Visiting Hampton Court Palace: Hours, Tickets & Tips
Hampton Court Palace sits on the Thames at East Molesey, 35 minutes by train from London Waterloo. One ticket covers the palace, the Tudor kitchens, the State Apartments, 60 acres of gardens, the Magic Garden and the Maze.
Opening hours
The palace opens at 10:00 daily. Summer-season closing is 17:30 with last admission at 16:30; in the winter season the palace closes at 16:30. It closes completely on 24–26 December.
Hours shift by season and for events, so check the official Historic Royal Palaces opening times before you travel.
Ticket prices in 2026
| Ticket | Off-peak (weekdays) | Peak (weekends & bank holidays) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | from £29.00 | £32.00 |
| Child (5–15) | reduced | £16.00 |
| Concession | reduced | £25.50 |
| Under 5 | Free | Free |
Prices are Historic Royal Palaces’ own figures and exclude the optional donation. Booking online in advance is cheaper than the ticket office on most dates. HRP members go free; £1 tickets are available to visitors receiving qualifying UK benefits; and each disabled visitor can bring one carer or companion free of charge.
What your ticket includes
Everything on the site: the Tudor palace of Henry VIII, the Baroque palace of William III, the largest surviving Tudor kitchens, the State Apartments, all 60 acres of gardens, the Great Vine glasshouse, the Magic Garden play area and the Maze. There is no separate maze ticket. Costumed guides give free tours and presentations through the day, and a free audio guide is included with admission.
2026 closures to know about
The Mantegna Gallery is closed until Spring 2027; two paintings from the Triumphs of Caesar hang in the Georgian Story meanwhile. The Chapel Royal is a working chapel, viewable from the Royal Pew, and can close at short notice for services. Short route closures for conservation cleaning happen through the year — check current closures on the official site before a special trip.
Accessibility
The palace and gardens are largely accessible, and wheelchairs can be borrowed on site. This is still a 500-year-old building: some historic routes involve stairs and uneven cobbles, and one walking tour listed here states plainly that it is not suitable for wheelchair users. Several private guides adapt their pace and route on request — the accessibility line on each tour card tells you which.
Food, facilities and rules
The Tiltyard Café serves hot and cold food inside the grounds; the Wilderness kiosk covers ice cream and coffee. The Mute Swan pub across the road is the lunch spot travellers recommend again and again. Photography is fine for personal use throughout — no flash or tripods in the historic apartments. Dogs other than assistance dogs are not permitted, and large luggage is impractical inside the palace.
Ready to book your visit?
Entrance tickets from $43, guided tours and day trips from London - free cancellation on all but one.
Where the palace is
Hampton Court Way, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU — on the north bank of the Thames, about 12 miles south-west of central London. Full directions by train, coach, car and river boat are on the Getting to Hampton Court Palace from London page, and the FAQs answer the practical questions travellers ask most.
First visit? Start with the guide to what to see at Hampton Court Palace, then pick from the Hampton Court Palace tours and tickets compared by Hampton Court Palace Tours.