Private Bespoke Hampton Court Palace Tour

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Hampton Court Palace, A308, East Molesey KT8 9AU England

I will meet you in my private comfortable vehicle from your London accommodation. Just you and me. No large tour groups or schedules to worry about. We go and explore this fascinating Palace at your pace.

Hampton Court Palace is a place that just oozes history. Wondering around the courtyards and corridors you are transported back to Tudor times when this became a Royal palace for the notorious Henry VIII. This was home to the King and his ill fated Wives. It was also the birthplace of Edward VI and home to Elizabeth I.

The palace was originally built for King Henry's Chief Minister Cardinal Wolsey, the second most powerful man in England in 1515. but Wolsey was eventually to fall from the Kings favour and the palace was seized. (Fortunately Wolsey died of natural causes before he could be hung, drawn and quartered)

King Henry VIII had a court of 1000 people, and they all needed to be fed and watered. And Henry liked to entertain on a grand scale. The kitchens he had extended are some of the best preserved medieval kitchens in the world. You may even get the chance to turn a Beef joint on a roasting spit!

After King Henry's death, His children Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I would all live here during their reigns, and in fact this was a Royal residence right up until George II who died in 1760.

The palace also escaped the destruction of the English Civil war, and Hampton Court went from being a home of Charles I to becoming his prison.

During William and Mary's joint reign the Tudor part of the palace was almost lost. The Architect Sir Christopher Wren was employed to turn Hampton Court into a rival of the Palace of Versailles. Luckily for us, the King ran out of money, and today we are left with a palace containing two distinct parts, Tudor and Baroque.

For those interested in Ghosts, Hampton Court is the place to come! Many visitors often feel faint in the haunted gallery, and reports of phantoms, and ghosts are common among staff and visitors.

On this tour we will also have the chance to wander around the beautiful gardens at Hampton Court. We can pop in to King Henry VIII personal Tennis court, or perhaps visit the worlds largest Grape Vine planted by the famous Landscaper Lancelot Capability Brown.

Remember, as with all my tours what we see and do is up to you, and you are in charge of our schedule. I am a personal guide exclusively for you.

Duration: 5 hours