Dementia Friendly Programme

A wellbeing programme for people affected by dementia

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When

Selected dates (next session 15 July 2025)

Booking information

Contact the Community Partnerships team with any queries: communities@hrp.org.uk

Free (advance booking required)

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Tours and talks

About the Wellbeing Programme

For nearly a decade, our dementia-friendly programme has enabled people affected by dementia to explore the stories and spaces of our palaces and gardens to support their mental health and wellbeing.

We aim to create a welcoming environment and a relaxed experience for individuals, companions and groups affected by dementia by encouraging creativity, providing opportunities for social interaction and a person-centred approach.

Upcoming sessions

Sessions will be held on-site at Hampton Court Palace.

William and Mary: Palace Gardeners

Date: Tuesday 15 July 2025
Time: 10:30 - 14:30

Hampton Court Palace was one of William III and Mary II's favourite palaces. Join us as we learn about their transformation of the palace gardens and their love of plants.

Musician Olivia McLennan will lead us in an interactive musical session to uncover the sights and sounds of the palace gardens and our Gardens team will share their knowledge of our heritage collection of citrus and exotic plants.

An older man enjoying dressing up in Elizabethan costume as a woman looks on and laughs at a Sensory Palaces dementia-friendly programme session, 2020.

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Sensory Palaces Programme Evaluation 2018

An evaluation of the benefits for people living with dementia and their carers and the impact of the heritage setting.

Download summary report

Download full report

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.