About Historic Royal Palaces
These are the terms and conditions which will govern the trip for Patrons of Historic Royal Palaces to Ireland and Northern Ireland in September 2026 (Tour).
1. Information about us and how to contact us
1.1 Who we are. We are Historic Royal Palaces, a charity incorporated by Royal Charter with charity number 1068852, and with a registered address of Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, KT8 9AU.
1.2 How to contact us. You can contact us by telephoning our Development Office at 0203 166 6366 or by writing to us at [email protected] or Patrons, c/o Development Office, 2nd Floor Waterloo Block, HM Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB.
1.3 How we may contact you. If we need to contact you we will do so by telephone or by writing to you at the email address or postal address you provide to us on the booking form for the Tour (Booking Form), or which you may update and provide to us subsequently from time to time.
1.4 "Writing" includes emails. When we use the words "writing" or "written" in these Terms and Conditions (Terms), this includes emails.
2. Package and Travel Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations.
2.1 The combination of travel services offered to you on the Tour is a package within the meaning of the Package and Travel Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations (Regulations) (as implemented in the United Kingdom) and you will benefit from the rights applying to packages. As required by law we will have protection in place to refund your payments through ABTOT. A copy of the Regulations can be found at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2018/9780111168479/contents.
3. Our contract with you
3.1 How we will accept your request for a place on the Tour. We will initially provide you with the key details of the Tour set out on the Booking Form, and by completing this with your details, we will interpret this as a request to book a place on the Tour. Our acceptance of your request for a place on the Tour will take place when we email you to accept it (your Booking).
3.2 The terms of the contract between us. When we email you to confirm your place on the Tour, and your Booking is created, a contract will come into existence between you and us. This contract will comprise the Booking Form and these Terms, which together we will refer to as the Contract between us.
3.3 If we cannot accept your request for a place. If we are unable to accept your request for a place on the Tour, we will inform you of this and will not charge you. This might be because of unexpected limits on our resources which we could not reasonably plan for, or because we have identified an error in the Trip Cost or description of the Tour, or because we are unable to meet your specific requirements.
3.4 The Tour may vary slightly from pictures. Any images on our website are for illustrative purposes only, although the Tour will be substantially the same as we describe to you.
3.5 The contracting party. The person who makes the Booking with us (the ‘lead traveller) confirms that they have the authority to agree the Contract on behalf of all persons named on the Booking (the ‘named parties’) and confirms that all of the named parties agree to these Terms. Where the Terms refer to ‘you’ or a ‘named party’ it is referring to all persons named on the Booking or taking part in the Tour. We may deal directly with any named party and the lead traveller agrees that all named parties have the authority to make binding changes to the Contract without the express approval of the lead traveller unless you inform us otherwise in writing.
3.6 Named parties are jointly and separately liable. The named parties on the Booking Form are jointly and separately responsible for ensuring that the obligations on the named parties under these Terms are performed. We reserve the right to make a claim against the lead traveller or a named party where a named party has breached the terms of our Contract with you.
3.7 All persons must be aged 18 or over. All named parties must be aged 18 or over.
3.8 Accuracy of information. The lead traveller is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the personal details or any other information supplied in us in respect to your Booking and for passing on any information regarding the Tour to any named parties, including (but not limited) to information on schedule changes or copies of booking confirmations.
3.9 Timely supply of information. We may need certain information from you so that we can supply the Tour. If you do not give us this information within a reasonable time of us asking for it, or if you give us incomplete or incorrect information, we may either end the Contract (and clause 8.5 will apply) or make an additional charge of a reasonable sum to compensate us for any extra work that is required as a result. We will not be responsible for not supplying (or any delay in supplying) any part of the Tour if this is caused by you not giving us the information we need within a reasonable time of us asking for it.
3.10 Behaviour. You must conduct yourself in an acceptable manner during the Tour. If in our reasonable opinion or in the opinion of any other person in authority, your behaviour or that of any member of your party is causing or may cause distress, danger or annoyance to any other individual, or damage to property, we may terminate your Booking immediately with no further liability to you. You or your party may also be required to pay for loss or damage caused by your actions and you and each member of your party will be jointly and individually liable for any damage or losses caused.
4. Reduced mobility
The Tour is generally suitable for people with reduced mobility although please let us know if you have any specific requirements in respect to accommodation and transport prior to booking.
5. Passport and visa requirements
You are responsible for ensuring you have a valid passport (and any visa requirements) and that you meet the requirements to enter into Ireland and Northern Ireland. Please do ask us if you have any questions on this. We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel or incur any other loss because you have not complied with any passport, visa, immigration or health requirements or other formalities.
