Your Guide to a day trip at Hampton Court Palace
Where is Hampton Court Palace?
Hampton Court Palace is in Surrey in South East England, near Kingston.
Address:
Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU.
Getting to Hampton Court Palace
By Train
Hampton Court train station is located a five-minute walk from the Palace. National Rail train services run from London Waterloo every 30 minutes.
By Car
The Palace is on the A308 and is well signposted from all major local roads.
Follow the brown tourist attraction road signs:
- From the M25, take either exit 10 (onto the A307) or exit 12 (onto the A308).
- From the A3, take the A309.
Car Parking
Limited parking is available. Car parking is available on a first come, first served basis, with payment required on site. It is not possible to pre-book a parking space. We generally only manage to park here if we arrive first thing in the morning.
It costs £1.60 per hour to park.
Accessible Parking
There are nine disabled parking bays available on site. Parking on site is free for Blue Badge holders.
Parking Nearby
Hampton Court Green is located 500m from the entrance of the palace and is charged at £1.50 per hour.
Hampton Court Train Station (200 metres from entrance).
Bushy Park (15 minute walk): for more information, please visit the Royal Parks website.
Tickets for Hampton Court Palace
Dogs are not permitted within the palace gardens unless they are registered assistance dogs.
A ticket includes entry to:
- All open public areas of the palace
- The gardens, courtyards, the Maze and the Magic Garden. Access to the Magic Garden is on a strictly first come, first served basis and queuing is highly likely during peak periods.
Under 5s go free and do not need a ticket.
Adult (age 18-64) – £25.30
Child (age 5-15) – £12.60
Concessions (age 65+, 16-17, full-time student) – £20.20
Family saver 1
1 adult & up to 3 children (age 5-15) – £44.20
Family saver 2
2 adults & up to 3 children (age 5-15) – £69.50
You can also get membership from £59 per year which allows access to 6 Royal Palaces (including the Tower of London and Kensington Palace). This membership includes access to most of the special events at Hampton Court throughout the year like the Christmas Fayre and Food Festivals.
Opening Times
Opening days and hours vary.
WINTER OPENING HOURS (06 SEPTEMBER – 31 MARCH)
08 September to 30 September
Wednesday-Sunday: 10.00 – 16.00
Last admission: 15.00.
01 October to 22 October
Wednesday-Sunday: 10.00 – 17.30
Last admission: 16.00.
Hampton Court Palace will be closed for filming from Monday 20 September to Friday 24 September 2021.
23 October to 31 October (Half term)
Daily: 10.00 – 17.30
Last admission: 16.00 (15.00 slot).
01 November to 17 December
Wednesday-Sunday: 10.00 – 16.00
Last admission: 14.30.
18 December to 23 December
Daily: 10.00 – 16.00
Last admission: 15.00 (15.00 slot).
24, 25 , 26 December – Closed
27 December to 2 January
Daily: 10.00 – 16.00
Last admission: 15.00 (15.00 slot).
For any other opening times check their website here.
What to do at Hampton Court Palace
From exploring the magnificent gardens to stepping back in time in the Tudor Kitchens and Palace, there is plenty to fill your day at Hampton Court Palace.
The Palace itself is an incredible place to explore and fascinates both young and old. You can step back in time in William III Apartments, the Great Hall (my personal favourite) and the Great Watching Chamber.
A firm favourite is the Tudor Kitchens which immediately transport you back in time to Henry VIII’s era – especially when the huge fire is lit or when there are cooking demonstrations on.
Magic Garden
One of the most popular areas of Hampton Court Palace is the Magic Garden play area. Currently they’re limiting sessions to 90 minutes and it is extremely popular so queues for it can get long, especially on the weekend. Getting there early is advised. Entrance is included in your Palace tickets.
Within the Magic Garden there’s loads for children to explore from water fountains, slides, sand and forts. There is a cafe and toilets within the garden. There’s very limited shade so bear that in mind if visiting on a hot day!
Where to eat at Hampton Court Palace
The Tiltyard Cafe is open with indoor and outdoor seating. It is situated within the Palace Gardens. You can choose from a variety of food and drink including: coffees, teas, pastries, cookies, muffins, cakes, along with light lunch options.
The Wilderness Kiosk, in the Palace Gardens, is open at weekends and school holidays, serving ice creams, snacks, teas and filter coffees.
The Privy Kitchen Café is open at weekends. This is within the Palace.
The Magic Garden Kiosk is open daily and serves drinks and ice cream.
There’s also loads of options for picnics within the Gardens, it’s a really lovely place to sit on a sunny day and admire the Palace.
For full details click here.
Special Events
Lastly on Your Guide to a day trip at Hampton Court Palace is the wonderful special events held at Hampton Court throughout the year.
Coming up this year is:
Halloween at Hampton Court Palace – 23-31st October. Learn about all the ghostly stories in the Palace on this spooky trail over half term. Included in Palace Admission.
Christmas Festive Fayre – 3-5th December. This will definitely sell out, so pre booking is essential. Included in Palace Admission.
We’ve also enjoyed the Lindt Easter Bunny Trail during the Easter Holidays (and yes, they do get chocolate at the end!) and the Artisan Food festival (which will be on 13 – 15 May 2022 next year).
At most events they have their wonderful Shire Horses which offer short carriage rides around the grounds. This costs extra. The horses are bred and cared for at the Palace and have a lot of history attached to them.
Anything else?
As with most places, getting there early gets you easier parking, first dibs on access to certain areas (such as the Magic Garden) and a bit of time alone in the magnificent grounds (definitely the best time for photos!)
You can also combine a visit to Hampton Court Palace with a walk by the beautiful Thames which is right next door, you can even take a boat ride down the river if you fancy it!
Opposite Hampton Court Palace is Bushy Park which is one of London’s Royal Parks and is a wonderful place for a walk. It’s famous for its Deer. It also has a great play area and cafe.
Hampton Court Palace is also just a short drive from Kingston, a great shopping hub with many restaurants and bars.
Thank you for coming to read Your Guide to a day trip at Hampton Court Palace. If you’d like to read more about Royal Palaces then check out our blog post on our trip to Kensington Palace, here. Or if you fancy exploring some free things to do in London with Kids, check out our comprehensive guide here.
