Hampton Court Palace Reviews Summary

Historical Significance

Pros:

• "Such a fabulous place to visit! There is so much to see and do. It is such a historic place and the educational information, including films, exhibits and labels are really engaging."
• "Hampton court palace is a great place to get a look into the lives of the monarch."
• "Obviously steeped in history, the most famous resident being Henry VIII."
• "This Palace spans some of the most turbulent times in the history of Great Britain."
• "If you're a fan of the Tudors then this is the place to visit. There is so much history in this place."
• "The curators have done a great job in making history come alive."
• "The palace itself is probably my favourite (stunning work)."
• "The palace is wonderfully well preserved, and has copious amounts of educational content."

Cons:

• "The great vine attraction is not too exciting since it is wintertime and it is just a branch."
• "We were lucky enough to have a private tour for our group of around 10 people following an awards ceremony. The palace is closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays in term time."
• "Magnificent Palace and gardens and certainly well worth visiting however don't expect to see anything relating to Henry VIII."
• "Rooms were OK but no real information in the rooms unless you pay for an audio tour."
• "The rooms on display was very disappointing. The chocolate kitchen, for example, had nothing on the shelves."
• "No need for acting, moving around in clothes from the period is quite enough. Voices from speakers does not do the trick."
• "Big, impressive but sadly mostly empty rooms. Left me feeling cold."
• "We went to HCP in the easter holidays, having got Historic Royal Palaces membership as a Xmas gift. It was very busy."

Gardens and Outdoor Features

Pros:

• "I loved the gardens and the sheer magnificence of the Palace."
• "The gardens outside are also a must see."
• "Expect to spend about 3 hours to see it all, longer if you want to walk around the vast gardens."
• "It brings to life leading historical characters and events that have helped form our nation."
• "The size of the palace and grounds is quite large so be sure to plan for plenty of time."
• "It’s huge, beautifully kept, full of history and amazing atmosphere. Great for kids too with the magic garden, slides, sand and water features to play with."
• "A mixture of centuries of history with world famous characters, grandiose rooms and beautiful gardens."
• "The grounds are also huge and take up to 2 hours to walk around. Highly recommended to visit during the Tulip festival during April."

Cons:

• "There is a lift for people with disabilities as well. Unfortunately, the chocolate kitchen was closed when we visited."
• "I do think £3.79 for a soft drink is steep. A ice cream was £4."
• "If you're a fan of the Tudors then this is the place to visit. There is so much history in this place."
• "I was amazed by the intricacies of the royal chapel ceiling and seeing how each monarch put their stamp on the palace."
• "The only thing is dogs are not allowed into the palace or garden areas and tickets are slightly on the pricier side."
• "Food was over priced (£8.50) for a very poor rubbery cheese and pepperoni pinni which was a standard roll and warned via microwave."
• "The food offering there was lovely too. Really fresh great food. The only downside were the tables/ racks for dirty trays were just not cleared outside and birds we’re knocking everything over and making a mess."
• "A bit on the costly side."

Accessibility and Facilities

Pros:

• "Lots of places to eat (hot food not great) and toilets, as well as places to rest."
• "The free audio guide is very informative so I would get it to hear what to look out for, it also suggests a good route as you go through."
• "Currently half price entry ticket for off peak days..Wednesdays to Fridays..If you want to park for free use the large car park in Bushey Park."
• "I used a London Pass and there were no queues."
• "Free audio guides will lead you through the different sections and provide interesting insights in every room."
• "The best customer service I’ve ever had from all of them. Huge toilets with plenty of cubicles."
• "The free audio guides are a plus. There is a lift for people with disabilities as well."
• "The second time I have taken my mum, I'm lucky to have Corporate entry so no charge for us both. I asked for a wheelchair and got given one straight away."

Cons:

• "Slightly out of the way from Central London (about 45 minutes ride from Waterloo), but it is well worth the trip."
• "Car park is always full on peak days. We sometimes catch the Turks boat from Richmond there and back."
• "The price is a bit expensive if going with the whole family though."
• "If you have mobility issues, I would consider exploring over 2 days to get best experience."
• "We took a friend who uses a wheelchair and it was wonderful! The staff were very accommodating and there is a secret lift the we were shown so our friend could see all of the 1st floor as well as the ground floor."
• "Visited Hampton Court Palace on a weekday. There was no queue to enter the palace, however I'd recommend buying the tickets in advance to avoid queues."
• "We have a membership and have been going here when we're in the area over the last year. We recently did the rooftop tour and loved it."
• "The parking is tedious, best to arrange it beforehand."