Landmark
Hampton Court Palace began as Cardinal Wolsey's residence before he handed it to Henry VIII in the 1520s, and it grew into one of the great Tudor palaces, later expanded with a baroque wing by Christopher Wren for William and Mary. The site is large enough that reviewers with a 4.7 rating regularly mention needing a full day to see the state apartments, the working Tudor kitchens and the famous garden maze, and the high walking intensity and 150-minute suggested duration in the data reflect just how much ground there is to cover. Its location in Molesey, outside central London, makes it a deliberate day-trip choice rather than something to slot between other sights, best suited to visitors with a genuine interest in Tudor and Stuart history.
✨ Reasons to go
💡 Good to know
⏱️ Typical visit
2h30
🕰️ Best time
morning, lunchtime, afternoon or early evening
🚶 Walking intensity
Active — lots of walking
Booking
What people say
"It took 4 hours for us just to skim the palace and eat food in cafe. Kid enjoyed the park next to cafe. I recommend to plan for whole day if you are visiting London for few days. Totally worth the visit. Lot of art to see inside and history to learn from, garden to enjoy. Most of all, cafe is great, lot of varieties of food, bakery and coffees. Wonderland for kids is amazing."
— Yogen Rai
