Hampton Court Palace
East Molesey KT8 9AU
10am - 5:30pm
Train: Hampton Court, 30 minutes from Waterloo
2 - 3 hours
All ages
Electric wheelchair available for two-hour hire
From £14pp/Under 5s FREE
Based on 14 reviews
Weather reports say it's going to warm up half way through the week so something to look forward to!
How much would I need outdoors compared to indoors with kids? Wondering if I can handle the cold...
My kids love it here. The maze, the actors playing the parts of Henry and his posse of wives, little secret gardens round by the great vine, and the arsenal room. Warm up by the kitchen fire in the winter.
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About Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a brilliant day out for families, packed with hands-on history, outdoor adventures, and just the right amount of royal scandal. Whether your kids are into knights and castles, Tudor drama, or just racing around a giant hedge maze, this place has something for everyone.
Little ones will love the interactive exhibitions and family trails, while teens can get stuck into the Great Hall’s jaw-dropping architecture, ghost stories, and the famously tricky maze. There’s plenty of space to roam in the gardens, and the Tudor kitchens are a hit with budding chefs.
During school holidays, there are often live Tudor reenactments, archery, and activities designed specifically for kids. Add to that decent cafés, lots of picnic space, and a riverside setting that’s just 35 minutes from London, and you’ve got an easy win.
Top tip from the KidRated Team:
Download the free Historic Royal Palaces app before you go, it adds a fun layer of storytelling to the visit and keeps teens off TikTok (for a bit).
There are guided tours throughout the day, and many are great for kids and teens. The costumed guides bring history to life with stories of Henry VIII, haunted corridors, and palace intrigue – it’s like a real-life episode of Horrible Histories.
Yes. The family trails help kids explore the palace in an interactive way, perfect for younger visitors (and avoiding “I’m bored”). The trails are free with entry and updated seasonally, especially during school holidays.
3–4 hours to do it justice, longer if you want to tackle the gardens, maze, and café without rushing. There’s easily a full day’s worth of activities if you’re in no hurry.
There’s no traditional playground inside the palace grounds, but the formal gardens and green spaces are perfect for a runaround. Bushy Park (next door) has a play area if you want to extend the day out.
Absolutely. They’ll love the famous maze, ghost stories and royal gossip. The mix of history and hands-on exploration hits the sweet spot for curious minds.
Yes, it’s surprisingly accessible for a historic building. Most areas have step-free access or lifts, and you can grab a free map with wheelchair and buggy-friendly routes. Some of the old courtyards have cobbles, so bring sturdy wheels if you can. Baby-changing facilities and accessible toilets are available, and the cafés are spacious.
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The palace is overwhelmingly large, BUT there are some great activities to participate in on some weekends. Our favourite place to go is the kitchen, where re-enactors hold demonstrations of how food was prepared. They are excellent at letting kids get involved and demonstrating pie moulds and talking about roasting meats on spits, which is much more intersting than it sounds. Of course there are apartments and art work, which might become tedious for younger visitors. There really is a load to take in. Kids will likely enjoy the maze outside. It might be best for older kids and teens who have a keen interest in history.