Hampton Court Palace is architecturally unique in England — perhaps in all of Europe — for the way it preserves, side by side, two of the greatest achievements in English building: a Tudor palace of unparalleled grandeur and a Baroque masterpiece by Sir Christopher Wren.
The Great Hall, completed in 1535, is the last and greatest medieval great hall built for an English monarch. Its magnificent hammerbeam roof, soaring 60 feet above the floor, is one of the finest timber roofs in existence. The Hall was the ceremonial heart of Henry VIII's court, where the King dined in state, entertained ambassadors, and displayed his power through lavish feasts and pageantry.
The Chapel Royal at Hampton Court is one of the most exquisite ecclesiastical interiors in England. Its fan-vaulted ceiling, painted in vivid blue and gold, was installed for Henry VIII and remains one of the finest examples of Tudor decorative art. The chapel has been in continuous use for over 450 years.
The Tudor Kitchens at Hampton Court are the largest and most complete surviving Tudor kitchens in England. Covering over 36,000 square feet, they once employed a staff of 200 to feed the entire court — some 600 people — twice a day. The kitchens include the Great Kitchen, the Boiling House, the Pastry House, and the Wine Cellar.
Sir Christopher Wren's transformation of Hampton Court for William III and Mary II created one of the finest Baroque buildings in England. The elegant Fountain Court, surrounded by sophisticated classical colonnades, represents the height of English Baroque architecture. The south and east facades, built in warm red brick with Portland stone dressings, present a dramatically different character from the Tudor ranges to the west.