also transformed the gardens into the beautiful spectacle that we see today.
The Georgian palace
After the Tudors and Stuarts, England’s Georgian monarchs also spent time at Hampton Court, and both George I and George II added their own touches to the palace. Among other things, they transformed the Tudor tennis court into a grand assembly room and commissioned artist William Kent to lavishly decorate the walls of the Queen’s Stairs.
The palace today
In 1737, use of the palace as a royal residence came to an end. Instead, its apartments were used as lodgings until around the 1960s (mainly by widows of those who’d served the king). Though, residents often complained that it was cold and damp.
The palace was opened to the public in 1838 by Queen Victoria and by 1881 over 10 million people had visited. The desire to explore such a majestic site continues today as over one million visitors flock to Hampton Court each year.
7 things to do at Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace sits on a pretty stretch of the River Thames and is a Grade I listed building. The site covers 750 acres and, as you explore, you’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in British history.
We’ll cover some of the best things to see and do at Hampton Court Palace below.
Note: If you’d like to visit Hampton Court Palace, it’s recommended that you pre-book tickets. To do so, head over to the Historic Royal Palaces website. Alternatively, you can find free virtual tours of much of the palace online. For example, take a virtual tour of the Tudor palace here.
1. Glimpse the inner workings of Henry VIII’s kitchen
Henry VIII’s Royal Kitchens are well worth exploring on a visit to Hampton Court. After Henry VIII took ownership of the palace, the kitchens were enlarged and spread over 55 rooms. This made them the largest kitchens in Tudor England – and they were the centre of palace life.
Around 200 people worked here and when Henry VIII’s court was in residence, they’d be required to feed over 450 people twice a day. To do so, the Great Kitchen had six fireplaces to spit-roast meat and around 1.3 million logs were burnt each year.
This made it a very hot place to work in – so hot in fact that Henry had to order the servants to stop working naked!
Today, you can wander through the kitchen labyrinth and check out the equipment that was used hundreds of years ago. If you visit at the weekend, you can enjoy an authentic Tudor experience as expert historical cooks whip up original Tudor recipes.
If you have a sweet tooth, you might also be interested in visiting the Chocolate Kitchen. This was added by Christopher Wren in the 1690s for William and Mary, who frequently drank chocolate with their breakfast. Chocolate was a luxury only few in England could afford, so the Chocolate Kitchen and adjoining Chocolate Room demonstrated the royal couple’s wealth and status.
2. Stroll the magnificent gardens
Many people say that the gardens are a highlight of their visit to Hampton Court Palace. With 60 acres of formal gardens, there’s so much to discover and it’s a wonderful place for a peaceful stroll. Queen Elizabeth I herself used to order the windows facing the gardens be covered so that she was free to “walk secretly all hours and times.”
One of the most popular parts of the gardens is the UK’s oldest surviving hedge maze. Commissioned by William III around 1700, the hedge is fun to complete whatever your age.
Another of the garden’s record-holding features is the Great Vine – the largest and oldest grape vine in the world. The Privy Garden has been restored to what it would’ve looked like in 1702; and in the Kitchen Garden you can see where fruit and vegetables have been grown to feed palace residents for over 160 years.
Other highlights include a beautiful rose garden, the Royal Tennis Courts, and Queen Mary II’s prized Orangery. If you’re visiting with children, one of the latest additions to Hampton Court Palace is a Tudor-inspired Magic Garden playground, unveiled by Catherine, Princess of Wales, in 2016.
When you’re in the gardens, make sure to look up and admire the palace’s chimneys. Hampton Court boasts the largest collection of decorative brick chimneys in England. Two hundred and forty one dot the roofline and with their beautiful and intricate carvings, it’s said that no two chimneys are the same.
Fun Fact: Hampton Court Palace and Gardens have been used as a filming location for countless films and TV shows. Try to spot the gardens in Bridgerton, The Great, and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!
3. Explore Henry VIII and William III’s apartments
If you love Tudor history, Henry VIII’s private apartments are a must-see. Only those closest to the king would’ve been allowed into the apartments, so they provide a unique glimpse into his private life.
