Sensory Palaces

A wellbeing programme for people living with dementia and their companions

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When

Selected dates (next session 15 July 2025)

Booking information

Contact the Community Partnerships team with any queries: [email protected]

Free (advance booking required)

Book Sensory Palaces

Tours and talks

About the Wellbeing Programme

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 through their dementia journey.

This year, we are trialling a new session format for Sensory Palaces. The aim to is create a longer, more relaxed experience for individuals, companions and groups affected by dementia.

Upcoming sessions

Sessions will be held on-site at Hampton Court Palace. The session below is sold out, please contact [email protected] to be added to the list for future sessions.

William and Mary: Palace Gardeners

Date: Tuesday 15 July 2025
Time: 10:30 - 14:30

Hampton Court Palace was one of William III and Mary II's favourite palaces. Join us as we learn about their transformation of the palace gardens and their love of plants.

Musician Olivia McLennan will lead us in an interactive musical session to uncover the sights and sounds of the palace gardens and our Gardens team will share their knowledge of our heritage collection of citrus and exotic plants.

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.

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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.