Private Tour: Hampton Court Palace Walking Tour with Historian Guide
London, United Kingdom
Rating: 
Trip Type: Private Sightseeing Tours
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Tick off Hampton Court Palace’s highlights on this 3.5-hour private tour. With your very own historian guide, discover the magnificence of King Henry VIII’s favorite royal residence. Marvel at the lavishly decorated Tudor Quarters, take a moment to reflect in the opulent Chapel Royal, traverse the cobbled courtyards and see masterpieces from the revered Royal Collection. Along the way, learn about the palace’s history and hear more about the Tudor, Stuart and Georgian royals who lived within its iconic red brick walls.
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Tick off Hampton Court Palace’s highlights on this 3.5-hour private tour. With your very own historian guide, discover the magnificence of King Henry VIII’s favorite royal residence. Marvel at the lavishly decorated Tudor Quarters, take a moment to reflect in the opulent Chapel Royal, traverse the cobbled courtyards and see masterpieces from the revered Royal Collection. Along the way, learn about the palace’s history and hear more about the Tudor, Stuart and Georgian royals who lived within its iconic red brick walls.
Make your own way to Hampton Court Palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, roughly 30 minutes by train from central London. Nestled next to the Thames River, Hampton Court Palace is famous as the home of King Henry VIII, one of the most renowned monarchs in English history.
Meet your private historian guide at the ticket office and then set off on your tour of the magnificent palace. Snap photos of the majestic red brick façade before passing through the arched entrance way, surrounded by slender columnettes and elegant towers.
With your guide leading the way, work your way through the palace’s highlights. See Anne Boleyn’s Gate, one of the best preserved Tudor gatehouses in the country, and the Astronomical Clock in the Clock Court. Then, head inside for a stroll through the Tudor Quarters and the Great Hall. Gaze up at the hall’s sumptuously decorated hammer-beam roof and get an up-close look at the famous tapestries that adorn the walls.
Wander the Cumberland Art Gallery and discover magnificent works from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Holbein, van Dyck and Canaletto. Another must-see is the Chapel Royal, which was lavishly decorated by the king for the christening of his heir, Edward VI. Be wowed by the striking blue and gold ceiling, and see a replica of King Henry VIII’s crown, which is on display in the royal pew.
Halfway through your tour, enjoy a brief stop for refreshments (own expense) at one of the palace’s cafes. Then end your visit at the Triumphs of Caesar, a series of paintings by Andrea Mantegna that are widely considered among the most important Italian Renaissance paintings in the world.
Your tour concludes after approx. 3.5 hours, leaving you free to continue exploring at your own leisure. Perhaps break for lunch in the Queen Elizabeth I kitchen, or enjoy a leisurely stroll through the palace’s gardens.
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