Hampton Court Palace hatches plans for Spring family fun

Lindt GOLD BUNNY Hunt – 23 March – 14 April

Tulip Festival – 8 - 29 April

The gardens and courtyards at Hampton Court Palace will be awash with colour this Spring, with visitors of all ages invited to experience tens of thousands of dazzling tulips, take part in a tasty Easter trail, and uncover historic stories from the past.

The popular Easter hunt will return to Henry VIII’s famous palace from 23 March – 14 April, with families invited to explore the gardens on the hunt for hidden Lindt GOLD BUNNY statues, peeking out from the Spring blooms. Each statue offers a chance to match the names of influential characters from Hampton Court Palace’s history to the distinctive red ribbons, with a little Lindt GOLD BUNNY 10g chocolate treat awaiting those who find each of the statues hidden along the trail. Visitors during the Easter holidays will also have the chance to encounter a selection of these characters roaming the palace throughout the day.

Later in the Spring, the palace will burst into colour with over 100,000 bulbs for the annual Tulip Festival. Visitors are invited to enjoy one of the UK’s largest displays of planted tulips from 8 - 29 April, as the bright blooms burst from every corner of the formal gardens and historic cobbled courtyards.

Hampton Court Palace has a long association with the elegant tulip, as former resident Queen Mary II was a keen horticulturist and collected exotic plants to feature in the gardens at the palace. The prized tulip was first introduced to the British Isles in the 1630s, but visitors will be able to admire a number of historic varieties of tulip in the Lower Orangery Garden stretching back to the 1500s thanks to with a collaboration with Hortus Bulborum, in the Netherlands.

New for this year, thousands of tulips will spill from a Victorian horse cart in the heart of the palace courtyards, giving the appearance of a Dutch flower seller’s cart in this dramatic Tudor space. Visitors can expect to be delighted by dazzling displays of tulips across the gardens, including ‘floating’ bowls in the Great Fountain and a free style of planting in the kitchen gardens to show off a huge variety of tulip types. Over 10,000 bright bulbs will make for the perfect photo opportunity in Fountain Court, at the heart of Queen Mary II’s baroque palace.

For those wanting to discover more, expert Palace Hosts will also be delivering daily Tulip Talks, sharing the history of the most coveted flower of the 18^th century and the Queen who introduced them to Hampton Court.

Rachel Mackay, Head of Hampton Court Palace, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming visitors back into our gardens at Hampton Court Palace this Spring with a whole host of events and activities for all ages to enjoy. From Lindt GOLD BUNNY hunts to glorious gardens filled with tulips, the palace really will be a sight to behold throughout the Easter holidays and beyond.”

Visitors to the palace this Spring are also invited to explore the interiors of Hampton Court Palace – walking in the footsteps of joint Stuart rulers William and Mary, Henry VIII’s Tudor court, and other famous figures from the past. Little ones can let off steam in the Magic Garden, Hampton Court Palace’s magical adventure playground, and warm up by the roaring fire in the Tudor Kitchens.

Notes to editors

The Lindt GOLD BUNNY hunt runs from 23 March – 14 April and is included in the cost of palace admission. Find out more here: https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/whats-on/easter-lindt-gold-bunny-hunt/#gs.42sp4u

The Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival runs from 8 - 29 April 2024 and is included in the cost of palace admission. Find out more about the Tulip Festival here: https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/whats-on/tulip-festival/

Hampton Court Palace tickets:

For further information or images, please contact Jessica England in the HRP Press Office via jessica.england@hrp.org.uk / 020 3166 6166

Historic Royal Palaces is a team of people who love and look after six of the most wonderful palaces in the world. We create space for spirits to stir and be stirred. We want everyone to feel welcome and accepted. We tell stories about the monarchs you know and the lives you don’t. We let people explore and we set minds racing. We are a charity and your support gives the palaces a future, for everyone. 

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