Hampton Court Palace

One of the most famous buildings in Britain, Hampton Court Palace was the centre of court and political life for over two hundred years. Originally built by Cardinal Wolsey, the opulent Tudor palace soon caught the attention of Henry VIII, who transformed the building into a vast pleasure palace, boasting a bowling alley, tennis court and more.

A palace of two halves, King William III and his wife Mary II commissioned the celebrated architect Sir Christopher Wren to build a new baroque palace for them, creating a suite of spectacular King’s and Queen’s State Apartments set around an elegant Fountain Court.

Today, Hampton Court Palace is open to the public as a visitor attraction, cared for by independent charity Historic Royal Palaces. The palace is fun for all ages, with hundreds of acres of gardens for families to enjoy, atmospheric Tudor Kitchens and State Apartments, and plenty of seasonal events and activities. Along with its world class art collection, Hampton Court Palace is also home to the largest grape vine in the world, the Magic Garden – a themed adventure playground for little ones - and the UK’s oldest surviving hedge maze.