Heritage > Historic Houses

Hampton Court Palace

Location

Hampton Court Palace, Surrey KT8 9AU

From M25/J15 and A312, or M25/J12 and A308, or M25/J10 and A307.


History

The splendour of Cardinal Wolsey's house, begun in 1514, surpasses that of many a Royal Palace, so it was not surprising that Henry VIII at first coveted, then obtained it prior to Wolsey's fall from power.

Henry VIII enlarged it; Charles I lived in it as a prisoner; Charles II repaired it; William III and Mary II rebuilt it to a design by Sir Christopher Wren, and Queen Victoria opened it to the public. Today the beauty of Wren's building is combined with the finest Tudor architecture in Britain.

Costumed guides give lively and informative tours of the sumptuous interiors of the Kings' Apartments, giving a unique insight into the daily lives of the Kings and their courtiers, and entertaining it with tales of the etiquette and gossip of court life throughout the centuries.

The Chapel Royal is a stunning example of the Palace's rich interiors, while the Great Hall is still decorated with Henry VIII's priceless Flemish tapestries. Hampton Court is also home to important Renaissance paintings from the collection of HM The Queen.

The 16th century Tudor kitchens are the finest of their date anywhere in the world. They once cooked for over a thousand people a day, and are laid out as if a feast is being prepared, with a roaring log fire and boiling cauldrons.

Hampton Court is set in sixty acres of beautiful Tudor, Baroque and Victorian gardens, which feature the famous maze, and the Great Vine, the oldest and largest grapevine in the world, believed to have been planted in 1768 by 'Capability' Brown.

With its five hundred years of Royal history, Hampton Court Palace is a living tapestry portraying the life and times from Henry VIII to George II. It is both visually and historically interesting, and a visit here has something for everyone.


Facilities & Amenities

Shops and Information Centre.

Motorised buggies are available upon request at main entrance. Disabled WCs.

Tiltyard tearooms and Queen Elizabeth's Privy Kitchen.

Costumed guides give tours of the State Apartments.

Parking available.

School groups welcome. Rates on request.



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