Life at Hampton Court Palace during the Tudor period was a world of extraordinary contrasts — dazzling pageantry and grinding labour, exquisite luxury and primitive sanitation, refined culture and brutal politics. Understanding daily life at court brings the palace's magnificent rooms and corridors vividly to life.
The Tudor court at Hampton Court typically numbered between 800 and 1,200 people, from the King himself to the lowest scullion in the kitchens. The day began at dawn, when servants rose to light fires, carry water, and prepare the palace for the day ahead.
The Tudor court consumed staggering quantities of food and drink. In a single year, the kitchens at Hampton Court might process 1,240 oxen, 8,200 sheep, 2,330 deer, 760 calves, 1,870 pigs, and 53 wild boar.
Hampton Court was a centre of Renaissance culture. Henry VIII was himself an accomplished musician, composer, and athlete. The court enjoyed music, dancing, poetry, drama, jousting tournaments, hunting, and hawking.