Private Guided Tour Secrets of the Six Wives Hampton Court Palace
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
This tour is for visitors who want to focus an in-depth exploration of the 16th century Tudor side of Hampton Court Palace and to explore history where it happened; the life, loves and intrigues of Henry VIII, his six wives and children.
Your guide, Sarah, aka Hampton Court Tour Guide, is a social historian, storyteller and expert on the 16th century Tudor period. She is a qualified professional Blue Badge Tourist Guide and has worked at Hampton Court Palace as a member of staff since 2008, she has been interviewed on the BBC and acknowledged by authors, so is ideally placed to impart the secrets of those who have lived, worked and died within the palace walls.
Chapel may be closed on Sundays.
Entrance fees excluded.
Hampton Court Palace is a 'Palace of two halves'; the 16th century Tudor and the 17th century Baroque rebuild by Sir Christopher Wren. If you wish to be guided around the whole palace, please see Sarah's other listings and book the 'Expert' tour which is slightly longer.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Hampton Court Palace
This tour is for those particularly interested in the detail of the Tudor Palace rather than Baroque. We will walk in the footsteps of the Tudor kings and queens, following the stories, life and loves of the notorious Henry VIII, his children and his six wives; Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleve, Catherine Howard and Kathryn Parr. I will show you the magnificent State Apartments, Tudor kitchens, wine cellars, and beautiful Tudor Pond Garden. As a trained storyteller I will bring alive the characters from the past, the tales of mistresses, betrayals and the ghosts that haunt the galleries. The cost of my tour covers a private group of up to 15 people for 2 hours, by prior arrangement I can accommodate more guests and increase the length of the tour. Entrance fees to Hampton Court Palace are NOT included in the price of this tour booking. Entrance tickets should be purchased through the Historic Royal Palace's website.
Options
Private Guided Tour Secrets of the Six Wives Hampton Court Palace
What‘s Included
Expert insider knowledge of the architecture, artworks and history
Sarah has worked as a Guide Lecturer at Hampton Court Palace since 2008
Private guided tour with Sarah, accredited through the Institute of Tourist Guiding, White Badge
Entrance fees; guests must purchase their own tickets from the Historic Royal Palaces website
No food or drink are included; there is a cafe onsite where refreshments can be purchase if required
Transport; guests will need to make their own way to the meeting point
Gratuities
Parking fees
Admission fees are not included
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
36 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Sarah Made Hampton Court Feel Alive!
686koraya,Jun 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sarah was absolutely excellent. She is not only an accredited London Blue Badge Tourist Guide, but also an accredited guide for Hampton Court Palace, and this was clearly reflected in the quality of her tour. Her storytelling was engaging, clear, well structured, and full of fascinating historical detail. The “Secrets of the Six Wives” theme was brought to life beautifully, with the right balance of knowledge, humour, and professionalism. I felt very lucky to be part of her tour group. Sarah made Hampton Court Palace feel vivid, dramatic, and unforgettable. Absolutely, highly recommended. A big thank you, Sarah!
Highlight of our trip!
Maran G,Apr 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour was spectacular—everything we could have hoped for. Sarah was fantastic! She was incredibly knowledgeable and had a wonderful way of making it meaningful for our daughters. We will definitely be booking with her again if we ever make it back to Hampton Court.
Oh my god, hands down...
Julie W,Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Oh my god, hands down best tour I’ve ever had. Sarah was amazing! She was so informative and really did such a great job tailoring the tour to our interests and answering all our questions. I especially loved the small details she would point out like the graffiti carved into the walls. I cannot recommend this tour enough! I would love to come back again and do the longer tour.
Highly recommend
Discover06443177596,Aug 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were very fortunate to have a guided tour with Sarah, and she was absolutely amazing! Our 9-year-old is very into Henry VIII and the history of him and his wives, and she was able to answer all of her questions. She added so much color and commentary to the tour. It was a true delight, and our family loved every minute of it
Sarah gave us a wonderful...
Elizabeth A,Jul 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Sarah gave us a wonderful tour of the Tudor section of Hampton Court Palace, really tailoring her information to my 8 year old's interests. We learned so much, and she kept us both very engaged for nearly two hours. Would definitely recommend this tour!
Exceeded expectations
hatcher50,Jul 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sarah is fantastic at making history come alive in a very conversational way. She gives enough information so you can appreciate where you are and what you are looking at, but not so much info that it overwhelms you. Sarah is personable and answers any questions you may have. I very much enjoyed my time with her.
Time Well Spent; Lots of Info and Fun
Susanne R,Jun 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Wonderful tour of the Palace. Fabulous guide who knows absolutely everything about the palace, and conveys that information in a fun and relatable way.
Very informative and...
karal1946,May 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Very informative and interesting experience Highly recommended for anyone even if you don’t have a background in English history.
If you're into history, book this!
Valerie O,May 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00FANTASTIC! If you are into history, do this. Went over time just because we were so into the history! Sarah's depth of knowledge was amazing... this was hands down the best tour I booked!
Thoughtful Historian
freshjyve,Apr 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sarah was an amazing guide. The smartest and kindest guide we could have for a multigenerational family visit - everyone’s interests were catered to- we should have booked whole palace tour. Her other super power is as a host. She was very aware of the needs of our members. We felt cared for. If you have young people in your group, age 8-16, definitely book a guide - it slows down the experience and everyone gets more from it.
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Operated by Sarah Slater Blue Badge Tourist Guide @ The History Guides