Hampton Court Palace Tour: Explore the Fascinating World of Henry VIII & William III
5.0
51 Ratings
Molesey
Embark on a private tour of Hampton Court Palace, the historic home of Henry VIII and William III. Discover tales of ghosts, executions, and the intricate game of real tennis. Book now!
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Hampton Court Palace - There is so much to see at Hampton Court! The main attraction is Henry VIII’s palace including his magnificent Great Hall, the vast kitchens and the eerie Haunted Gallery where the ghost of one of Henry’s wives has taken up residence; but there is a second palace at Hampton Court, that built for William III. A ceremonial staircase leads up to William’s state apartments where there is a huge collection of weaponry, exquisite furnishings, a couple of optical illusions and some very peculiar etiquettes! If there’s time, we can also fit some of the following into your tour: a wander through the apartments which belonged to the Georgians, perhaps the most dysfunctional dynasty ever to take the throne of England; watch the ancient, complicated sport of real tennis and explore some of the 60 acres of beautiful gardens including the largest and oldest productive grapevine in the world. There is so much to see, do and be enthralled by - you will not be disappointed!
What's Included
  • Fun and professional local guide
  • Accredited by ITG and University of Westminster
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Transportation to/from attractions
  • Cost of entry tickets to Hampton Court Palace
Additional Information

Hampton Court Palace, the royal residence of England’s infamous King Henry VIII, is steeped in tales of specters, public executions, and his growing roster of spouses! It serves as an ideal escape from Central London’s usual crowd and noise, and there’s something for everyone in the family at Hampton Court.

There are two magnificent palaces to explore—the one built by Henry VIII in the 1500s and the one built by William III towards the end of the 1600s. There’s also a treat in form of Georgian rooms, breathtaking gardens, and a labyrinth. You even get a chance to witness the intricate game of real tennis being played at the court here!

This tour, exclusively for a group of no more than 5 people with Sandy as your guide, spans 3 hours. Our meet-up point is at the end of the driveway, right outside the West Front Gatehouse. It is advised to purchase your Palace entry tickets in advance to make it more convenient for us on the tour day. This ticket cost is not included in my tour fee.

I take pride in the fact that all my Trip Advisor/Viator reviews have received the ‘Excellent’ rating! It seems like I am on the right track.

  • My name is Sandy and my aim is to give you the best experience you could possibly have so if you have any special requests, be sure to tell me what they are! If you need to go at a slower pace, or stop for a break midway through the tour, that will also be fine. There are plenty of places to sit during the tour and I will let you know where these are.
  • Please note I will ALWAYS make contact with you to finalise the details of the tour, so if you have not heard from me a week before the tour date, please contact me.
  • The tour will cover roughly 2 miles in total and last up to 3 hours
  • 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 customers 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 can be adjusted to fit with your arrival time at the palace.
  • If you need directions to travel to Hampton Court from your hotel, please contact me on [email protected]
  • 100% of my Trip Advisor/Viator reviews are graded ‘excellent’ and as I now have over 100 reviews in total, I must be doing something right!
  • I prefer to guide small groups of up to five family or friends. This way, everyone can hear what I’m saying in the sometimes narrow corridors of Henry’s haunted palace. Also, everyone can feel relaxed enough to ask as many questions as they want to.
  • I only accept bookings directly from customers. Any bookings made by a travel agent on behalf of a customer will be cancelled.
Location
42 Hampton Ct Way
Hampton Court Way
Please meet me (Sandy) at the end of the driveway in front of the West Front Gatehouse. I suggest you buy your entry tickets to Hampton Court Palace online in advance which will make it easier on the day. These are in addition to the cost of the tour. https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(51 Ratings)
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Hcutt2
Mar 31, 2024
Fantastic tour of Hampton Court - Fantastic tour! Sandy is incredibly knowledgeable on Hampton Court and it’s past inhabitants. It was a crowded day and she was able to get us around the crowds, providing a throughly entertaining tour. She even kept our 13 year old son interested. I would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Swenys
Feb 12, 2024
Perfectly Pitched - A huge thank you from us - we absolutely loved it. We all said we could have continued all day! You were superb and pitched it perfectly for us. Hope to use your services again. Susan and family - London, UK.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kibloo
Nov 15, 2023
Excellent in depth tour - Three hours flew by as Sandy enlightened us with her vast knowledge of Hampton Court, its inhabitants, and the history of the period. Highly recommend for a thorough yet efficient tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jared_r
Oct 17, 2023
Great time and great guide at Hampton! - Great tour for our family with teenagers and Sandy our guide was fantastic! She was informative and engaging so that it made it a great experience for our family. Would do it again!
Review provided by Viator
Opgardendiva
Sep 10, 2023
Fun, in-depth, and informative tour! - Sandy is a delightful person, very friendly and easy to understand. Her knowledge of the history of the various kings and queens who inhabited Hampton Court Palace, its construction, and history, even beyond Henry the 8th and the Georgians was in-depth. This tour really brought the Palace to life in a way a sel-tour, audio tour or larger group tour cannot do. Her prices are reasonable, also and well worth the cost.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thomas_l
Aug 26, 2023
A wonderfully custom tour of Hampton Court - My wife and I had the pleasure of a private tour of Hampton Court with our guide Sandy Rhodes. I've always had an intense interest in Henry VIII and Sandy provided us with a custom experience that we were able to tailor to our specific interests. She accommodated my humor, educated me about some of my misconceptions regarding the history and provided a most pleasurable experience for both of us. Her lunch recommendation was the perfect end to our tour. I can now check this off my bucket list thanks to Sandy's great tour.
Review provided by Viator
Liz_w
Jul 27, 2023
Sandy was an absolutely amazing tour guide! - Sandy was AMAZING! So knowledgeable and kept my children interested the entire 3 hours! She was extremely accommodating as my mother is older and not able to walk long distances. I HIGHLY recommend hiring Sandy for this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Mark_k
Jul 25, 2023
Great tour from Hobnob Tours - Sandy from Hobnob tours was excellent. Very knowledgeable, with extensive experience of all the history of the palace. She adapted her tour, and centered it around the mobility of a couple of our tour members. Very considerate, and I highly recommend using Sandy.
Review provided by Viator
Jeffharrison1
Jul 10, 2023
Hampton Court - Was surprised to learn this place was still standing. Was excited to take the tour and wasn’t disappointed. Can happily check off this box.
Review provided by Viator
Richard_b
Jul 6, 2023
total five star - absolutely five star experience, top-notch, the best guide we’ve ever had. Highly recommended, very knowledgeable and friendly .
Review provided by Viator
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