# Hampton Court Palace — Full Site Context

## About This Site

Hampton Court Palace (hamptoncourtpalace.co.uk) is an independent educational guide to Hampton Court Palace, the historic royal palace in Greater London. The site covers the palace's 500-year history, Tudor and Baroque architecture, gardens, royal residents, ghosts and legends, and practical visitor information. It is not the official Historic Royal Palaces website and includes affiliate ticket links to Viator.

## Important Disclosures

- This site is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Historic Royal Palaces.
- Ticket links are affiliate links to Viator. The site may earn a commission when users book through these links, at no additional cost to the visitor.
- Content is for educational and informational purposes; users should verify current opening times, prices, and policies with Historic Royal Palaces before visiting.

## Core Topics

### History
Hampton Court Palace began as a Tudor residence for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and was later taken over by Henry VIII. It became one of the most important royal palaces of the Tudor and Stuart dynasties, expanded and rebuilt by William III and Mary II with Sir Christopher Wren's Baroque additions.

### Architecture
The palace blends Tudor architecture (red brick, terracotta, Great Hall, hammer-beam roof) with Baroque classical design (Wren's south and east fronts, King's and Queen's apartments). The Tudor Clock Court and the Baroque Fountain Court sit side by side.

### Gardens and Grounds
Notable garden features include the famous Maze, the Great Vine (planted in 1768), the Privy Garden, the Knot Garden, the Great Fountain Garden, and the Tiltyard. The Great Vine is one of the oldest and largest grape vines in the world.

### Historical Figures
Key figures connected to Hampton Court Palace include Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Catherine Howard, Elizabeth I, William III, Mary II, and Sir Christopher Wren.

### Ghosts and Legends
The palace is reputedly haunted, most famously by Catherine Howard, whose ghost is said to run along the Haunted Gallery, and by Jane Seymour. Other tales include the "Skeletor" CCTV sighting from 2003.

### Tudor Life
The site covers daily life, court etiquette, food, fashion, entertainment, and the rituals of the Tudor court at Hampton Court Palace.

### Food Festival
The Hampton Court Palace Food Festival 2026 runs 29–31 August 2026 (August bank holiday weekend), 10:00–18:00 daily, in the Great Fountain Garden. Entry is included in palace admission. New for 2026 is the Regina Kitchen, a live drop-in cooking demonstration stage hosted by Marcus Bean with guest chefs Chris Baber, Shivi Ramoutar, Crystelle Pereira and Cyrus Todiwala. Over 150 independent producers trade, with world street food, pop-up bars and family activities. Group gate prices: adult £22.60, child £11.30, concessions £18.10. VIP upgrade £50 per person.

### Music Festival and Events
Hampton Court Palace hosts outdoor concerts and festivals in its gardens, including the Hampton Court Palace Festival. The 2026 festival page includes lineups, dates, and ticket information.

## Practical Visitor Information

- Address: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU, United Kingdom
- Nearby station: Hampton Court railway station (zone 6)
- Managed by: Historic Royal Palaces
- Tickets: Advance booking recommended; affiliate ticket links are available via Viator.

## Site Index

- /
- /history
- /architecture
- /historical-figures
- /gardens
- /visitor-info
- /ghosts-and-legends
- /tudor-life
- /timeline
- /royal-events
- /six-wives-of-henry-viii
- /faq
- /private-guided-tour
- /cafes-and-restaurants
- /is-hampton-court-palace-worth-visiting
- /music-festival-2026
- /food-festival-2026
- /about
- /contact
- /privacy-policy
- /terms-of-service

## Technical Notes

- Primary language: British English (en-GB)
- Currency: GBP (£)
- Default fonts: system serif/sans-serif stack (Georgia, system-ui, sans-serif)
- Images: sourced from Wikimedia Commons with attribution
- Structured data: Organization, WebSite, TouristAttraction, Article, FAQPage, MusicFestival, MusicEvent, BreadcrumbList