Royal History and Extravagance at Hampton Court Palace, England

Henry VIII, possibly England’s most famous King, had many palaces throughout the country that his court would move between when they had exhausted the surrounding resources. Of all of Henry’s palaces and castles, only two remain standing today. Situated on the Thames in Surrey, just upstream of London, Hampton Court Palace has stood for 500 years, keeping the history of King Henry VIII and several of his successors, alive for us to see today.

Walking up to Hampton Court Palace

The Gatehouse allows entrance into Hampton Court Palace

The entrance courtyard inside Hampton Court Palace

View of the Gatehouse from the courtyard

Hampton Court was more of a manor than a palace, given to Thomas Wolsey in 1515 to be developed into a palace. As it was at the time, the King’s favour was most important, and when Wolsey fell out of favour, Henry VIII seized the palace for himself in 1529. Hampton Court was everything that you can imagine a royal palace could be, and it was always a hive of activity when the King was in residence. Hundreds of people were employed to keep the King’s court fed and comfortable, and you can follow in their footsteps from the huge kitchens and into the Great Hall, where massive feasts would occur when the King was in residence.

The servants entrance and the kitchen building at Hampton Court Palace

Just a small part of the huge kitchen at Hampton Court Palace

Cooking a roast, the old fashioned way

The great wine cellar, conveniently located just around the corner from the Great Hall

The Great Hall of Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace

The Great Hall

A meeting room located behind the Great Hall

The following century, Hampton Court became the residence of King William III and Queen Mary, who sought to demolish and rebuild the palace to rival Versailles. Thankfully for us, they decided not to demolish the palace but instead expand it, leaving Hampton Court built in two very distinct styles. The grand scale of Henry VIII’s palace gives way to the lavish and rich decoration of William and Mary’s apartments and surrounding gardens.

Just one of the stunningly decorated rooms in William III and Mary’s apartments at Hampton Court Palace

One of many dining rooms in William III and Mary’s apartments

One of King William III’s bed chambers

One of William III’s study rooms

One of the King’s meeting rooms

A hallway with views to the gardens in William and Mary’s apartments

View of William III and Mary’s private garden

Hampton Court Palace has not been a royal residence since the 18th century, but this allows us to visit this amazing site and explore its rooms and halls, letting our imaginations take us back through history.

Contrasting architecture at Hampton Court Palace

The clock tower gatehouse

Exploring the gardens at Hampton Court Palace

Visiting Hampton Court

The easiest way to get to Hampton Court Palace is by train from London. Trains leave every 30 minutes from Waterloo Station in London and arrive at Hampton Court Station, just a short walk over the bridge from the palace. If you’re driving, parking is available but spaces can get limited during busy periods such as holidays. A cool way to get to Hampton Court in the Summer is by river boat, which is a relaxing 4 hour river cruise from Westminster in London.

You can buy tickets at the palace, however lines can get quite long, particularly during holidays. Save time and book your tickets online in advance.