Hi everyone. I will be in London this June (fingers crossed). Though I have been many times, I have never toured Hampton Court Palace. Being an English history nerd that seems like a grievous oversight.
Can anyone give me advice on a day visit from London, such as best times to go, any must see items there, and nearby pubs/restaurants I could enjoy for lunch?
Thanks!
If you have the time and the weather is nice, instead of taking the train consider getting on the District line all the way to Richmond and then taking the local bus to the palace. It gets you out of the tourist bubble. And if you've already got a TfL transit pass, basically free. Plenty of pubs in Richmond.
Use the savings to get the audio guide at the palace -- it really adds to the experience, as would a guided group walk.
Most visitors focus on either the Henry VII -era parts (if they're non-local) or the garden/maze (if they're local) but the William-and-Mary era parts are also worth your attention.
I can't decide if Hampton Court or the Tower of London was my favourite place to visit. I can't advise on best day to visit but based on my experience I would recommend getting an early start because you could spend an entire day there. We toured in order that the audio guide takes you and that seems to work. I especially enjoyed the original palace more than the add-ons done by future royalty. There's an interesting painting as you leave the Dining Hall of the Pope being stoned. If I remember the audio guide correctly, Henry VIII commissioned the painting in anger after being refused a divorce. Just shows his anger issues and possibly lack of maturity or the self entitlement that Royals could have.
We didn't stick around and headed straight back to London at the end of day so I can't recommend anything in town.
I don't know where you're staying in London but I found the train from Waterloo Station to the Hampton Station to be the most convenient. I bring this up because when I googled it for train schedules, that wasn't the first option to come up, but we took it because it seemed to be the most convenient in terms of a short walk to the palace from the train station.
I love Hampton Court Palace! I am an early riser so I go to try and be there when it opens because there is a lot to see. I've not been since the pandemic so you'll want to check on times and to see if they are requiring timed entry.
https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/visit/#gs.kry477
In the past I've just eaten at the Cafe there on the grounds so as not to lose time walking back in to town. I've no idea what kind of offerings they will have this summer so you'll want to check back on their website to see if there is a cafe menu posted.
One of my favorite areas is the Kitchen area - huge and interesting! The gardens are great and should be beautiful in June! The tennis court is interesting (is it the oldest? Can't remember).
So much to see!
I'd probably try to go on a weekday vs a weekend.
Enjoy!
editing to add: Oh! I'd do a search on Youtube to see if you can find any Lucy Worsley segments on Hampton Court. Her office is apparently there and I've seen a couple of things on PBS by her showing nooks and crannies, lol!
Use Google Earth to search for Hampton Court Palace...it gives a great aerial view of the Palace and the Grounds. Go as early in the day that you can!
See...this is why I love Rick Steves forums. Lots of advice and cool little details. Like the Pope being stoned painting. Thanks Allan.
I would love to meet Lucy Worsley. Perhaps I will run into her if I get there early enough. Definitely want to get there at opening.
In November 2017 we just took the train and upon arrival crossed the bridge and were there. There are some interesting parts to the palace. We went on a Sunday and afterwards walked across the street and had Sunday roast at the Mute Swan restaurant. Afterwards we got back onto the train to London.
I also really enjoyed Hampton Court Palace. I ate lunch at the little cafe there on the grounds and it was delicious.
Go early. Take a SW train from Waterloo. Use your Oyster card. Hampton Court is in Zone 6. Its about a 15 minute walk to the entrance from the train station.
If not over run by children the maze is an enjoyable meander.
After your visit The Mute Swan a gastro pub is across the road from the palace. Or closer to the train station the Albion. 10 minute walk. A bit further the Prince of Wales. All of these pubs have been spruced up for tourism. Perfectly fine.
There is also the restaurant at the The Kings Arms hotel: https://thesixrestaurant.co.uk/ ON the Hampton Court grounds.
I'm a member of Historic Royal Palaces and I agree that there is plenty to see at both the Tower of London and at Hampton Court Palace, both for first timers and for returning visitors.
I'm not sure that I divide the Palace and the gardens so neatly for tourists and locals. I and my wife are nearly locals, it takes between 90 minutes and 2 hours to drive to either the Tower or Hampton Court Palace (we can drive to the Tower vicinity because of my wife's disability). Or about the same time for use to venture into London and get across town to either.
So I think I answer with a local's hat on, especially considering how many times we have been to both.
There is plenty to see inside Hampton Court Palace - the webpage does a very good job of laying it out and an excellent map. Both courts are very scenic, especially when you consider the clock, and Fountain Court has both the fountain and the - look up - sculptures. Seeing (and smelling) the royal kitchens is fun but takes little time. I have never been impressed by the wine cellar but I don't drink. Upstairs they have done a very good job of showing different private apartment areas in the style they would have been in. I particularly like seeing the Chapel Royal from above, where Henry VIII would have been, and then being able to be inside the Chapel Royal below and looking up. I especially like the ceilings, including the Great Hall and the Chapel Royal. When I go, I often just sit and contemplate. The wine fountain is one to contemplate nearby too, and they have added sound effects.
I've barely scratched the surface - there is really lots and lots to see.
The gardens are all different from each other and it will depend which ones interest you. There is the Great Vine of course, the hidden gardens, the formal gardens, the views into and from the Banqueting House, and views to the river, and then the very long Long Borders, the Wilderness, the Rose Garden (splendid in June), the Kitchen Garden, the Great Maze (oldest one around), the Park, the fountains.... there is even a horse drawn waggon which will take you into the further reaches.
No way that that can be all done in one day - I've been going for years and always find something new.
The little tuck shop is good for a meat pie and is inside, near the Chapel Royal, but it is small. The main café is open and airy and has very good food (not cheap but worth it) - everything from soups and salads to hot dishes to sandwiches to very tasty cakes and other sweets... There are lots of tables outside too, some on the patio and some on the lawn.
I have never felt the need to go off the property for lunch. In fact, since the lunch options at Kew Gardens are relatively few there have been many times that we visited Kew in the morning and stopped at Hampton Court for lunch (and a glimpse at the rose garden and kitchen gardens without going inside the Palace). An advantage to having membership at both...
I can try to answer specific questions, if I know the answer.
One piece of advice about timing - fewer crowds on weekdays, avoid Bank Holidays.
Thanks everyone for all the great info and advice!
With all those good pub options I will definitely not go hungry. Sounds like the options on the grounds merit
investigation too.
Nigel from all that you talked about it sounds like I need a full day to get a good sense of the site.
Can you recommend a local guide for hire with in depth historical knowledge or is the portable guide
you can rent there a better choice?
Thanks everyone!
I've never seen a need for a guide. Excellent audio guide, and if you bone up on the website first it is very helpful. There are plenty of uniformed staff around, usually one in every room, who are happy to answer questions, and there is good written descriptions of most things. You'll love it.
Pace yourself...
I agree with Nigel about the staff in the rooms. They are generally very knowledgeable and I suspect often bored. I’ve had some nice informative chats when they weren’t busy!
One time I’d been at the Royal Mews in London a day or two before. The Mews guide indicated the horses went on a summer holiday to Hampton Court so I wondered if there was a way to see them. No, said the Hampton Court room guide, they are in an area that is not accessible to the public, but I thought what a cool location for a break, lol!!
The Audio Guide at Hampton Court Palace is excellent.
