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What's happening at Hampton Court Palace?

Our vital conservation work and room closures

We are proud to care for some of the most important buildings in the world. It is vital that we carry out expert conservation at Hampton Court Palace to maintain, protect and preserve the palace for everyone to enjoy.

In 2025 and 2026, some rooms and routes will have reduced access or be closed as we carry out vital conservation work.

Read more about the expert conservation work taking place and find out what you can see on a visit to Hampton Court Palace. Please check our full upcoming closures at the palace before booking a ticket.

East Front Facade

Scaffolding on the East Front facade from January to June 2025. This does not affect access to the Great Fountain Garden.

The East Front facade showcases the ornate architecture that was fashionable at the time of William III and Mary II's reign. It was commissioned by the royal couple to complement their new baroque palace, designed by Christopher Wren. The facade can be viewed from the beautiful Great Fountain Garden.

Our conservation team has discovered a window in Queen Mary's closet that has been sealed shut and cannot be easily reached. The process will involve taking apart the window so it can be cleaned. We hope this work might lead to more discoveries about Christopher Wren's updated Baroque design to the original Tudor palace.

This important conservation project gives insight into how the palace might still have more to reveal to us about its past.

See the baroque East Front facade and the Great Fountain Garden on our 360-degree image, created in partnership with Google Arts & Culture.

Great Gatehouse

The Great Gatehouse has over 500 years of conservation history and the conservation team's efforts will be the next step in continuing to keep the building safe and preserved for visitors to enjoy.

The Great Gatehouse been the main entrance to the palace for centuries and would have been a familiar site for Tudor courtiers and their servants upon arriving at Hampton Court. From this entrance, they could walk towards the palace’s courtyards.

Explore the Great Gatehouse on our 360-degree image, created in partnership with Google Arts & Culture.

Base Court

Base Court is the first courtyard visitors normally step into upon entering via the main Great Gatehouse entrance. Visitors can access all State Apartments, the Tudor Kitchens and The Tudor World exhibition.

Conservation work in Base Court is part of one of the largest archaeological excavations at the palace, which could offer a tantalising glimpse into Tudor history.

This was the ‘arrivals’ area with guest lodgings available for courtiers and their servants. Here, up to 1000 people would gather at Base Court and it was an important function of life at the Tudor court as part of a ‘royal filtering system’.

Visitors of high rank would be able to move forward beyond the courtyard to other rooms like the Great Hall and Great Watching Chamber.

Explore Base Court on our 360-degree image, created in partnership with Google Arts & Culture.

What can I see on my visit?

There is still lots to see and enjoy, making a visit to Hampton Court Palace a memorable day out. The following are included in your ticket. 

  • The Tudor World in the Wolsey Rooms
  • Great Hall
  • Wolsey's Closet
  • William III's apartments
  • Henry VIII's kitchens
  • Chapel Royal
  • Cumberland Art Gallery
  • Great Watching Chamber
  • Hampton Court Gardens including the Maze, Magic Garden, and Privy Garden and more.

Explore the palace and gardens with our free visitor guide, audio tour guide, including our popular film locations tour. Browse some of the highlights and exhibitions below. 

You can also find all of our events at the palace on our What's on listing page.

What's on at Hampton Court Palace

Opening hours

Select the date of your visit:

Choose a date

Open

Open (route closures)

Closed

Monday 10:00-17:30

Tuesday 10:00-17:30

Wednesday 10:00-17:30

Thursday 10:00-17:30

Friday 10:00-17:30

Saturday 10:00-17:30

Sunday 10:00-17:30

Last admission: 16:30.

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How you can support our conservation work

Support us

Historic Royal Palaces is an independent charity that looks after six of the most wonderful palaces in the world. Find out how you can support us and help us maintain the palaces for everyone. 

How you can support us

Hampton Court before Henry VIII

What archaeology can tell us about Hampton Court's early Tudor history

Look beneath your feet in Clock Court and you'll find hints of what Hampton Court was like before Henry VIII.

Read the blog

Unearthing two early Tudor buildings at Hampton Court Palace

In 2017, our conservation team has conducted excavations around the Great Gatehouse, also known as West Front, and uncovered fascinating discoveries about earlier Tudor buildings.

Read the blog

Conserving our palaces

The conservation team manage and look after six palaces and their collections. Find out how the team protect our historical buildings.

Learn more

Watch: Conservators Behind The Scenes

While the palace was closed during the pandemic, conservators continued to carry out vital work.

Follow preventive conservator Jen Tran in her daily duties and get a rare glimpse behind the scenes of conservation at Hampton Court Palace.

Follow preventive conservator Jen Tran in her daily duties. Showcasing a rare glimpse behind the scenes of our vital conservation work undertaken at Hampton Court Palace.

Video transcript

Follow along with an interactive transcript of Conservators Behind the Scenes at Hampton Court Palace. A link to open the transcript can be found in the description.

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