Henry VIII was a man known for his lavish lifestyle and extravagance, doing everything on a grand scale. Join me (Sandy) on this insightful tour where you will get a chance to explore the vast kitchens that prepared sumptuous feasts of up to nine courses served to Henry and his royal visitors. You will be taken aback by the splendor of his expensive tapestries, costing twice as much as his most cherished warship to produce. The tales of Henry’s growing assortment of wives and his desperate efforts to secure a male successor might shock you. This excursion provides an overview of Henry’s luxurious existence: the dimensions of his kitchens, the glamour of his decor, his weight gain, the identities of his wives, and their individual fates. Above all, it’s an opportunity to revel in the imagining of the unreachable: limitless opulence resulting in one of Europe’s most splendid courts!

• When your booking is confirmed, you will receive contact details for me (Sandy), your guide for this tour. My aim is to give you the best experience you could possibly have so if you have any special requests, be sure to let me know! If you need to go at a slower pace, or stop for a break midway through the tour, that will be fine with me. There are plenty of opportunities to sit down during the tour and I will tell you where they are. I will contact you once your booking is confirmed to finalise the details of your tour.
• The tour will last up to 1.5 hours and is flexible.
• The tour will cover roughly 1 mile.
• The tour will go ahead come rain or shine so please don’t be put off by the weather. Do wear comfortable shoes and clothing and, if needs be, bring waterproofs and an umbrella.
• Due to uneven surfaces, and an unreliable lift used to take wheelchair or disabled clients to the first floor, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair. Visitors must be able to cope with stairs and so this tour is not suitable for anyone with serious medical conditions and back problems.
• When you turn into the palace grounds from the main road, follow the driveway with grassy stretches on either side and I will meet you at the end of the drive in front of the West Front Gatehouse.
• The tour starts at 10.00 a.m. but once a firm booking has been made, the start time of the tour can be adjusted to fit with your arrival at the palace.
• If you need directions to travel to Hampton Court from your hotel, do contact me on [email protected]
• 100% of my Trip Advisor/Viator reviews are graded as ‘excellent’ and as I now have over 100 reviews, I must be doing something right!
• I prefer to guide small groups of up to five family or friends so everyone can hear what I am saying in the often narrow corridors of Henry’s haunted palace. Also, everyone can feel relaxed enough to ask whatever questions they like!
• I ALWAYS contact my customers in advance of a tour so if you have not heard from me one week before the tour date, please contact me instead.
• I only accept bookings directly from customers. Any bookings made by a travel agent on behalf of a customer will be cancelled.