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Hampton Court Palace Private Tour: Traverse History with an Accredited Guide
5.0
86 Ratings
Molesey
Embark on a private tour of Hampton Court Palace with accredited guide Sarah. Discover the secrets, stories, and ghosts that haunt this historic site. See magnificent artworks, Tudor kitchens, and more.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Hampton Court Palace - As we enter through the Tudor Gatehouse it may feel as though we have stepped back in time to the 16th Century. Together we will explore the courtyards and Tudor Kitchens, we will sense the smells and sounds of a busy working environment where sumptuous meals were prepared by the many servants for the Court of King Henry VIII. We will ascend to the upper floors to view the magnificent Tudor State Apartments which includes some of the finest artwork and tapestries from the period such as the Abraham Tapestries and the painting of the Family of Henry VIII. Walk through the Great Hall and along the Haunted Gallery where I shall tell the ghost story of Catherine Howard, King Henry VIII’s doomed fifth wife. Then we will move into the Baroque side of the palace built in 1689 by Queen Mary II & King William III to rival Versailes near Paris. We will see the magnificent gardens which include the world famous hedge Maze, the Great Vine, the Royal Tennis Court and the King’s Privy Garden.
What's Included
- Personal tour guided by accredited Sarah, White Badge holder.
What's Not Included
- Entrance to the palace, tickets cost approximately £30 should be purchased separately
- Please note the Chapel Royal is a working chapel and may close at short notice for services.
Additional Information
Sarah has worked at Hampton Court Palace since 2008 so knows all the secrets associated with those, who in the past, have lived, worked and died within its walls.
Sarah, a social historian and storyteller, will regale you with the tales of mistresses and betrayals whilst you walk where history happened, in the footsteps of kings and queens.
See magnificent artworks in the State Apartments of Henry VIII and William III, the Astronomical clock, kitchens, wine cellars, gardens and more. Maybe even a ghost!
Note the Chapel may be closed on Sundays.
The tour covers a private group of up to 15 people for 2 to 2.5 hours, I am flexible and happy to go at your pace. By prior arrangement I can accommodate more guests but please contact me to discuss additional arrangements.
Entrance fees to Hampton Court Palace are NOT included in the price of this tour booking, entrance tickets to the palace cost approximately £30 per person and should be purchased through the Historic Royal Palace’s website.
Location
64 Hampton Ct Way
Hampton Court Way
I will meet you at the West Gate which is the main palace entrance.
Once you have entered through Trophy Gate from the road A309, proceed up the driveway which is known as Trophy Drive, I shall wait near the moat just in front of the main entrance, West Gate.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(86 Ratings)
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Aisha_c
Aug 27, 2024
A Fantastic Tour Guide - Sarah was phenomenal! She was so very knowledgeable and engaging. She kept four kids captivated for hours. They didn’t want to leave. She blew away all the other tour guides we had on our trip!
Review provided by Viator
Jeremy_w
Aug 23, 2024
Fantastic experience!! - I’ve been fascinated by Henry VIII and his six wives since I was eight and I was so excited to see Hampton Court Palace in person. I wanted to do it right so I didn’t hesitate inviting a private tour half and I am so glad I did. Sarah was a FANTASTIC tour guide. She is incredibly knowledgeable and engaging. She also did a wonderful job of including our kids (ages 16, 13, and 11) and getting them interested in the hundreds of years of history. I do not think they would have enjoyed the trip to Hampton Court Palace if we had just walked the rooms and grounds reading signs. We are so happy we had Sarah to bring it all to life!! Sarah did a perfect job of taking us around in the two hours and then we spent another four hours at the palace. Highly recommended and cannot thank Sarah enough.
Review provided by Viator
Saman_g
Aug 22, 2024
Excellent tour! - Sarah is the best! She is so knowledgeable about the palace and time period and made the tour fun and engaging for my 10 year old as well. She really gave a full picture of the Tudor court. Would recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Brooke_v
Aug 15, 2024
Amazing and necessary with a guide! - Hiring Sarah for Hampton Court was the best decision we made! There’s so much history and so much we would have missed without Sarah. Sarah brought Hampton Court to life ! Don’t go to Hampton Court without a knowledgeable guide like Sarah!
Review provided by Viator
Nora_d
Aug 11, 2024
Sarah is incredibly... - Sarah is incredibly knowledgeable. Our experience at Hampton Court was excellent because of the tour she provided. She was engaging and shared so much historical and relatable information for a group of nine with five teens. Highly recommend her.
Review provided by Viator
Rabab_h
Aug 9, 2024
We had a phenomenal tour... - We had a phenomenal tour with Sarah and couldn’t recommend her more!!! She was extremely engaging and very knowledgeable and we felt transported right back to that period in time with the Tudors and Stuart’s all thanks to Sarah’s enthusiasm and ability to inspire us to visualize it all! 10/10!
Review provided by Viator
Erin_chappell
Jul 23, 2024
Wonderful tour full of interesting historical tidbits - Sarah was so nice and so full of interesting stories, anecdotes and behind-the-scenes information that you could not get from an audio tour. We arrived late and she was so gracious. My husband, I and our son really enjoyed walking the palace with her. She made it fun and easy.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael_b
Jul 18, 2024
An enthusiastic recommendation - Sarah is a terrific tour guide. She is both extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. I enthusiastically recommend her if you want to understand and appreciate what you are seeing.
Review provided by Viator
Karen_g
Jul 12, 2024
Take the tour!! - The private tour of Hampton Court Palace with Sarah was a highlight of our trip to London! She is so very knowledgeable and engaging! We experienced the palace in a way we would not have been able to on our own. The details and stories she shared were incredible. Our group of four (2 fifty-something moms and 2 twenty-something daughters) loved every minute!
Review provided by Viator
Lisa_a
Jul 6, 2024
Fantastic experience! - Sarah was a fantastic tour guide! She was so knowledgable and shared her vast knowledge with us and answered all our questions. Thanks for making this such a memorable experience.
Review provided by Viator
