Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Enter the world of King Henry VIII by exploring his most iconic residence - Hampton Court Palace. This 500 year old building is unique in that it is a palace of two halves – the Tudor side, and the Baroque section built for King William III by Sir Christopher Wren. On a private tour, tailored to your interests, you will explore the palace’s grand state apartments, vast kitchens and magnificent gardens. Your guide will entertain you with stories of the palace’s tantalising history, including Henry’s six wives, court etiquette and the infamous ghosts.
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
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
This is a private tour / activity. Only your group will participate.
What To Expect
Hampton Court Palace
In this palace of two halves, you can look forward to entering the world of Henry VIII and learning about his six wives, on a tour which is tailored to your particular interests. You'll experience the sights and sounds of a working Tudor kitchen, you will see the sumptuous Abraham Tapestries in Henry's Great Hall, and hear the tragic ghost story of Henry's fifth wife in the infamous Haunted Gallery. In contrast to the Tudor palace, you will also experience the Baroque majesty of King William III's apartments. After ascending the Great Staircase, you will marvel at the weapons on display in his Guard Chamber, and have a bird's eye view of the exquisite parterre garden.
Options
Hampton Court Palace Private Guided Tour
What‘s Included
Personal tour with Jo who is accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding.
Jo has worked at Hampton Court for 15 years and has a Drama and Theatre Arts degree.
She has been featured on ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ and BBC’s Timewatch ‘The King’s Servant’
Entrance tickets - can be purchased via the Historic Royal Palaces website. Approx £27
Food and Drink
Transport
Gratuities
Hampton Court Palace
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
51 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Jo made learning 16th century history feel like watching the Real Housewives of Hampton Court
Sheila T,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00What a wonderful experience! Jo delivered the most wonderful and engaging tour of the palace. She’s a treasure trove of knowledge, and her great sense of humor made a ~2hr tour enjoyable even for my 11yo who was itching to get back to the Magic Garden. Our time with Jo was absolutely money well spent, and we’ll remember it forever.
Really great tour!
RennieB22,May 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jo is an amazing tour guide and gave us a detailed and interesting tour of the palace and its links to the royals who lived there. So much better than a group tour. Great experience. Highly recommend!
A fun filled dive into Henry V111 his wifes and Tudor history
SueJim126,May 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We booked a private one-and-a-half-hour tour of Hampton Court Palace, focusing on the history of Henry VIII, his wives, Elizabeth I, and the Tudor court. Our guide, Jo Cooper, was knowledgeable, accommodating, and shared insights we would never have discovered on our own. Her depth of understanding — not just of Tudor history but of Hampton Court as a whole — was truly impressive. Jo has a gift for bringing history to life. She presented facts and stories in a way that was easy to follow yet richly detailed, striking exactly the right balance between depth and accessibility. Everything felt engaging and relevant, making for a genuinely fascinating experience. Her warm, friendly personality added to the enjoyment, turning what could have been a straightforward history lesson into something thoroughly entertaining and memorable. Hampton Court itself is breathtakingly beautiful and absolutely worth a visit. After the tour, we spent time exploring the magnificent gardens — a perfect way to round off a wonderful day.
Hampton Court with a Tudor expert!
Laurie G,May 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I spent a completely wonderful 3 hours with Joan Cooper at Hampton. Court Palace -- a visited tailored SPECIFICALLY with my interests in mind. Excellent communications beforehand, followed by a tour rich in knowledge and insights! I highly, highly recommend this excellent tour!
Learned so much on private tour
Blake A,Apr 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our private tour of Hampton Court with Jo was exceptional. Not only did we feel like we got a comprehensive tour overall, but she patiently answered all our questions and tailored the experience based on our interests. There’s a reason she was on BBC. Funny too. Highly recommend.
Fantastic Tour of the Palace
Kat c,Apr 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had such a fantastic experience at Hampton Court Palace, and a huge part of that was thanks to Jo. We have lived in the Hampton court area for years but wanted some better knowledge of the history of the Palace. Jo was absolutely exceptional from start to finish. Her knowledge was incredible, but what really made the tour stand out was the way she told the stories, bringing the history to life in such an engaging and vivid way. Jo had the entire group completely captivated throughout, and it honestly felt like we were stepping back in time with her. The tour was so well run, fascinating, and enjoyable from beginning to end. It made for a truly memorable day for all of us, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. We’d love to come back again, especially for the ghost tour later in the year! Highly recommend Jo to anyone visiting.
Don’t miss this tour!
Emily B,Apr 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I went on a Hampton Court Palace tour this morning and had the best time! Jo is so incredibly knowledgeable and makes history come alive. We asked a million questions, and she knew the answer to all of them! She catered the tour to our interests. This will be a highlight of my trip! Be sure to allow plenty of time after your tour to see all that Hampton Court has to offer! It is a remarkable place. You are in the best of hands with Jo!
Fantastic Tour Guide
MICHAEL C,Apr 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Jo is an exceptional tour guide. Amazing energy and excitement. Her historical knowledge is unlike anything I’ve seen on a tour like this. Definitely worth the visit.
Great Experience
Conrad J,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Jo was very knowledgeable and tailored her comments to our interests. She shared a lot of information about Henry Viii and King William that we weren't aware of.
This is a must book tour! You will be so glad you did!!!
Kristen B,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00If you are reading this review trying to decide whether it's worth having a guide to visit Hampton Palace.... the answer is YES and you should book with Jo!!!! Jo was so friendly and cheerful with a genuine passion for history. Jo is extremely knowledgeable about the palace and all of its inhabitants from royalty to those grace and favoured. She is very knowledgeable about the different royal houses and relevant players that were integral parts of the different Kings and Queens reigns. We spoke about the Tudor and Stuart houses through present day House of Windsor. Jo answered all of our questions with ease. Jo went above and beyond and exceeded our expectations. She truly made our experience so much better than we could ever have imagined. You will not be disappointed if you book with Jo and be so glad that you did! Put simply Jo was amazing.
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