Hampton Court Palace
Henry VIII's Tudor palace, where a massive Tudor kitchen, a Baroque palace, and a 300-year-old hedge maze coexist.
Located on the banks of the Thames in southwest London, half of the palace is Henry VIII's red-brick Tudor palace, with its enormous kitchens, great hall, and chapel. The other half is a Baroque palace designed by Christopher Wren for William III. Guides in period costume recreate Tudor court life. The gardens and the hedge maze, planted around 1700, are popular attractions, and the Great Vine is one of the largest and oldest grapevines in the world. Admission is about £30, including an audio guide with Chinese-language options. The palace is about 35 minutes by train from Waterloo to Hampton Court Station, and it is a short walk from there. Plan for half a day.
Opening hours
About 10:00–17:30 (earlier in winter)
Nearby sights
- Richmond Park
- Kew Gardens
- Design Museum
- Notting Hill / Portobello Road Market
- Kensington Palace
- Natural History Museum
- Royal Albert Hall
- Science Museum