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Hampton Court Palace Private Tour: Delve into the Secrets of Henry VIII's Life and Reign
5.0
131 Ratings
Molesey
Uncover the hidden secrets of Hampton Court Palace on a private tour. Explore the life and reign of Henry VIII, from his athletic youth to his tyrannical rule. Book your tickets now!
Uncover the hidden secrets of Hampton Court Palace on a private tour. Explore the life and reign of Henry VIII, from his athletic youth to his tyrannical rule. Book your tickets now!
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Hampton Court Palace - Palace highlights with gardens.
- Hampton Court Palace - Palace highlights with gardens.
What's Included
- Featured on PBS television’s ‘Secrets of Henry VIII’s Palace’
- Author of four books on Tudor history
- Lectures for the US Smithsonian and the UK Arts Society
- Siobhan Clarke has a History degree and is accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guides
- Worked for Historic Royal Palaces for 20 years
- Featured on PBS television’s ‘Secrets of Henry VIII’s Palace’
- Author of four books on Tudor history
- Lectures for the US Smithsonian and the UK Arts Society
- Siobhan Clarke has a History degree and is accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guides
- Worked for Historic Royal Palaces for 20 years
What's Not Included
- Palace Admission Tickets can be booked in advance online
- Transport
- Food and Drink
- Gratuities
- Palace Admission Tickets can be booked in advance online
- Transport
- Food and Drink
- Gratuities
Additional Information
You have the option to reserve your palace entry tickets ahead of time via the Hampton Court’s website. The tours do not require costumes and are child-friendly, offering an enjoyable learning experience for the entire family. Join the historical expert guide, who is known from the TV show ‘Secrets of Henry VIII’s Palace’, as you explore Hampton Court….
You have the option to reserve your palace entry tickets ahead of time via the Hampton Court’s website. The tours do not require costumes and are child-friendly, offering an enjoyable learning experience for the entire family. Join the historical expert guide, who is known from the TV show ‘Secrets of Henry VIII’s Palace’, as you explore Hampton Court. You’ll be able to trace Henry’s transformation from a fit prince to an overweight despot while learning about his six wives. Delve deeper to uncover secrets of spirits, executions, and ‘horrible histories’. Don’t miss out on the main attractions like Great Hall, Chapel, Haunted Gallery, and the Baroque palace and gardens.
You have two options for the tour start time. Either at 11:00 or at 13:30
- There are opportunities to sit during the tour
- Slow pace available on request
- Tour will be adapted to suit all ages, interests and abilities
- Entrance tickets can be booked online in advance from the Hampton Court Palace website
Location
Hampton Court
Suggest booking palace entrance TICKETS in advance, on the Hampton Court website, although they can be purchased on the day. Please enter palace grounds and proceed down the drive to the WEST GATE, where tickets are checked. Your guide will be waiting for you.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(131 Ratings)
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William_u
Dec 8, 2025
Awesome Expert Tour - Had an absolutely splendid time touring Hampton Court with Ms. Clarke. She went in to marvelous detail about the palace and it's Tudor history. My wife is an avid fan of the monarchy. I strongly recommend Ms. Clarke for any fans of the Tudor court history.
Review provided by Viator
Bill_r
Dec 8, 2025
Outstanding HC experience - Siobhan Clarke is an outstanding guide., lecturer, historian and author. She brings HC alive and you can practically feel Wolsey and Cromwell working away in service to Henry VIII. Best way to see HC!!!!
Review provided by Viator
Jerry_r
Nov 22, 2025
It was great to get a... - It was great to get a good view of Henry VIII and all his wives in the actual place where they lived! It really made the story come alive for us! Siobhan gave us personal details about the people involved that made the story real for us.
Review provided by Viator
Dia_b
Nov 21, 2025
Deciding between an audio tour or a guided tour? Book Siobhan's tour. You won’t regret it! - While planning my short London trip, I debated doing an audio tour of Hampton Court Palace, figuring I could explore and learn on my own.
I’m so glad I changed my mind and booked a tour with Siobhan Clarke; she gave me an inside look into the Tudors and Hampton Court Palace that no audio guide could’ve ever matched.
In just two hours, she walked me through the expansive palace, sharing fascinating stories about King Henry VIII, his wives, and court life. What a treat! I learned so much more than I would’ve reading the exhibit plaques or wandering alone.
As an official Historic Royal Palaces Guide Lecturer and author of multiple Tudor books, Siobhan knows the Tudors inside and out, so she can easily tailor a tour to your interests.
Whether you’re a Tudor fan, history buff, or just love exploring palaces, Siobhan’s the perfect guide for you. I can’t wait to return to London and book another one of her tours.
Review provided by Viator
Christina_p
Nov 16, 2025
Siobhan is amazing! - Hampton court palace is vast and can take many hours to walk around, so having a personal guide like Siobhan Clarke was fantastic! As a historian she was so knowledgable about Henry VIII and all the kings and queens who can after him. We learnt so much more than the audio guides, plus you can ask as many questions as you like. If you’re into history and want a deep dive then you need a personal guide to give you the best experience possible. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Grace_m
Nov 9, 2025
My Tudor History heart is full! - As an absolute Tudor history nerd, touring Hampton Court Palace with Siobhan is an absolute must! Even knowing a lot about Henry VIII, his reign, and his wives you’ll still learn more and really get a better understanding of his court and how all of the people at it lived their days. During the 90 minute tour, you’ll see and learn more within the palace than you can imagine without feeling rushed or short on time at all. And for my fellow history nerds out there: Siobhan cowrote The Tudor Christmas with Alison Weir so you know she’s the real deal!
Review provided by Viator
Karee_v
Nov 3, 2025
Siobhan was very... - Siobhan was very knowledgeable and we shared a love of the history. She really brought to life the stories I had only read about.
Review provided by Viator
Khalid_v
Sep 8, 2025
Wonderful Tour! - Siobhan was an excellent and knowledgeable tour guide. This was my second time at Hampton Court but I learned so much more with her guiding us. This was a great way to cap off our trip to the U.K. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Jennifer_t
Aug 12, 2025
Absolutely lovely and a must do - I could not recommend this tour or experience enough. Siobhan is a consummate historian on the era and moves you deftly through the property so that a 1.5-hour tour feels like you have learned and seen a week's worth of history. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience such a significant historical event, and I strongly encourage others to pursue a similar experience.
Review provided by Viator
Jessica_o
Jan 25, 2026
Great Private Tour! - This was our first time at Hampton Court and Siobhan was an amazing tour guide! She was very knowledgeable, prompt and responsive. My sister and I were traveling from the Cliveden Hotel and were worried about what we would do with our bags, but they had accommodations for our large luggage (free of charge) which made it much easier for us. Please note that you MUST purchase entry tickets to Hampton Court at an additional and separate charge from the private tour on Viator, which was not made clear. They mention you need tickets for entry but the wording suggests the purchase of tickets are optional rather than mandatory (which is why I gave 4 stars instead of 5) You have to purchase entry tickets from Hampton courts online website, without those tickets you cannot get in. I am a huge fan of Tudor history so for me this tour was incredible! My sister knew nothing of the history and she even loved the tour. I would certainly visit again and recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area or interested in the information. They also have a cafe which was nice and a gift shop!
Review provided by Viator