The first time I stumbled across Hampton Court Palace was following a move to Kingston. A Sunday afternoon riverside stroll revealed one of the most jaw-dropping sights I’d ever witnessed. The Palace’s endless manicured grounds and imposing turrets and towers immediately captivated me. But, I’m ashamed to say it’s taken me more than 20 years to step inside.
How to get to Hampton Court Palace
The palace is located in Hampton Court, (London Travelcard zone 6), which is a thirty- minute journey from Waterloo train station. You need to change at Surbiton to get the train to Hampton Court. It’s then a ten-minute walk from the station.
Entry to Hampton Court Palace
Entry to Hampton Court Palace is a steep £28.00 per person but you can take advantage of half price tickets offered from early January until 6 February. However, if palaces are your thing, you can get an annual membership for a bargain £60.00. This gives you unlimited access to Hampton Court, the Tower of London, Kensington Palace and Hillsborough Castle and Gardens.
Why is Hampton Court Palace famous?
The Palace is famous first and foremost for its connections with King Henry VIII and the Tudor dynasty. Henry brought all his six wives here and unsurprisingly there are rumours of hauntings by Catherine Howard and Jane Seymour. It’s ancient walls have witnessed lavish Tudor banquets and more drama, intrigue and turmoil than Bridgerton on steroids. In later life, it also became the location for the development of the plans for the Normandy landings.
What is there to see at Hampton Court Palace?
As the Royal residence to the Tudors, the Palace offers a fascinating insight into Elizabethan court life. Firstly, the vast kitchens provide the entry point to the tour. Here, beef, veal, mutton, venison, pheasant and chicken would be painstakingly prepared on roasting spits by long-suffering “turnbroches.” These poor servants were frequently burnt or injured in the line of duty and had to be retired early. The roasting spits would be suspended over an enormous fireplace which still today blasts out a welcome heat during this chilly January day.
Once the meat was cooked, the master chef would use thyme, rosemary, sage and other exotic herbs sourced from across the world to season the meat. However, in a nod to current thinking, fruit and vegetables were also grown locally in the gardens – a tradition that still continues today.
The Chocolate Room
It turns out that the Tudors were chocolate lovers! And in keeping with the elite of the time – they even had their own chocolate room. Alas there was no Dairy Milk back in those days. But, instead, they treated themselves to their favourite hot chocolate drink flavoured with cinnamon, cloves and chilli procured from their very own spicery. Consequently, chocolate became a sought-after, luxury item to offer to guests as a way to flaunt wealth. Shame there were no tastings on offer when I visited.
The Great Hall
The most impressive part of the Palace is undoubtedly the Great Hall. It was designed to promote King Henry VIII’s power and domination as a place for dining and entertaining guests. And today its grandeur remains firmly intact. The vast timber hammerbeam roof was constructed in 1553 in a nod to the architectural style of his medieval predecessors. Quirks abound from the entwined letters H & A – referencing King Henry VIII’s marriage to Ann Boleyn through to the curious “Eavesdroppers” – the carved and painted heads that adorn the roof.
Adding to the opulence are the famous Abraham tapestries. These floor-to-ceiling works of woven art were first hung in the Great Hall in 1546. And still today, their fine wool, gold and silver threads look like new. Hand-crafted in Belgium using the finest English wool, they remain second only to the Crown Jewels in terms of value. Its not surprising to learn that King Henry VIII adored tapestries and allegedly owned 600 in his time.
Chapel Royal
While still on the first floor of the Palace, it’s well worth a peek over the balcony onto Chapel Royal. On the viewing gallery, there’s also a replica of King Henry VIII’s fabulously flamboyant, jewel-encrusted crown. The church has welcomed Kings and Queens for 450 years and still accepts visitors today. Anyone can attend the religious services – full details on the times can be found here. If visiting the Palace on a Sunday or at other service times, you will have to wait until the services are finished before visiting the viewing gallery.
Hampton Court Gardens
The gardens span 60 acres of formal gardens and 750 acres of historic parkland – all set within a stone’s throw of the River Thames. While not quite on the same scale as the grounds at Blenheim Palace, there’s still plenty to explore. Furthermore, the Palace opens the gardens to the public for free on the following days. The is much to explore: from the vast kitchen garden through to the baroque privy garden, the fragrant rose garden and of course the famous Maze.
Hampton Court Maze
And no trip to Hampton Court can be complete without a visit to the UK’s oldest surviving hedge maze. It’s undoubtedly the Palace’s most popular attraction with children and adults alike. Covering more than a third of an acre, it has been perplexing visitors since 1700. It takes around 20 minutes to walk round – provided you don’t get lost! The claustrophobic walls combined with the narrow passageways makes this one not for the faint-hearted.
What has been filmed at Hampton Court Palace?
The Palace has featured in productions ranging from Bridgerton through to Sherlock Holmes: a game of shadows, Pirates of the Caribbean and The theory of Everything. Key filming locations include King Henry VIII’s kitchens, the formal gardens and of course the maze.
Hampton Court Palace is a fantastic day out no matter what time of year you visit. Furthermore, as King Henry VIII’s former home, it’s corridors have witnessed more drama. turmoil and intrigue than we could ever imagine. The Palace offers opulence on the grandest scale imaginable with a history as rich as the 400-year-old tapestries on the walls.