Hampton Court Palace Tickets
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The quick answer: the fastest way is the direct train from London Waterloo to Hampton Court, about 35 minutes — tap contactless or Oyster. The cheapest is bus 111 from Kingston, which stops right outside the palace. The most scenic is the boat from Westminster, around 2.5 hours up the Thames. Driving takes 45–90 minutes from central London, plus parking at £1.50–£12 depending on where you park and how long you stay.
South Western Railway runs direct trains from London Waterloo to Hampton Court twice an hour, every day. The journey takes 30 to 36 minutes, and Hampton Court is the last stop on the line. The station sits in Zone 6, so you can tap in at Waterloo with a contactless bank card or Oyster and tap out at the other end. A return typically costs around £10 to £15. From Hampton Court station it is a flat, signposted walk of about 200 metres over the bridge to the palace's Lion Gate entrance.
Local tips: sit on the left-hand side of the train for a view of the Thames between Norbiton and Hampton Court. Don't get off at Surbiton — it sounds similar, and tourists do this every week. If trains are disrupted or on strike, take a train to Surbiton instead and pick up the R68 bus from there. Check South Western Railway timetables or plan the journey on Citymapper. After you arrive, start your visit at the Great Hall and the Tudor architecture.
Between April and October, Thames River Boats sail from Westminster Pier to Hampton Court, arriving at the pier beside the palace. The journey takes two and a half to three and a half hours depending on the tide, and tickets cost roughly £22 to £30. It is the slowest way to come — and easily the most beautiful, passing Kew, Richmond and Teddington Lock.
Best combo: book the boat one way to Hampton Court in the morning, spend the day at the palace, then take the 35-minute train back to Waterloo. You can also combine the palace with a river cruise booked through our ticket partner, GetYourGuide (affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you). The gardens are at their best when you arrive by boat — you step off the pier straight into sixty acres of them.
Four bus routes serve the palace, all accepting Oyster and contactless: the 111 from Heathrow Airport and Kingston (it stops right outside the palace gates), the 216 from Kingston and Staines, the 411 from Kingston, and the R68 from Richmond and Kew. Buses are the cheapest option but take an hour or more from most starting points.
Driving from central London takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. Use the sat-nav postcode KT8 9AU. From the M25, leave at junction 10 for the A307, or junction 12 for the A308; from the A3, take the A309 and follow the brown tourist signs. The palace is outside the Congestion Charge and ULEZ zones.
Parking options, cheapest first: Hampton Court Green (about 500 metres away, around £1.50 per hour; the overflow area locks at 18:45), the on-site palace car park (closest, around £1.60 per hour, card or Glide app only; nine accessible bays free for Blue Badge holders), and Walton Road Car Park, East Molesey KT8 0DL (151 spaces). A full day of parking typically works out between £1.50 and £12.
Hampton Court sits on the Thames Path, one of the loveliest cycle routes out of London. Riders come along the river through Richmond, Teddington and Kingston. It is mostly flat and largely traffic-free, with cycle stands near the palace entrance. From central London, allow around 90 minutes at an easy pace.
We live in East Molesey, a five-minute walk from the palace gates. Our honest advice: take the train unless you have a good reason not to. It is faster than driving at any time of day, cheaper than parking for a full day, and the walk from the station over the bridge is a far better arrival than a car park. At weekends and in school holidays, arrive before 10:30 — the trains are quieter and the palace is calmer for the first hour. See the Plan Your Visit guide for current opening times and ticket prices, and the FAQ for quick answers.
The direct South Western Railway train from London Waterloo to Hampton Court station. Trains run twice an hour, the journey takes 30 to 36 minutes, and Hampton Court is the last stop on the line. The palace entrance at Lion Gate is about a 200-metre walk from the station.
Yes. Hampton Court station is in Zone 6, so you can tap in and out with a contactless bank card or Oyster card on the train from Waterloo. Oyster and contactless are also accepted on all the bus routes that serve the palace, including the 111, 216, 411 and R68.
A return from London Waterloo to Hampton Court typically costs around £10 to £15 with contactless or Oyster, depending on the time of day. Travelling outside the morning peak is cheaper.
Yes, in the summer season. Thames River Boats run from Westminster to Hampton Court between April and October. The journey takes around two and a half to three and a half hours and costs roughly £22 to £30. Many visitors take the boat one way and the train back.
Yes. The on-site car park charges around £1.60 per hour by card or the Glide app. Hampton Court Green, about 500 metres away, charges around £1.50 per hour, and there is a larger public car park on Walton Road in East Molesey. Blue Badge holders park free in the accessible bays on site.
The 111 runs from Heathrow and Kingston and stops right outside the palace. The 216 runs from Kingston and Staines, the 411 from Kingston, and the R68 from Richmond and Kew. All accept Oyster and contactless.
No. Hampton Court Palace is well outside the Congestion Charge and ULEZ zones. Most drivers approach via the M25, A3 or A308.
Please note: this is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Historic Royal Palaces. Journey times and fares can change — check with the operator before you travel. Information checked: 22 October 2026.