This opinion might be a tepid take, but I think Hampton Court is severely underrated and my fave palace in London. It transports you to a time 500 years ago and has some of the prettiest gardens to lounge in for a picnic. Plus you can eat lunch back in the old kitchens like it’s 1559, so if you ever wanted to walk onto the set of Bridgerton, Hampton Court is the place (or palace) for you!

🚝 Getting there is so easy by train. Read on to find out how to visit Hampton Court.

Getting to Hampton Court

➡️ To get to Hampton Court, the easiest way is to go by train.  Don’t worry, it’s a quick 25-minute train ride straight there so you won’t have to do a lot of connecting if train journeys aren’t your thing. Hampton Court Station is in zone 6. Oyster cards are accepted on this entire route.

➡️ Take the tube (London Underground) to Waterloo Station.  From here, take the National Rail train to Hampton Court Station.  These trains run about every 30 minutes.  

Once you arrive at Hampton Court Station, exit the station and take a right to walk over the bridge.  You should already see Hampton Court to your right even before you get to the bridge.  It’s a 5-minute walk from the station.

Yes, you are crossing over the Thames River and this would be the same waterway Anne Boleyn took from Hampton Court to the Tower of London before she lost her head.

🚨 Be sure to check the National Rail site before any train travel to ensure no strikes will interrupt your trip.

➡️ My favorite apps I used to plan train travel and buy tickets is the Trainline App. I also use CityMapper or Google Maps to map out my route no matter which way I choose to travel.

➡️ Trains returning to London Waterloo depart Hampton Court station at regular times: 

Monday to Saturday: 24 and 54 minutes past the hour

Sunday: 05 and 35 minutes past the hour 

Tickets

A ticket includes entry to:

• All open public areas of the palace, including the Great Hall and Henry VIII’s Kitchens 
• The gardens, courtyards and the Maze

🚨 Check temporary route closures before booking tickets

Times

Times vary throughout the year. Please check their opening times page for temporary route closures and palace closures before a visit. 

Staci’s Tips:

1. I visited Hampton Court a few times (yes, I’m obsessed!) without having to pay a fee each time by becoming a member of Historical Royal Palaces. For a one-time £55 fee, you can get unlimited visits to places like:

• Hampton Court
  • Tower of London
  • Kensington Palace
  • Kew Palace
  • Hillsborough Gardens & Castle
  • Banqueting House
    
    This is a great way to save money if you plan to visit two or more of these sites during your trip!

2. Save time in your visit to grab a snack or a full lunch in the historic kitchens of the palace. They have a wide variety of drinks and foods to quench any appetite. They even do an afternoon tea, which y’all know is one of my favorite things in the world!

I’d love to hear from you- Join the conversation over on Instagram!