by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: August 21, 2010   Last Updated: March 21, 2012

Hampton Court Palace is one of the most popular days trips from London. It is easy to reach from central London. The train  from Waterloo Station takes about 45 minutes. It is a pleasant if not very scenic journey.  As an alternative,  you can take a boat up the Thames in the warmer months which is much more scenic. It is also possible to drive there.  It is actually quite well signed and easy to find . Parking is available.

When you arrive at the Hampton Court Station, you will need to cross the bridge to get to the palace. After entering the gate, you are directed to the building on your left, which holds a gift shop and the ticket office. Entrance is a bit steep but if you are going to visit the Tower of London, you can buy a combination ticket and save a little that way.

Cardinal Wolsey built Hampton Court, and one might say it led to his downfall. It was larger and more elaborate than any palace that Henry VIII owned. It was not a good idea to show up a volatile king, but it was the fact that he made Anne Boleyn his enemy that really was his worst move. When he was unable to obtain a divorce for the king, he signed his own death warrant. He then had the good sense to die before the king could execute him. Problem solved. Henry broke with  the Catholic Church, granted himself a divorce, married Anne, and the rest is history.

Anne enjoyed her time at Hampton Court; it was a sweet but all too short victory. Anne wasn’t the only one of Henry’s wives whose history is entwined with Hampton Court; her cousin Catherine Howard went from here to the Tower of London and her death (some say she has never really left Hampton Court). The last of the six wives, Katherine Parr, was married to Henry in the small Queen’s Chapel. Henry’s only son, Edward, was baptized in the Chapel Royal, and his mother, Jane Seymour, died here.

There are many different options for touring at Hampton Court.

~Audioguide
Tudor Kitchens
Henry VIII State Apartments
The King’s Apartments
The Georgian Rooms

You pick up your guide at the information center in the Clock Court. The kitchens in particular are not to be missed.

~Costumed Guided tours
Henry VIII State Apartments
The King’s Apartments (William III)

~Self-Guided
 It really isn’t that hard to find your way around but you do miss some of the drama without the audio guide or even better the live guides to fill you in on all the little tidbits that make these historic visits so fascinating.

 There are many things you can visit outdoors as well, the Privy Garden, the Maze and the Orangery.  If you visit on the weekend, there are other tours and presentations offered. A visit to Hampton Court Palace is a whole day affair, plan accordingly. There are a couple dining options and several great stores.

If you want to go a step farther you can rent an apartment at Hampton Court and actually stay here. The apartments can be rented through the Landmark Trust.

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