Hampton Court Palace

Visit Hampton Court Palace with Go City®

• With us, there are no entry fees on the day – all you've got to do is show your pass.
• Access to the palace, maze and gardens.
• Free multi-language audio guide.
• Historical re-enactments and admission to exhibitions.
• 10% discount at the on-site catering outlets when people show their passes.

This magnificent Tudor palace looks like it was plucked from the pages of a storybook. Hampton Court was Henry VIII's favourite royal hangout, and it was lavishly decorated by two luxury-loving kings, so you can expect priceless paintings, fine tapestries and gold just about everywhere. There are even a couple of resident ghosts to look out for as you're touring the haunted rooms.

Explore the private royal apartments, the chapel, and the Tudor kitchens which were built to feed over 1,000 court staff. See a replica of Henry VIII's crown in the Royal Pew and step into the Great Hall where some of Shakespeare's plays were performed for the first time. Once you've explored the palace interiors, head outside to enjoy the impressive manicured gardens and get lost in the world-famous hedge maze.

Hampton Court Highlights

Hampton Court Gardens – the entire park covers 750 acres and the gardens cover 60 acres. Here you'll find the Great Vine, the Privy Garden which is a recreation of the 1702 garden for King William III, and Home Park which is home to deer and wild birds. There's also the famous palace maze – originally planted in 1690, it's made up of half a mile of winding passages between 7ft high yew tree hedges.

The Great Vine – originally planted in 1769, the vineyard has long been a highlight of Hampton Court Palace. The vine still produces an annual crop of grapes which are usually ripe after the August Bank Holiday.

Chapel Royal – the palace's chapel still delivers traditional services throughout the year and is a striking example of baroque architecture. It was here in 1540 where Archbishop Canmer presented Henry VIII with the letter accusing his fifth wife Katherine Howard of adultery.

Tudor Kitchens – Hampton Court Palace was already considered a modern palace when it was first built, complete with a 36,000 square foot kitchen. It was continuously expanded between 1530 and 1737, and was said to cater to over 600 people twice a day, as well as prepare huge royal banquets.

Tennis Courts – the first tennis court at Hampton Court Palace was built for Cardinal Wolsey in the 16th century. Henry VIII was a keen tennis player who loved getting out on the court. The court's viewing gallery is only open to the public during the summer months.

Did You Know

• Hampton Court Palace is rumoured to be haunted by a screaming female ghost, thought to be the ill-fated fifth wife of Henry VIII – Katherine Howard.
• William Shakespeare and his company the King's Men performed several places for King James I in the Great Hall.
• Three of the walls surrounding the original tennis court date back to the 17th century, one being an original of Cardinal Wolsey's time.
• The only wife of Henry VIII who survived the marriage without execution, divorce or death was Catherine Parr, who Henry married at Hampton Court Palace in 1543.