Hampton Court Palace tour with expert guide: Tudor secrets

A social historian who worked at the palace for over a decade tells you what the rooms meant to the people who lived in them.

A private guided tour of Hampton Court Palace led by Sarah, a Blue Badge Tourist Guide and former palace staff member who specializes in the Tudor period. You walk the Tudor Gatehouse, kitchens, State Apartments and Baroque gardens over roughly two to two and a half hours. Entrance fees to the palace are not included and must be purchased separately through the Historic Royal Palaces website.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Hampton Court Palace history and gardens

• Enter through Tudor Gatehouse
• Explore courtyards and Tudor Kitchens
• Ascend to Tudor State Apartments
• View Abraham Tapestries and Henry VIII painting
• Walk through Great Hall and Haunted Gallery
• Hear Catherine Howard ghost story
• Visit Baroque side of palace
• See gardens, hedge Maze, Great Vine
• Visit Royal Tennis Court and King's Privy Garden

The experience

What makes this tour different is who leads it. Sarah is a social historian who worked at Hampton Court as a member of staff since 2008, has been interviewed by the BBC and is acknowledged by authors for her expertise on the 16th century Tudor period. She holds a Blue Badge qualification from the Institute of Tourist Guiding. That background means the tour is not a recitation of dates and names. It is an account of how people actually lived and worked inside these walls, told by someone who spent years studying the place.

The route moves through both halves of the palace. You enter through the Tudor Gatehouse and descend into the kitchens where Henry VIII's court ate, then climb to the State Apartments to see the Abraham Tapestries and the painting of Henry VIII's family. The Haunted Gallery is where Sarah tells the story of Catherine Howard, the king's fifth wife, whose ghost is said to walk there. Then you cross into the Baroque wing built by William III and Mary II in 1689 to rival Versailles, and move through the gardens: the hedge Maze, the Great Vine, the Royal Tennis Court and the King's Privy Garden.

The tour runs two to two and a half hours and is private, so the pace and the questions are yours. Entrance fees to Hampton Court Palace cost approximately £32 per person and are not included. You'll need to purchase tickets separately through the Historic Royal Palaces website before the tour begins. The Chapel Royal is a working chapel and may close at short notice for services. The palace is wheelchair accessible, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.

What’s included

• Private guide Sarah, a Blue Badge Tourist Guide with over a decade of palace experience.
• access to the Tudor Gatehouse, kitchens and State Apartments.
• the story of the Haunted Gallery and Catherine Howard.
• the Baroque gardens including the hedge Maze, Great Vine and Royal Tennis Court.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday, Friday, Saturday and SundayDepartures at 10:30 and 14:00

Book up to2h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on site£ 63

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Sarah Slater Blue Badge Tourist Guide @ The History Guides

Is this one for you?Two to two and a half hours means you can fit this tour into a half-day visit without rushing the palace or the gardens, but you'll need to arrange entrance tickets beforehand and budget the £32 per person admission separately from the tour price.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

106 verified traveler reviews

5 ★106

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is the Haunted Gallery and why is it called that?

The Haunted Gallery is a corridor in the Tudor wing where Catherine Howard, King Henry VIII's fifth wife, is said to haunt. Sarah tells the story of Catherine Howard as part of the tour, walking you through the gallery where her ghost is believed to appear.

Does the tour include entrance to Hampton Court Palace?

No, entrance fees are not included in the tour price. You must purchase admission tickets separately through the Historic Royal Palaces website. They cost approximately £32 per person. Sarah will meet you once you are inside the palace.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs two to two and a half hours and covers both the Tudor and Baroque sections of the palace, the gardens, and the State Apartments.

What are the Tudor Kitchens like?

The Tudor Kitchens are where meals were prepared for King Henry VIII's court by many servants. Sarah describes the smells and sounds of the working environment and explains how the kitchens functioned as part of the palace's daily life in the 16th century.

Can I visit if I use a wheelchair or need to bring a stroller?

Yes, Hampton Court Palace is wheelchair accessible and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are also allowed on the tour.

What artworks will I see?

You will see the Abraham Tapestries and the painting of the Family of Henry VIII in the Tudor State Apartments, along with other fine artwork and tapestries from the 16th century period.