Schools tudor festival
Hampton Court Palace - Monday 23 to Friday 27 June 2025
Please note that this festival is for Key stages 2-3 and Special schools only. We will not be taking bookings for school sessions during this week.
Join us for the first schools only Tudor festival, in the gardens at Hampton Court Palace, as we bring to life the sights, sounds, smells and excitement of King Henry VIII and his court on tour.
During his lifetime, Henry went on several large-scale tours of the country to boost his popularity and consolidate his power. These tours were known as ‘royal progresses’ and were huge undertakings, involving hundreds of people.
Along the routes, ordinary people would clamour for sight of their awe-inspiring King. At key points along the way, there would have been feasts, pageantry, music and performances to entertain the King and his entourage, as they spent the night in royal residences and manor houses all over the country.
The festival will attempt to recreate the colour, activity and atmosphere of a royal progress through a series of demonstration tents, performances and historical characters. Through vibrant, interactive and multi-sensory activities, students will broaden their understanding of the Tudor world whilst having lots of fun!
Schools coming to the Tudor Festival
What's included for schools
Schools will be given an allocated timeslot to explore the outdoor festival site, visiting special tents where Tudor demonstrations of such things as cooking and costume will take place. There will also be timed performances, Tudor games to play and opportunities to meet members of King Henry’s court! When not at the festival, schools are welcome to explore the Palace and gardens.
Admission to the festival
Admission to the festival is £4.10 per student (KS2-3 & Special schools) and includes access to Hampton Court Palace and gardens. For more information on adult pricing, please visit our FAQs page.
Please note that we can only accept up to 150 students per mainstream school, and Special schools can book 1 class of up to 10 students. Bookings are strictly on a first come, first served basis.
Travel subsidy
A small amount of funding is available to assist eligible schools with travel costs to the festival. To be eligible, schools must be state funded (unless a Special school), and meet the following criteria:
- At least 30% of pupils eligible for Pupil Premium*
- 15% SEND pupils*
*Special schools do not need to adhere to these criteria.
Funding will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. To find out how much travel funding your school may be eligible for, please see our funding map here.
To apply for a travel subsidy, please complete the relevant section of the online booking form below and ensure that the relevant box is ticked.
Tudor festival FAQs Book a space at the Tudor Festival