History and stories

Explore the wonders of this majestic building, and the stories behind them

Discover some of Hampton Court’s sights and stories, whether you plan to visit or just want to learn more about this enchanting palace and its history.

History of Hampton Court Palace

A history of Hampton Court Palace's development and a timeline of some of the palace's most significant events:

A building history - Hampton Court Palace
Events timeline

Palace people

Explore 'Palace people' for profiles, stories and little-known facts about some of England’s famous monarchs and interesting characters associated with Hampton Court Palace.

Monarchs often associated with the palace:

Henry VIII (r 1509-47)
Queen Mary I (r 1553-8)
James I (r 1603-25)
Charles I (r 1625-1649)
Charles II (r 1630-85)
William III and Mary II
George II (r 1727-60)

Interesting characters associated with the palace:

Historic hotspots

Visit the 'Historic hotspots' where dramatic events in the history of Hampton Court Palace unfolded:

Charles I escapes
Catherine Howard accused of adultery!

Ghosts stories

Discover 'Ghost stories' from Hampton Court Palace

Palace highlights

Visit 'Palace highlights' and discover why these are not to be missed at Hampton Court Palace:

Exhibitions

Exhibitions and interactive displays at the palace:

Explore the collections

Discover some of the palaces' treasures, both those on display and those in storage, through images, stories and films. Find out more >

Your vote
counts

Which is your favourite part of Hampton Court Palace?

The Maze
Henry VIII's Kitchens
The Chapel Royal
The Great Hall
The Triumphs of Caesar
The Gardens
Live Tudor cookery

Shop online

Anne Boleyn 'B' necklace

Hampton Court tickets

Book your tickets online to beat the queues and save money.

Buy tickets online

Visit Hampton Court

Everything you need to plan your visit to the majestic Hampton Court Palace.

Plan your visit to Hampton Court Palace

Royal Beds

Queen Charlotte's Bed at Hampton Court Palace

Visit our new exhibition, Secrets of the Royal Bedchamber at Hampton Court Palace. These are beds - but not as you know them...

Discover Secrets of the Royal Bedchamber

Palace Connections

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History and stories