Step into Christmas magic at Hampton Court Palace

26 November 2025 – 4 January 2026

This festive season, visitors are invited to Hampton Court Palace for a day filled with Christmas magic and historic charm. Dressed up with traditional decorations, the Tudor palace will come alive with merry festivities, historic cookery and jolly tunes from the past.

The roaring fire in Henry VIII’s historic kitchens offers an escape from the chill, where guests can discover the culinary traditions of Christmas past as they experience Tudor cookery in action. From 20 December – 4 January, the Historic Kitchens team will re-create recipes from the Tudor court, providing a glimpse into the lavish Christmas feasts enjoyed centuries ago.

Throughout the Palace, visitors can enjoy live music from musicians playing a mixture of classical tunes and familiar festive melodies. They can then head to the Wine Cellar, where the Palace Hosts will bring the intriguing history of Christmas to life, from tales of festive foods to Charles Dickens. For little ones, the Magic Garden will awaken for a special Christmas opening from 17 December – 4 January, offering a playful outdoor adventure with frosty towers and mythical beasts.

This year, the much-loved Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink will return from 21 November to 4 January, with exciting new activities for families to enjoy. From live ice sculpting displays and a seasonal art exhibition, to DJ sets and a Skating Santa, skaters of all ages and abilities can glide into a day of winter fun. After a skate, visitors can thaw out at the rink’s Café and Bar, which offers hot chocolate, mulled wine and hot toddies. A separate ticket is required for the Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink.

Food lovers and gift shoppers can indulge at the bustling Festive Fayre, a Christmas market set in the Great Fountain Garden, running on 5 – 7 and 12 – 14 December. The gardens will be transformed into a food lover’s paradise, with over 100 independent exhibitors offering artisan food and drink, unique presents, stocking fillers and more. For further seasonal cheer, visitors can enjoy live music on the East Front bandstand and go on horse and cart rides through the stunning palace grounds.

With over 500 years of history to explore, Hampton Court Palace offers an enchanting winter day out. From the lavish Tudor apartments where Queen Elizabeth I once hosted yuletide banquets, to the Great Hall where William Shakespeare performed for King James I during the Christmas festivities of 1603, Hampton Court Palace will bring visitors on a magical journey to the days of Christmas past.

Notes to Editors

For further information and images please contact Stephanie Chan in the Historic Royal Palaces Press Office via [email protected] / 07353 962651

Christmas festivities at Hampton Court Palace

Live music and Tudor cookery will take place over the days of the Festive Fayre (5 – 7 and 12 – 14 December) and 20 December – 4 January (excluding 24 – 26 December). More information here: Christmas Festivities at Hampton Court Palace

Off peak: Adults £28.00 / Children (5-15) £14.00 / Concessions £22.50

Peak (weekends and events): Adults £30.90 / Children (5-15) £15.50 / Concessions £24.70

HRP members go free

Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink

21 November 2025 – 4 January 2026

A separate ticket is required. Tickets start from £18 for adults and £13.50 for children. More information here: Hampton Court Palace ice rink

The Festive Fayre

5 – 7 and 12 – 14 December 2025

Included in standard palace admission. More information here: Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre

Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity that loves and looks after six of the most wonderful palaces in the world. The palaces are the setting for the stories that shape us all, and we’re bringing them to people in ways that mean more to them. We want everyone to find themselves in the spaces and stories we share. 

Registered charity number 1068852. For more information visit www.hrp.org.uk

About Icebox Live

For more information about the Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink, please contact [email protected]

Icebox Live, born out of the award-winning Icebox brand, has grown from creating world-class ice sculptures and installations into producing large-scale events across 23 countries, including ice festivals that have drawn over 60,000 visitors in a single weekend. With a reputation as the global leader in ice design and infrastructure — the only company to install an ice sculpture in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art – the team has delivered iconic projects such as Cambridge North Pole, Ice Skate Vauxhall, London’s largest Christmas tree maze, and consultancy for the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace ice rinks. Now redefining the traditional festive ice rink, Icebox Live is pioneering a new era of stylish, immersive winter experiences that combine sophistication with unforgettable spectacle, steering away from the cheesy Christmas standard event.

About Immediate

For more information about the Festive Fayre, please contact [email protected]

Organised by Immediate Media, the Festive Fayre is now in its 10^th year at Hampton Court Palace. This must-visit event of the season brings together artisan and boutique food and drink businesses serving up an unmatched treat for the tastebuds alongside independent companies with plenty of gifting ideas.

At Immediate, we’re home to some of the biggest and most loved consumer brands in the UK, including Radio Times, Good Food, Nutracheck, HistoryExtra and BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. Our trusted, quality content reaches millions of people a month across digital, print, video, podcasts, apps, live events, tools and services. We’re the destination for people looking to get more joy from the things they love – helping to inspire them, deepen their knowledge, skills and fuel their passions.

For more information, please visit: https://www.immediate.co.uk

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