Tour Details
Duration
3.5 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
Hampton Court
Photos & Highlights
- Examines the impressive Hampton Court, as well as the history of Henry VIII and other memorable residents
- Led by a local British historian, visit the Tudor frontage, Great Hall, and huge kitchens
Select a date
Tour Description
Hop on a train from London to Hampton Court Palace, and visit the most well-known home of the infamous Henry VIII. On this Hampton Court PalacTour, led by a local British historian, we will both appreciate the opulence and historical significance found throughout the grounds. Together, we will inspect the impressive Tudor frontage, the Great Hall, with its remarkable hammer-beam roof, and the huge kitchens that were once used to cook meals for over 1,000 people. We will also be able to see vestiges of several of Henry VIII's six queens, further informing our understanding of the history of the place—Catherine of Aragon’s symbol, the pomegranate, can be seen above a door frame, Jane Seymour’s arms decorate a ceiling, and it is in the Great Watching Chamber that Catherine Howard’s adultery was announced, leading to her execution.
Experts
On the tour, while we will discuss Henry VIII and the Tudor Palace, we will also discover that there is much more to glean about British history by visiting Hampton Court. We'll start our tour by disembarking the train and crossing the River Thames, where we will discuss the importance of the river to monarchs over the centuries. Upon entering the palace, our discussion will move to how, in 1236, the Knights Hospitallers of St. John Jerusalem acquired the Manor of Hampton and used it as a grange, or center, for their agricultural estates before it was leased in 1508 to Cardinal Wolsey, Henry VIII’s Chief Minister. Wolsey carried out vast building works and turned the manor into a magnificent palace; as such, we will discuss both his architectural innovations and his life.
In the late 1600s, Hampton Court was adopted by the joint monarchs, William III and Mary II. They hired the great Baroque architect Sir Christopher Wren (the subject of our Christopher Wren Churches Tour) to rebuild the King’s and Queen’s Apartments. We will see the rooms that they used for public ceremonies as well as for private moments. while discussing the functions of these rooms and the daily lives of the monarchs who used them.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, the future George II and Queen Caroline, also lived at Hampton Court and redecorated the apartments using fashionable architect and interior designer William Kent. On our travels through the apartments, we will also see great works of art from the Royal Collection, including paintings and precious sixteenth-century tapestries.
Then we will move onward to the gardens, where we will discuss the history from the Tudors to today and wander through the many different areas, from the formal gardens to the orchard, from the 200-year-old Great Vine to the Rose Garden, as well as to the site of Henry VIII’s tiltyard where tournaments were held. At the end, if you still have the energy, you might like to get lost in Hampton Court’s famous maze.
Is this tour walking-intensive, and/or wheelchair accessible? Hampton Court Palace is a historic building and, therefore, has uneven surfaces. We therefore recommend that wheelchair users bring their own wheelchair for comfort and ease. Most of the routes within the palace are accessible to visitors unable to climb stairs as there is a lift to take visitors to the State Apartments on the first floor. Staff and experts will be happy to help. However, many of the staircases are wide and shallow (having been built for William III who was asthmatic).
What if it’s raining? Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your expert will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.
Can I take pictures?
Yes, photography and/or filming is permitted in all areas of the palace with the exception of the Chapel Royal, Royal Pew and Cumberland Art Gallery.
Is this tour good for kids?
Yes! We have some excellent family-friendly experts who can appeal to the learning styles of children. Please book privately if you have children under 13. Feel free to provide us with information about your children such as favorite school subjects, and hobbies. This way we can match you with the best possible expert.
Where You'll Start
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140 Reviews
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Fun tour, and especially helpful to tackle a sprawling site with an expert. Imogen Rumbold was great.
I would like to mention that when my mother and I arrived at the Waterloo train station to depart for the Hampton Court station, we were informed that all the direct train routes were shut down for a last-minute emergency, requiring us to take a lengthy re-routed bus/train combination. (Fortunately, we arrived at Waterloo a full hour earlier than recommended; we are prompt by nature, and absurdly risk averse). Because we were at Waterloo so early, we were told we would still be able to reach Hampton Court at the appointed time, even though the bus/train route was estimated at an hour and a half. Yet due to confusion and traffic on the bus route, the trip took two hours; we arrived at the meeting point 25 minutes late. Still, Imogen and our fellow tourists had most graciously waited for us. We were so grateful, and so relieved, and we had a lovely time.
Karen
Reviewed on:
Jan 9, 2016
The combination of Personal and Knowledgable were wrapped in one via our docent. Just excellent. No need to change a thing.
Andrew
Reviewed on:
Dec 20, 2015
Very knowledgable and made the history of the castle and the time and building come to life. We have recommended this to several people.
Candace
Reviewed on:
Dec 15, 2015
