Dementia-friendly programme

Dementia-Friendly Autumnal Walk

Date: Wednesday 15 October 2025
Time: 11:00 - 12:30

This event is open to anyone living with or affected by dementia, our care home partners and carers.

Join the community team for a relaxing walk to help boost your mood and wellbeing by taking in some of the seasonal highlights of the palace gardens. We will begin and end with a hot drink. The walk will last approximately 60 minutes.

You will be given tickets to continue your visit to the palace after the walk. We aim to make the walk as access as possible, please contact the community team if you would like more information on the route we will follow.

Behind the scenes with the Ceremonial Dress Collection

Date: Thursday 23 October 2025
Time: 10:30 – 12:00, repeated at 13:00 – 14:30 (for individuals living with dementia and their companions) 

Meet our curatorial team for a glimpse behind the scenes as they open up the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection and their conservation studio.

Explore the historical collection here: The Royal Wardrobe - Google Arts & Culture

Sensory Storytelling: Shakespeare’s Kings Men at Hampton Court Palace

Date: Tuesday 04 November 2025
Time: 11:00 - 14:30 (you are welcome to arrive from 10:30)

This event is open to anyone living with or affected by dementia, our care home partners and carers.

Join Kat Gill as she explores the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the Great Hall where in 1603 William Shakespeare's 'King's Men' first performed Macbeth for the new Stuart King, James I.

A light lunch and refreshments will be provided. The session is accessible to wheelchair users. 

Creative Workshop: Winter Wonders 

Date: Wednesday 26 November 2025
Time: 10:30 - 12:30 (for individuals living with dementia and their companions) and 14:00 – 16:00 (for individuals who have been or are currently carers for someone living with dementia) 

Welcome winter to the palace gardens with artist Alex Hirtzel. Discover new, playful, creative techniques using paint, inks and natural resources as we capture the beauty of the season on paper. Refreshments will be provided.

The session is accessible to wheelchair users.

Winter Celebration: Tinsel and Tunes!

Date: Tuesday 09 December 2025
Time: 13:00 – 16:00

This event is open to anyone living with or affected by dementia, our care home partners and carers.

Celebrate the festive season with music, song and Christmas crafts. Seasonal festive treats and light refreshments will be provided. The session is accessible to wheelchair users.

Dementia-friendly palaces

We are committed to making Historic Royal Palaces a Dementia-friendly heritage organisation across all of our sites.

We deliver the Alzheimer’s Society’s 'Dementia Friends' information sessions to our staff and volunteers in order to raise awareness and understanding so that we are better able to support people living with dementia at our palaces and in our communities. We are a proud member of Age UK Dementia Friendly Communities Richmond.

Dementia-friendly heritage group

We lead the Dementia Friendly Heritage Group, a peer network comprising 18 heritage sites across the UK who are committed to developing and sharing dementia-friendly heritage best practice, thinking and support. New members are more than welcome! Please contact communities@hrp.org.uk for more information or to join the network.