Hampton Court Palace — Attraction in London

We are members and we always have a fantastic time.

We had an issue this past weekend of being made to re-queue and a member of staff implied I was lying to jump the queue to watch the joust, but we'd arrived at opening time and had already watched all of the exhibits and were just going to end our day in the Magic Garden. I had asked a member of staff on the exit gate of the Palace and they explained that it was fine to walk across. The same lady then spoke about me under her breath (loudly) when she thought I couldn't hear, which made me incredibly cross.

Clearly, the staff were too hot and uncomfortable and me just trying to take my disabled daughter to the Magic Garden was the last straw for this individual. I understand that some tourists aren't pleasant, but I was trying to explain the situation and she would not hear it and it led to us leaving prematurely.

I pay a lot for my annual membership, and never before have I encountered this at any HRC location so I was taken by surprise.

I think this could be easily resolved:

Could HRC provide drinks and uniform suitable for 31°c heat in summer so your employees are comfortable (I'm certain this circumstance wouldn't have happened if it wasn't incredibly hot)

Perhaps if someone is walking from the Kitchens (or out of the Palace in general) to the Gardens having a HRC stamp as they leave to go across could be a simple solution and could have avoided this situation and lack of communication. (This works in other similar establishments as Hampton Court and would cost less than £10 to action to be honest)

Facilities are always clean, and as you walk around the employees are incredibly helpful.

A highlight for me are the events that Hampton Court put on. We loved the Big Bahooey, and I'm bringing my little nephew for Peter Rabbit.

In terms of inside the Palace, the Kitchens often have the Experimental History team which is awesome. The Chapel Royal is so beautiful - the ceiling is gorgeous! And we love the exhibitions that are often on which tell even more about Palace's history.

We live 2 hours away, but the trip is always worth it. Also, on our last visit the team helped me take my daughters chair up the stairs which was incredibly...

Hampton Court Palace offers a fascinating glimpse into British history, with its stunning architecture and sprawling gardens. Exploring the grounds was made significantly easier by the availability and convenience of mobility scooters, which allowed me to appreciate the vastness and beauty of the outdoor spaces without undue strain. This aspect of accessibility was genuinely appreciated and made a real difference to my visit.

However, when it came to experiencing the interior of the palace, the accessibility was noticeably less seamless. Navigating the historic building proved to be quite challenging in certain areas. Uneven flooring, numerous steps, and narrow passageways made independent exploration difficult. While I understand the inherent limitations of a historic building, more could potentially be done to improve access for visitors with mobility issues.

I was able to access the State Apartments via a lift, which was a welcome feature. However, it felt like other significant parts of the palace were less accessible, limiting the overall experience. It would be beneficial to have clearer signage indicating accessible routes and perhaps more comprehensive information available beforehand regarding the level of accessibility in different sections of the palace. Despite the accessibility challenges within the building itself, the helpfulness of the staff should be acknowledged.

They were courteous and did their best to assist where possible. Overall, Hampton Court Palace is undoubtedly a worthwhile place to visit, brimming with history and visual appeal. The provision of mobility scooters for the gardens is a significant plus. However, prospective visitors with mobility limitations should be aware that navigating the interior of the palace may present some difficulties. I hope that in the future, further consideration can be given to enhancing accessibility throughout the entire site to ensure all visitors can fully enjoy this...

Hampton Court Palace has been on my ‘places I need to visit’ list for far too long – so one sunny September morning we decided to head to Hampton Court and finally pay it a visit. We caught the train so we got 2-for-1 entry – which was very good value. The station is only a few moments’ walk away, and it’s impressive crossing over the Thames and seeing the sheer scale of the palace in front of you.

Once scanned in, you are free to explore the palace as you see fit. The palace itself is stunning, with a rich history dating back to the 16th century. It’s impeccably well kept, and I was impressed with how something so old and large could be in such good condition. There are lots of different areas and exhibits to explore around the palace, and you can spend hours just wandering the halls and discovering different rooms. Some highlights for me included The Great Hall, the Tudor kitchens and The State Apartments.

For me, the most impressive thing about Hampton Court Palace was the gardens – they are absolutely gorgeous and again, immaculately kept. There are formal gardens, informal gardens, woodland gardens, and even a kitchen garden. I especially loved the Privy Garden - a beautiful formal garden with intricate flowerbeds, fountains, and statues overlooking the Thames – truly spectacular.

We had a child in our party, but they were well catered for, with a big hedge maze (the oldest in the UK), a massive play area and plenty of places to explore. We did stop in the café for an ice cream and as most tourist attractions, it was quite expensive – but was good quality and with plenty of seating.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Hampton Court Palace. The palace is vast, so make sure you set aside at least half a day to explore everything it has to offer. The gardens are...