Hampton Court Palace 3hr tour: Henry VIII's & William III's intriguing Palaces

Antonio Verrio's artwork on the King's ceremonial staircase

Outside of the Real Tennis Court on the East Front

The longest herbaceous border in England? Could be!

Scraps, one of six dragons waiting to be found this summer!

The entrance to Henry's kitchens, the Tudor food factory

The magnificent hammer beam ceiling in the Great Hall

The old and the not quite so old side by side!

A good spot to admire Thomas Wolsey's elaborate chimneys

Hard to believe this used to be a fish pond!

Duration3h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Hampton Court Palace, the home of England's most notorious king Henry VIII, has tales of ghosts, executions and his expanding collection of wives! Perfect if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of central London, Hampton Court has something to please all the family.

There are two palaces to look round, Henry VIII's and William III's and the suite of Georgian rooms tell the tale of one of the most dysfunctional dynasties ever to take the throne of England. The stunning gardens, a maze and the chance to see the complicated game of real tennis in action, makes this a wonderful day out.

My name is Sandy and this private tour accommodates groups of up to 5 people only meaning everyone can feel comfortable throughout. Please buy your entry tickets to the Palace, which is an extra cost to my tour, in advance as this will make it easier on the day.

100% of my Trip Advisor/Viator reviews are graded 'Excellent' so I must be doing something right!

What's included

Sandy is a fun and professional local guide, accredited by the ITG and University of Westminster

Food and drinks
Gratuities
Transportation to/from attractions
Cost of entry tickets to Hampton Court Palace

What to expect

Hampton Court Palace
3h · Admission ticket not included

There is so much to see at Hampton Court! The main attraction is Henry VIII's palace including his magnificent Great Hall, the vast kitchens and the eerie Haunted Gallery where the ghost of one of Henry's wives has taken up residence; but there is a second palace at Hampton Court, that built for William III. A ceremonial staircase leads up to William's state apartments where there is a huge collection of weaponry, exquisite furnishings, a couple of optical illusions and some very peculiar etiquettes! If there's time, we can also fit some of the following into your tour: a wander through the apartments which belonged to the Georgians, perhaps the most dysfunctional dynasty ever to take the throne of England; watch the ancient, complicated sport of real tennis and explore some of the 60 acres of beautiful gardens including the largest and oldest productive grapevine in the world. There is so much to see, do and be enthralled by - you will not be disappointed!

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Please meet me (Sandy) at the end of the driveway in front of the West Front Gatehouse.
I suggest you buy your entry tickets to Hampton Court Palace online in advance which will make it easier on the day. These are in addition to the cost of the tour. https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace

End point

Please meet me (Sandy) at the end of the driveway in front of the West Front Gatehouse.
I suggest you buy your entry tickets to Hampton Court Palace online in advance which will make it easier on the day. These are in addition to the cost of the tour. https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
My name is Sandy and my aim is to give you the best experience you could possibly have so if you have any special requests, be sure to tell me what they are! If you need to go at a slower pace, or stop for a break midway through the tour, that will also be fine. There are plenty of places to sit during the tour and I will let you know where these are.
Please note I will ALWAYS make contact with you to finalise the details of the tour, so if you have not heard from me a week before the tour date, please contact me.
The tour will cover roughly 2 miles in total and last up to 3 hours
The tour will go ahead come rain or shine so please don't be put off by the weather. Do wear comfortable shoes and clothing and, if needs be, bring waterproofs and an umbrella.
Due to uneven surfaces, and an unreliable lift used to take customers to the first floor, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair. Visitors must be able to cope with stairs and so this tour is not suitable for anyone with serious medical conditions and back problems.
When you turn into the palace grounds from the main road, follow the driveway with grassy stretches on either side and I will meet you at the end of the drive in front of the West Front Gatehouse
The tour starts at 10.00 a.m. but once a firm booking has been made, the start time can be adjusted to fit with your arrival time at the palace.
If you need directions to travel to Hampton Court from your hotel, please contact me on [email protected]
100% of my Trip Advisor/Viator reviews are graded 'excellent' and as I now have over 175+ reviews in total, I must be doing something right!
I prefer to guide small groups of up to five family or friends. This way, everyone can hear what I'm saying in the sometimes narrow corridors of Henry's haunted palace. Also, everyone can feel relaxed enough to ask as many questions as they want to.
I only accept bookings directly from customers. Any bookings made by a travel agent on behalf of a customer will be cancelled.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

5.0 (100)