Sensory Palaces

A Wellbeing Programme for People Living with Dementia and Their Companions

For nearly a decade, our Sensory Palaces programme has enabled people living with dementia and their companions to explore our palaces’ stories and spaces using their senses. Together, we have evidence the positive impact of heritage, storytelling and creativity on participants’ mental health and wellbeing.

We know as the ageing population grows, there is an increased need for programmes that support adults with cognitive impairment and dementia. We want Sensory Palaces to support this audience. Our current programme does not enable us to meet the high demands of requests. We know this will continue unless we rethink our offer.

For this reason, Sensory Palaces will be on a short break from January 2024.

Our team will be hard at work developing a new plan for Sensory Palaces. By spring 2024, we plan to launch a refreshed programme that will enable more people to access our stories and spaces, more independently.

When

New programme in spring 2024

Booking information

Email to register your interest in dementia-friendly programme by contacting the Communities team below.

Free (advance booking required)

Tours and talks

Upcoming online sessions

A Christmas Story

This session take place on Zoom.

Join us for a festive celebration of food - from Tudor feasts to modern day turkey dinners.

Date: Tuesday 05 December
Time: 11:00–12:30

Email [email protected] for the joining instructions.

Upcoming sessions on site at Hampton Court Palace

Christmas at the palace

We will explore how Christmas was celebrated at Hampton Court Palace throughout the ages. Come along to experience the sights and sounds of Christmas at court.

Access: Ground Floor
Date: Thursday 15 December
Time: 10:30-12:30 and 14:00–16:00

Note: This session is fully booked

An older man enjoying dressing up in Elizabethan costume as a woman looks on and laughs at a Sensory Palaces dementia-friendly programme session, 2020.

Sensory Palaces Programme Evaluation 2018

An evaluation of the benefits for people living with dementia and their carers and the impact of the heritage setting.

Download summary report

Download full report

Dementia-friendly palaces

We are committed to making Historic Royal Palaces a Dementia-friendly heritage organisation across all of our sites.

We deliver the Alzheimer’s Society’s 'Dementia Friends' information sessions to our staff and volunteers in order to raise awareness and understanding so that we are better able to support people living with dementia at our palaces and in our communities. We are a proud member of Age UK Dementia Friendly Communities Richmond.

Dementia-friendly heritage group

We lead the Dementia Friendly Heritage Group, a peer network comprising 18 heritage sites across the UK who are committed to developing and sharing dementia-friendly heritage best practice, thinking and support. New members are more than welcome! Please contact [email protected] for more information or to join the network.