Hampton Court Palace

Built to show off his power, Henry VIII chose the hammer-beam roof, inspired by medieval predecessors. Spot 'Eavesdroppers' – carved and painted heads on the roof. On the walls hang tapestries showing the life of Abraham from the Book of Genesis. Used for dinners by the low-ranking members, the hall was used for plays, dances, and masques on special occasions. William Shakespeare performed A Midsummer Night’s Dream here. By the early 1700s, a permanent theatre was built here. In the 1840s, Edward Jesse added stained-glass windows of the genealogy of Henry VIII and his wives.

Hampton Court Palace Gardens encompass 60 acres and 750 acres of parkland near the Thames River. You'll find everything here: the world's oldest puzzle maze, a record-breaking grapevine, three National Plant Collections, a huge variety of wildlife, including the descendants of Henry VIII's deer herd, and stunning flower displays that change with seasons. These gardens fed the Georgian royal family in the 18th century. The gardens come to life in spring with over one million flowering bulbs in the Wilderness. Hampton Court Palace is home to three important National Plant Collections – Heliotropium, Lantana, and Queen Mary II's Exoticks which is designated a Heritage Collection.

Nestled within 60 acres of gardens is the Wilderness. This sprawling green space was once Charles I’s formal pleasure garden in the 1680s, but is now for wildlife and everyone to enjoy. Springtime (early April) is the best time to visit. The whole place is covered in a sea of daffodils, and the cherry trees look like they're wearing pink and white clouds. Created in the French Bosquet style, with several sections divided by tall hedges, trees, and geometric paths, the garden was made more natural and less formal. The Maze is also hidden in there, perfect for a bit of fun and adventure. And if you're lucky, you might spot some of the wildlife that calls the Wilderness home, including blackbirds, blue tits, robins, and deer.

Hampton Court Maze is the UK's oldest surviving hedge maze. Created for King William III in the 1700s, this maze is a trapezoid-shaped puzzle made of yew trees and covers a third of an acre. Don't worry, it usually takes about 20 minutes to find your way to the center. This maze is part of a bigger garden called the 'Wilderness.’ It's the only surviving area in the original Wilderness and the first hedge-planted maze in Great Britain. The maze is also referred to in Jerome K. Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat.

The Great Vine is over 250 years old, and it's the largest grapevine in the whole world! It started life in 1768 as a tiny cutting from another garden at Valentines Mansion, and now it's a massive vine that produces 272 kilograms of grapes every year on average. Queen Victoria was such a fan; she had grapes sent to her other homes! The vine has had a few different homes over the years, with different glasshouses built to protect it. Today, it lives in an aluminum glasshouse where you can see it up close.

Hampton Court Park, or Home Park, is a 750-acre huge, green space outside the palace and gardens, filled with ancient trees, deer, and a long, shimmering lake. This park is home to trees that have been standing for over a hundred years, the dominant species being Tilia (lime trees). You might even spot some rare plants and animals that call this place home. And let's not forget the deer! Longwater Canal, or the Long Water, is a beautiful lake in the middle of the park, commissioned by Charles II in 1660 to bring fresh water from Longford River to the palace. They say it was a gift from Charles to his bride-to-be, Queen Catherine of Braganza, so it's got a pretty romantic story behind it.

The Privy Garden started as a private Tudor garden during the reign of Henry VIII, then saw a restoration by King William III in 1702 in the baroque style. This beautiful outdoor space has been restored using the original plant varieties and statues that were a part of the King’s original design. This garden is the most accurately recreated one at Hampton Court because of the amount of documentation recorded. William III died before the garden was completed, so the gardeners and workmen feared not being paid. Hence, the detailed account of their work! The garden is also filled with hidden details, like the wrought iron screens at the river end, designed by Jean Tijou.

The Pond Gardens started as a fish pond for Henry VIII, but Queen Mary II had other plans. In the 1960s, she turned it into a sunken garden with exotic plants and even brought in citrus trees for the summer! In the winter, her plants were sheltered using heated glass cases made by Dutch carpenter Hendrick Floris. Today, the renovated Dutch-style garden is still a stunning display of flowers, tiered paths, topiary hedges, and statues. You can wander through the gardens and see a vibrant display of tulips or spot a cheeky 18th-century Venus statue hiding out in ‘Mrs Grundy’s Gallery’, a private room where a prudish housekeeper hid paintings and sculptures she felt were unsuitable for the public.

The Rose Garden at Hampton Court Palace has several rose varieties, developed over 80 years. This garden is a relatively new addition to the palace, but it's already become a favorite among visitors and wildlife. This area was previously William III’s kitchen garden, which supplied the palace with vegetables and herbs. The current garden follows the original formal grid design but has been evolving since the 1930s. You'll find colorful flowers and plants, not just roses, especially in the summer. You’ll see rose varieties in whites, yellows, and creams to pinks and crimsons. Late flowering hydrangeas complement the roses. There are even more annuals, biennials, and perennials that add more color to the garden.

The recreated Kitchen Garden is filled with fresh herbs and vegetables, just like they grew in the 18th century. Georgian royals used to grow all their own food right here, serving them for over 160 years. Although few records of the gardens exist, paintings and engravings depict the original layout of the garden. A specialty of the Georgian era was the Grand Sallats, made with 35 different ingredients, including rare ones like Costmary, Hartshorn, Sweet Maudlin, and Trick-madame. And the best part? You can still enjoy the fruits of their labor today at Henry VIII’s Kitchens!

Fountain Court started as a Tudor Knot Garden, then Henry VIII transformed it into the Green Cloister Court. But it was William and Mary who really transformed the place in 1689. They invited Christopher Wren to design something truly spectacular, which is seen today in Bridgerton. This courtyard holds private and state apartments for the King and Queen, and rooms for members of the royal court. Importantant courtiers were given more space. You also had rooms for secretaries, page boys, and other essential people, and even a chocolate kitchen! When the royal family ceased using the palace as a royal residence in 1737, the apartments here were given to grace and favor residents. There was a big fire here in 1986, and refurbishments continued till the 1990s.

Imagine a playground where dragons and mythical beasts come to life. That's the Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace! It's a place where kids can let their imaginations run wild and explore history in a fun and interactive way. Face mythical creatures, storm battlements, besiege towers, and explore a secret grotto in the Magic Garden. This magical space is perfect for burning off energy, with plenty of room to run and play. There are even water features to cool down on hot days. But remember, it can get busy, so be prepared to queue for entry. If you're visiting with kids who have sensory needs, check out the Rise and Roar quiet session. It's a calmer environment designed to help everyone enjoy the magic.