Hampton Court Palace Tours and Tickets

No, you can’t walk around Hampton Court Palace or the surrounding gardens for free—you’ll need to buy an admission ticket to access the historic estate. Your ticket grants you access to the palace, the gardens’ courtyards, the Maze, and the Magic Garden. You can only enter for free with a Historic Royal Palaces membership.

You should plan to spend at least three hours exploring Hampton Court Palace and its impressive grounds. If you’re short on time, the Tudor Experience is a route that takes around 1.5 hours and covers Tudor highlights such as the kitchens, the Chapel Royal, and the former apartments and crown of Henry VIII.

There is parking at Hampton Court Palace, but it isn’t free. You can park on the palace grounds for an hourly fee of around $3 or Hampton Court Green for a similar price, 500 meters (1,640 feet) from the entrance. Accessible parking is free for blue badge holders.

Hampton Court Palace tours can be tailored to your interests—themes include Tudor history, art and architecture, spooky stories, and the history of the gardens. You’ll need to fill out a booking form on their website. You can also opt for a more general tour or a family-friendly version.

Yes, Hampton Court Palace is mostly accessible—the main entrance has level access, highlights such as the Henry VIII apartments and kitchens, the gardens, and the ticket office and cafe. There’s an accessible car park and toilets, and Hampton Court train station is step-free.

The best time of day to visit Hampton Court Palace is either early in the morning or later in the afternoon. The palace is busiest during the British spring and summer months (from April through September) and can be very crowded during the school holidays in July and August.