Hampton Court Palace Guided Tour. Full day Entry & Afternoon Tea

Overview

The only tour compared on this site that bundles three things people normally book separately: a live guide, full-day palace admission, and afternoon tea by the river. It is priced per person rather than per group, which makes it directly comparable to a plain entrance ticket — and the gap is smaller than most people expect once you account for the entry being included.

The format matters. You meet your guide at Hampton Court station and walk over the bridge together, which means the approach itself is narrated rather than spent finding the entrance. The guided portion runs roughly three hours through the Tudor courts, the Great Hall, the kitchens and the state rooms. Then the guide hands you back your day: the admission is a full-day pass, so you can return to whatever you want to see again after the tour ends.

Guides on this tour are local rather than generic — travellers repeatedly mention personal connections to the area and stories that do not appear on any information board. Hampton Court Park is included in the route, so the walk is not confined to interiors.

Afternoon tea closes the experience: freshly baked scones, cake, and a choice of tea or coffee. It is a full-day structure rather than a two-hour errand, and it suits people who want the day organised without surrendering the flexibility to explore afterwards.

Itinerary

• Meet at Hampton Court stationYour guide meets the group at Station Approach, a five-minute walk from the palace across Hampton Court Bridge.
• Into the palaceAdmission is included, so you go straight in. The guided route covers Base Court, Clock Court and the Tudor heart of the building.
• The Tudor palaceHenry VIII’s Great Hall and the Tudor kitchens, with the stories behind the court that lived here.
• The state rooms and gardensThrough the Baroque apartments and out into the formal gardens and Hampton Court Park.
• Afternoon teaScones, cake and a choice of tea or coffee to finish the guided portion.
• The rest of your dayYour full-day pass stays valid — go back for the Maze, the Great Vine or anything you want more time with.

What’s Included

Meeting Point & Logistics

Meeting point: Hampton Court train station, Station Approach, East Molesey KT8 9AE. Trains run from London Waterloo in about 35 minutes, two an hour — allow a comfortable margin, because the group leaves on time.

Duration: around four hours in total, with roughly three hours guided, plus your full-day re-entry pass afterwards.

Group size: up to 20, so this is a small-group tour rather than a private one. If you want a guide to yourself, compare the private guided tour.

Accessibility: this tour is not listed as wheelchair accessible. Travellers with mobility needs should look at the private options, where guides adapt the route.

Traveller Reviews

Ratings shown are this tour’s own figures from its booking page. Read all reviews on the booking page, or see feedback across every option on the Hampton Court Palace tours reviews page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is palace admission included?

Yes — and it is a full-day pass, so you can go back in after the guided portion ends. That is unusual among the guided tours here.

Where does the tour start?

At Hampton Court train station, not at the palace gates. The guide walks the group over the bridge together.

Is this a private tour?

No, it is a small-group tour of up to 20 people. For a guide to yourselves, see the private guided tour.

What is served at afternoon tea?

Freshly baked scones and cake, with coffee or a choice of teas. Children’s tea is purchased separately at the venue.

How much walking is involved?

Roughly three hours on your feet across the palace and Hampton Court Park, at a steady pace with stops. The tour is not listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I do the Maze on this tour?

Not usually within the guided route — but your full-day admission covers it, so go afterwards. The Maze closes about 45 minutes before the palace.