Photo: Ricardalovesmonuments / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
About this place
Cardinal Wolsey began building Hampton Court Palace in 1515, and Henry VIII seized it from him in 1529 before expanding it substantially.
It remained a favoured royal residence for over two centuries.
The palace sits beside the Thames in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, approximately 12 miles southwest of central London.
Its famous maze, planted in the 1690s, is the oldest surviving hedge maze in the UK.
Plan your visit
Open year-round; check the official Historic Royal Palaces website for seasonal hours and any closures.