Information on opening hours and palace or route closures
Palace, Gardens and Tiltyard Café opening hours
Week commencing - 08 December
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 10:00-16:00
Thursday 10:00 - 16:00
Friday 10:00 - 16:00
Saturday 10:00 - 16:00
Sunday 10:00 - 16:00
Last admission: 15:00.
12-14 December 2025: The Festive Fayre in the gardens is open until 17:00.
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday Closed
Thursday Closed
Friday Closed
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 10:00 - 16:00/Deli bar: 10:00 - 16:00/ Hot food: 11:30 - 15:00
Thursday 10:00 - 16:00/Deli bar: 10:00 - 16:00/ Hot food: 11:30 - 15:00
Friday 10:00 - 16:00/Deli bar: 10:00 - 16:00/ Hot food: 11:30 - 15:00
Saturday 10:00 - 16:00/Deli bar: 10:00 - 16:00/ Hot food: 11:30 - 15:00
Sunday 10:00 - 16:00/Deli bar: 10:00 - 16:00/ Hot food: 11:30 - 15:00
Gardens open days
The gardens will be open for free entry on the following dates throughout the year, with no tickets or pre-booking required. Entrance to the Palace, the Maze and the Magic Garden will still require a ticket.
Dogs are not permitted unless they are trained assistance dogs.
2025
- 26 December (wilderness garden only)
2026
- 17 and 18 January
- 14 and 15 March
- 09 and 10 May
- 12 and 13 September
- 10 and 11 October
- 21 and 22 November
- 26 December (Wilderness only)
The Chapel Royal
This is a working community chapel, which means it may be subject to short-notice closures. The Chapel closes on Sundays for religious services and on other holy days.
The Chapel Royal is open from 10:00 - 16:00 every Wednesday - Saturday.
Route closures
Pond Garden and Great Vine
The Pond Garden and Great Vine will be closed on the following dates:
- 17-19 December
Great Fountain Garden
The Great Fountain Garden will be closed for event setup / take down on the following dates:
- Thursday 11 December (The Privy Garden remains open)
Georgian Story
The Georgian Story (Queen's State Apartments) will be closed from 28 - 30 January 2026 for urgent maintenance work. Visitors can instead visit the Queen's Private Apartments which will be specially opened during these three days.
The Queen's Private Apartments
The Queen's Private Apartments are currently closed.
Conservation works
Important conservation work will be taking place at the palace. Learn more about upcoming closures before your visit below.
Great Gatehouse
The Great Gatehouse (main visitor entrance) will be closed until May 2026 with scaffolding in place.
Seymour Gate will be the main entrance during this time - a large entrance gate to the left of the Great Gatehouse at the front of the palace.
Base Court
Base Court will be closed with a restricted view for conservation until June 2026. 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.
The Mantegna Gallery
The Mantegna Gallery is closed until 2026. Two paintings from The Triumphs of Caesar can be seen in The Georgian Story / Queen's Apartments during this time.