Hampton Court Palace: how to visit from London

Yes, especially if you've already seen the Tower of London and want more Tudor history. Hampton Court was Henry VIII's favorite palace, and it's the best place in England to picture how his court actually lived. Historic Royal Palaces' highlights include:

• The Great Hall, which Historic Royal Palaces calls England's last great medieval hall. Look up at its magnificent ceiling.
• Henry VIII's Kitchens, once the busiest kitchens in Tudor England.
• The Chapel Royal, still a working chapel, seen from the Royal Pew, plus the Haunted Gallery, said to be haunted by Catherine Howard.
• The gardens and the Maze, which Historic Royal Palaces calls the world's oldest puzzle maze. Entry to the Maze is included in your palace ticket.

It also has the later state apartments of William III, reached by the King's Staircase, so you see two royal eras in one visit. If you only have time for one royal day trip, compare it with Windsor Castle in our Windsor Castle tours guide: Windsor is a working royal residence, while Hampton Court is the better pick for Tudor history.

• Train (best): South Western Railway runs trains from London Waterloo to Hampton Court every 30 minutes, calling at Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Wimbledon and Surbiton. Direct trains take about 35 to 40 minutes. Hampton Court station is in zone 6, so you can tap in with Oyster or a contactless card, and the palace is a five-minute walk from the station. There is no Underground station.
• River boat (summer only): Thames River Boats sails from Westminster Pier to Hampton Court via Kew and Richmond in about 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes, depending on the tide. It's a lovely way to arrive on a summer day, but Westminster sailings have ended for 2026, and the operator lists none until 2027. Check its site for next season's dates, and see our Thames cruises guide for central London boats.
• With a guide: Vip London Tour's private tour meets you opposite Platform 10 at Waterloo and travels with you, with palace entry included. Train tickets aren't included, so you buy them for everyone in your group, including the guide.

Historic Royal Palaces sells tickets online and at the ticket office on the day; it doesn't publish a separate on-the-day price. Peak prices apply at weekends and on bank holidays. These are the official prices, checked October 26, 2026:

• Until November 27, 2026 (and again from January 6, 2027): adult £30 off-peak or £33 peak; child 5–15 £15 or £16.50; seniors 65+ and full-time students £24.30 or £26.30. Under-5s go free.
• November 28, 2026 to January 3, 2027: prices rise while the Winter Palace event is on, which is included: adult £33 or £36, child £16.50 or £18.

Your ticket covers all open areas of the palace, the gardens, the courtyards and the Maze. There's no gardens-only ticket, though the gardens open free on selected dates, including November 21 and 22, 2026. Historic Royal Palaces has a strict no-refunds policy. If you'd like the option to cancel, the same ticket sold on Viator by Historic Royal Palaces offers free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, from $41, and is valid on the date you book.

Hampton Court is also included in the London Pass. Go City lists it among the pass attractions, but the pass only pays off if you visit several paid sights a day. Our London Pass guide runs the numbers. If you're visiting the other Historic Royal Palaces too, see our Tower of London tours and Kensington Palace tickets guides.

Hampton Court's best-reviewed tours are private, and two of them leave the palace ticket out of the price. Check what's included before you compare prices.

Sheila Dunsmore, a former State Apartment Warder who worked at the palace for 18 years, leads private tours of 90 minutes–2 hours for up to 10 people, rated 4.99 from 303 reviews. Child-friendly and ghost-story versions are available on request. Palace tickets are extra.

Jo Cooper, a member of the Institute of Tourist Guiding with more than 15 years at Hampton Court, runs a 2 hours private tour of the state apartments, Tudor kitchens and gardens, rated 5.00 from 64 reviews. Palace tickets are again extra.

If you'd rather share the guide and keep costs down, Top Tasting Tours runs small groups (typically two to eight people) from Hampton Court station. The price includes full-day palace and garden entry, a guided tour of about two hours, and afternoon tea at an inn next to the palace. It's rated 4.94 from 340 reviews. Travel from London isn't included.

This route covers the highlights without rushing:

1. Base Court and Clock Court: enter through the Great Gatehouse and look for the astronomical clock.
2. Henry VIII's Apartments: the Great Hall, the Great Watching Chamber, the Haunted Gallery and the Royal Pew overlooking the Chapel Royal.
3. Henry VIII's Kitchens: the vast Tudor kitchens, often with a fire burning in the great hearth.
4. William III's Apartments: up the King's Staircase to the baroque state rooms.
5. The gardens: the Privy Garden with its ironwork screen, the Great Fountain Garden and, last, the Maze.

Two things to check before you go. The Great Vine and the Sunken Garden are closed until November 23, 2026, and the Chapel Royal is closed all day on November 6. The Royal Pew also closes during Sunday services. Food isn't allowed inside the palace, but you can picnic in the gardens.

• Ice rink: from November 20, 2026, to January 3, 2027 (closed Christmas Day), with sessions from 10am to 8pm. It needs a separate ticket; palace admission isn't included.
• Winter Palace: from November 28 to January 3, much of the palace becomes an immersive, self-guided Christmas experience in Henry VIII's Apartments and Kitchens, included in admission with timed entry. Historic Royal Palaces says a selection of historic routes stays open. The event is closed on November 30, December 1, 7, 8, 14 and 15, and December 24 to 26, so check the calendar before you book.
• Festive Fayre: December 4–6 and 11–13, a market of more than 100 independent producers in the Great Fountain Garden, included in admission.

Days are short in winter. During the Winter Palace period, standard hours are 10am to 4:30pm with last admission at 2:30pm, and in late October the palace was closing at 4pm with last admission at 3pm. Hours vary through the season, so check the official opening times for your date and arrive in the morning. Planning a wider winter trip? See London in November.

Hampton Court sits on the same stretch of the Thames as Richmond and Kew. Keen walkers can follow the Thames Path between Hampton Court and Kew Palace: Historic Royal Palaces puts it at about 11 miles, three to four hours of flat walking. For most people, the easier pairing is the palace in the morning and Richmond's riverside for a late lunch, reached by bus R68. In summer, the river boats also link Richmond and Kew with Hampton Court.

For more half-day and full-day options, browse our day trips from London.