Private Tour
Hampton Court Palace 3hr tour: Henry VIII's & William III's intriguing Palaces
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Hampton Court Palace, the home of England's most notorious king Henry VIII, has tales of ghosts, executions and his expanding collection of wives! Perfect if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of central London, Hampton Court has something to please all the family.
There are two palaces to look round, Henry VIII's and William III's and the suite of Georgian rooms tell the tale of one of the most dysfunctional dynasties ever to take the throne of England. The stunning gardens, a maze and the chance to see the complicated game of real tennis in action, makes this a wonderful day out.
My name is Sandy and this private tour accommodates groups of up to 5 people only meaning everyone can feel comfortable throughout. Please buy your entry tickets to the Palace, which is an extra cost to my tour, in advance as this will make it easier on the day.
100% of my Trip Advisor/Viator reviews are graded 'Excellent' so I must be doing something right!
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
My name is Sandy and my aim is to give you the best experience you could possibly have so if you have any special requests, be sure to tell me what they are! If you need to go at a slower pace, or stop for a break midway through the tour, that will also be fine. There are plenty of places to sit during the tour and I will let you know where these are.
Please note I will ALWAYS make contact with you to finalise the details of the tour, so if you have not heard from me a week before the tour date, please contact me.
The tour will cover roughly 2 miles in total and last up to 3 hours
The tour will go ahead come rain or shine so please don't be put off by the weather. Do wear comfortable shoes and clothing and, if needs be, bring waterproofs and an umbrella.
Due to uneven surfaces, and an unreliable lift used to take customers to the first floor, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair. Visitors must be able to cope with stairs and so this tour is not suitable for anyone with serious medical conditions and back problems.
When you turn into the palace grounds from the main road, follow the driveway with grassy stretches on either side and I will meet you at the end of the drive in front of the West Front Gatehouse
The tour starts at 10.00 a.m. but once a firm booking has been made, the start time can be adjusted to fit with your arrival time at the palace.
If you need directions to travel to Hampton Court from your hotel, please contact me on [email protected]
100% of my Trip Advisor/Viator reviews are graded 'excellent' and as I now have over 100 reviews in total, I must be doing something right!
I prefer to guide small groups of up to five family or friends. This way, everyone can hear what I'm saying in the sometimes narrow corridors of Henry's haunted palace. Also, everyone can feel relaxed enough to ask as many questions as they want to.
I only accept bookings directly from customers. Any bookings made by a travel agent on behalf of a customer will be cancelled.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Sandy is a fun and professional local guide, accredited by the ITG and University of Westminster
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Transportation to/from attractions
Cost of entry tickets to Hampton Court Palace
What To Expect
Hampton Court Palace
There is so much to see at Hampton Court! The main attraction is Henry VIII's palace including his magnificent Great Hall, the vast kitchens and the eerie Haunted Gallery where the ghost of one of Henry's wives has taken up residence; but there is a second palace at Hampton Court, that built for William III. A ceremonial staircase leads up to William's state apartments where there is a huge collection of weaponry, exquisite furnishings, a couple of optical illusions and some very peculiar etiquettes! If there's time, we can also fit some of the following into your tour: a wander through the apartments which belonged to the Georgians, perhaps the most dysfunctional dynasty ever to take the throne of England; watch the ancient, complicated sport of real tennis and explore some of the 60 acres of beautiful gardens including the largest and oldest productive grapevine in the world. There is so much to see, do and be enthralled by - you will not be disappointed!
Options
Hampton Court Palace p.m. tour
2-3 hour tour of Henry VIII's Tudor palace, William III's State Apartments and the south side of the gardens
Hampton Court Palace a.m. tour
2-3 hour tour of Henry VIII's Tudor Palace, William III's State Apartments and the south side of the gardens
Reviews
85 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Tailormade Hampton Court Tour with Sandy
David TheVoyager,
Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sandy delivered an outstanding, tailored Hampton Court Palace tour. She was knowledgeable and engaging, bringing history to life with clear explanations. She customized the 3-hour itinerary to our interests, emphasizing Henry VIII’s and William III’s palaces, which deepened our understanding. Highlights included expert storytelling linking events to artifacts and architecture, thoughtful itinerary adjustments, and friendly, patient guidance throughout. If you want a personalized, insightful visit, Sandy is an excellent choice. Highly recommended.
Great private tour of Hampton Court Palace
MaryP851,
Oct 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful tour of Hampton Court Palace with Sandy. Not only does Sandy know her Tudor history, she makes it fun to learn about all the characters and the intrigue of this era. She had entertaining stories to tell and interesting things to point out in the palace. Our three hours flew by. We appreciated Sandy giving us some options of what to see, and she really made the most of our time with her. We have found great value in private tours, and Sandy is a first-class guide. We are looking forward to touring with her again when we return to London.
Sandy was a very...
Jeffrey B,
Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Sandy was a very knowledgeable & interesting guide. She knew historical trivia that one normally doesn't find in history books. We enjoyed our tour very much & highly recommend it:
Highlight of My Entire Trip!
914jeffu,
Oct 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This turns out to be a solo tour, which means you can go at your own pace with your guide. That made the trip much more enjoyable.
Great tour with Sandy!
Kimberly M,
Sep 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This is an ABSOLUTE 5 star experience. I love an audio tour as they give very good basic information but Sandy took Hampton Court to the next level....she provide a great base of information but also they little extras that made it all come to life. She made suggestions on what to see and in what order. She was able to answer questions clearly and with great ease. Sandy's communication from booking the tour right up to post tour was top notch including transportation information from hotel to Court entry and including restraint and ice cream recommendations! BTW...there is an ice cream truck - Marco's that has the very best single with flake you will ever had. Seriously! I will be 100% honest...I originally thought three hours? What if I do not like her?! However at the end I was really sad to see her go! I felt like I had spent the morning with a friend. FIVE stars! TWO thumbs up! ***Very easy trip ride to/from London; do not skip the gardens (as seen in Bridergton) ; walk through gardens to the Thames; do an early tour with Sandy as when we were leaving the lines had grown significantly.
An Enriching Tour
Tom M,
Aug 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide was fabulous! Our adult daughters were with us, both of whom are avid followers of English history. They peppered our guide with questions, and she adeptly fielded them all with a wonderful combination of wit, humor and knowledge. Amazing!
Excellent tour by Sandy Rhodes
whw2025,
Aug 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sandy Rhodes was such a delight. We really enjoyed our time with her and we learned so much about Hampton Court and the Tudors.
An absolute must!!
337cortneym,
Aug 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We loved this tour so much! Sandy was knowledgeable, patient, and a joy to explore the palace with!! The grounds and gardens are incredible - a must see on a visit to London. Seeing these grounds and having Sandy as our guide to ask questions and hear more details and stories about this magnificent palace was my favorite part of our trip. Thanks, Sandy!
great tour!
mgoblue1990,
Aug 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We so enjoyed our tour of Hampton Court with Sandy! she provided great historical detail, which we always appreciate! Sandy does a great job weaving the history together as you go through the different historical parts of this amazing palace! She is also very personable and professional. Thanks, Sandy!
My wife and I had a...
jeffschubiner,
Jul 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00My wife and I had a delightful tour of Hampton Court with our wonderful tour guide, Sandy. Sandy was very knowledgeable and went out of her way to be very accommodating and generous with her time. We highly recommend her and would use her again.
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