In the Great Watching Chamber, look out for the emblem of Henry VIII’s third wife, Jane Seymour, on the gilded ceiling (a phoenix above a flaming tower). You’ll also walk through the Wolsey Closet which has an original Tudor fireplace and displays one of the few surviving portraits of Henry VIII painted in his lifetime.
On the other side of the palace, you’ll find William III’s apartments, which some consider to be the best remaining example of baroque apartments in the world. Decorated as they were in the 1700s, you’ll find a huge weapons collection, the Great Bedchamber, and the throne room (where people were expected to bow even if the king wasn’t there!).
4. Discover the palace’s spookier side
While it was designed to be a place of entertainment and rest, the palace also has a darker side.
In 1537, Jane Seymour died here two weeks after giving birth to Edward VI. It’s rumoured that each year on the anniversary of her death, her ghost, a ‘white wraith’, can be seen.
The ghost of Henry’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard (who was beheaded in 1542 for adultery), is also said to wander the ‘Haunted Gallery’. When Catherine learnt of the accusations against her, it’s believed she ran down the processional route (now the gallery) to find Henry and beg for mercy. Guards stopped her just as she reached the door. People have reported hearing her screams.
If you’re a fan of Halloween, you could attend a 15-minute Halloween talk from one of the palace hosts, running from 2nd-25th October 2024. Or, why not visit the palace during October half-term for a family-friendly Halloween adventure?
5. Admire The Great Hall
The Great Hall is one of the palace’s most impressive rooms with its extravagant tapestries, colourful stained glass windows, and hammerbeam roof.
While initially a place for servants to eat, and then part of Henry VIII’s apartments complex, by the early-1700s the hall was transformed into a permanent theatre. William Shakespeare’s acting company was invited here on numerous occasions during James I’s reign, performing Hamlet, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The Great Hall also holds reminders of Henry’s second wife, Anne Boleyn. To celebrate their marriage in 1533, carpenters engraved Anne’s coat-of-arms into the roof and entwined the letters ‘H’ and ‘A’. After her execution, almost all evidence of her was destroyed, so these are one of the few lasting artefacts of the couple’s time together.
6. Be inspired in the Cumberland Art Gallery
Hampton Court has a long legacy as a place to see marvellous art. Historically, the royals who lived here collected art to decorate their personal apartments. And, today, Cumberland Art Gallery is chock-full of hundreds of these masterpieces – some remaining in their original spots.
The gallery is situated in the suite of William Augustus, George II’s youngest son, which was designed in the 1730s by William Kent. The rooms have been restored to their original appearance.
Gallery highlights include Caravaggio’s The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew and Rembrandt’s The Artist’s Mother.
Note: There’s also a second gallery at Hampton Court Palace called the Mantegna Gallery. It houses Mantegna’s The Triumphs of Caesar paintings which are treasured pieces from the Italian Renaissance. However, unfortunately, this gallery is closed for maintenance until 2026.
7. Attend a festival
If you’re not a history buff, you might be more interested in the various festivals that are held at Hampton Court Palace throughout the year.
The RHS Garden Festival runs here each summer. Featuring stunning show gardens, inspirational talks and workshops, and hundreds of flower stands, it can make a lovely day out and offer a different way to explore the grounds.
The Palace Music Festival is another popular summer event. This June, artists including Tom Jones and Nile Rodgers took to the stage in the historic Base Court.
Then, in the winter, Hampton Court runs a magical Festive Fayre. With over 100 stalls selling artisan produce, tasty food and drink, and an ice skating rink, it’s the ideal place to get into the Christmas spirit. This year, the Fayre will run from 6th-8th and 13th-15th December.
To discover more of the palace’s upcoming events, head over to the Historic Royal Palaces website.
Final thoughts…
The UK is filled with historic places to visit, and one of the very best is Hampton Court Palace. With glorious gardens, spectacular architecture, and an abundance of history, you won’t run out of things to see and do on a visit here.
Plus, if you’re looking to dive deeper into the past, guided tours and audio guides are available. To book tickets and plan your visit, head over to the Historic Royal Palaces website.
Or for more day-trip ideas, check out our article; 12 historic sites with Tudor connections.
Have you visited Hampton Court Palace? Or has this article inspired you to plan a trip? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!