Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace stands on the north bank of the Thames in Richmond upon Thames, one of the best-preserved Tudor royal palaces in England. Originally built for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in the early sixteenth century, it was seized by Henry VIII in 1529 and expanded into one of the most magnificent royal residences in Europe. The palace passed through the hands of successive monarchs, and William III later commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to redesign much of the east and south wings in a grand Baroque style, creating the striking contrast between Tudor brick and classical stonework that visitors see today.

The site encompasses the State Apartments, the Great Hall with its hammer-beam roof, the Tudor Kitchens, and the famous Maze, planted in the late seventeenth century and still one of the most celebrated hedge mazes in the world. The surrounding formal gardens, including the Privy Garden restored to its 1702 appearance, extend across the riverside grounds. Visitors can explore the palace and gardens with an audio guide that brings the layered history of this royal landmark to life.