Visiting London? Don't Want to Miss Out?

See every museum, landmark, and attraction that needs to be booked ahead.

Visiting London? Don't Want to Miss Out?

See every museum, landmark, and attraction that needs to be booked ahead.

Visiting London? Don't Want to Miss Out?

See every museum, landmark, and attraction that needs to be booked ahead.

When Booking Ahead Actually Matters

Weekends and bank holidays. These are the few days that frequently do sell out at Hampton Court Palace, and they are also often priced hire. You should book ahead if visiting at these times.

School holidays. Half terms and the summer holidays fill the mid-morning slots first.

Event days. The palace runs a busy slate of events through the year, and an event date can fill the whole site even when the surrounding week is quiet.

Quiet winter weekdays are the exception. On a rainy Tuesday in February you can simply turn up at the ticket office and walk in.

What It Costs

Hampton Court Palace utilizes dynamic pricing.

Adults, 18 to 64: £29.00 off-peak, £32.00 peak. Peak means weekends and bank holidays.

Children, 5 to 15: £14.50 off-peak, £16.00 peak.

Under 5s go free and do not need a ticket.

At checkout you will be asked for an optional 10% donation. If you are a UK taxpayer, ticking the Gift Aid box lets the charity claim an extra 25% of your ticket value at no cost to you.

Shifting a visit from Saturday to Friday will save you about £3 a head and will lead to a quieter experience. With a family of four that is £12 and a much better morning in the Tudor kitchens.

What Booking Ahead Gets You

The main thing you get with an advance ticket is certainty on a date you cannot move. If you have one day in London and Hampton Court is right in the middle of your agenda, do not leave it to chance at the door.

The secondary benefit is choice of time slot. The palace is large and the best hours are the first two, before the coach groups arrive and before the maze fills up.

The Short Version

Book if you are planning on visiting on a bank holiday, during school holidays, or on an event date. Otherwise the ticket office on the day is a very reasonable bet, and off-peak tickets are cheaper anyway. If your date is fixed, book regardless. It costs nothing to take the chance out of your holiday.

For opening hours, getting there from central London, how long to allow and what not to miss inside, see our full Hampton Court Palace guide.