6. Costs and payment
6.1 What is the cost of the Tour. The total cost of the Tour is set out on the Booking Form, and is the cost of the travel and accommodation services provided as part of the itinerary for the Tour (Trip Cost). We also invite you to make a non-refundable charitable donation to Historic Royal Palaces (Donation). A suggested donation amount is included on the Booking Form.
6.2 Taxes and duties. All VAT will be included within the costs set out on the Booking Form. You will be separately responsible for paying all tourist taxes, duties, embarkation or disembarkation fees at airports.
6.3 When you must pay and how you must pay. We accept payment by bank transfer. The date for payment will usually be when your Booking is confirmed by us or as otherwise set out in the Booking Form.
6.4 If you are a Patron of Historic Royal Palaces, Inc. If you are a Patron of HRP, Inc. you can make payment directly to Historic Royal Palaces, Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation whose registered address is at 1350 Avenue of the Americas, Floor 2 Suite 266, New York, NY 10019.
7. Changes to the Tour
7.1 Changes to the Tour and these Terms. We may make changes to the Tour and these Terms providing that these changes will not significantly affect your experience, including:
(a) to reflect changes in relevant laws and regulatory requirements; and/or
(b) to provide an opportunity of equal or higher quality which may be incorporated into the itinerary; and/or
(c) to implement minor technical adjustments and improvements, for example to routes of travel routes or to avoid a security threat.
7.2 Significant changes to the Tour and/or these Terms. If we make significant changes to these Terms and/or the Tour prior to the Tour commencing, we will notify you and you may then contact us to end the Contract before the changes take effect and receive a full refund for the Tour.
7.3 Delays outside our control. If our supply of the Tour is delayed by an event outside our control, then we will contact you as soon as possible to let you know and we will take steps to minimise the effect of the delay. Provided we do this we will not be liable for delays caused by the event, but if there is a risk of substantial delay you may contact us to end the Contract and receive a refund for any parts of the Tour that you have paid for but not received.
7.4 Substitutes. With our approval you may transfer your Booking to another person provided that person meets all the requirements relating to the Booking and we are given reasonable notice. Both the person taking over and the person leaving the Booking will be responsible for paying any additional costs arising from the transfer.
8. Cancellation
8.1 Cancelling your Booking. We reserve the right to only accept cancellations in writing. To cancel your Booking and end the Contract with us, please let us know by doing one of the following:
(a) Email. Email us at [email protected]; or
(b) By post. Write to us at Patrons, c/o Development Office, 2nd Floor Waterloo Block, HM Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB,
and in each case, please provide your name, home address, details of your Booking and, where available, your phone number and email address so that we can respond to you.
8.2 Cancellation charges. Cancellation charges will be levied in line with the scale listed on the Booking Form. These charges are based on our commitments, reflecting the costs we must pay to our service providers and will also take into account any cost savings made and/or our ability to resell your place on the Tour to another Patron. Please note that your Donation is non-refundable and will not be returned to you if you cancel your Booking.
8.3 Cancellation for unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. You or we may cancel your Booking if there is an extraordinary circumstance (e.g. natural disaster, act of terrorism, or disease outbreak) that occurs (including at the destination) which significantly affects the Tour and which cannot be avoided by each party taking all reasonable measures. In such cases we will provide a full refund of the Trip Cost but you will not be entitled to any other compensation.
8.4 Ending the contract because of something we have done or are going to do. If you are ending the Contract for a reason set out at (a) to (c) below we will refund you the Trip Cost in full:
(a) we have told you about a substantial upcoming change to the Tour or these Terms which you do not agree to as set out at clauses 7.2 and 7.3 above;
(b) we have suspended supply of the Tour, or notify you we are going to suspend; and/or
(c) you have a legal right to end the Contract because of something we have done wrong.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Donation payment is non-refundable and will not be returned to you.
8.5 We may end the Contract if you break it. We may end the Contract at any time by writing to you if you materially break the Contract including as set out at (a) to (c) below. We will refund any element of the Trip Cost which you have paid in advance (where such monies relate to elements of the Tour we have not yet provided), but we may deduct or charge you compensation for the net costs we will incur as a result of your breaking the Contract (including any of our irrecoverable costs). Examples of where this may apply include:
(a) you do not make any payment to us when it is due and you still do not make payment within 14 days of us reminding you that payment is due; and/or
(b) you do not, within a reasonable time of us asking for it, provide us with information that is necessary for us to provide the services, for example, your address; and/or
(c) we have a legal right to end the Contract because of something you have done wrong.
9. Assistance and travel insurance
9.1 Assistance. We will provide you with appropriate assistance if you find yourself in difficulty during the Tour such as providing you with information on health services and consular assistance. We reserve the right to charge a reasonable fee for such assistance if the difficulty is caused by your negligence or breach of contract.
9.2 Travel insurance. We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance which includes cover for you and all named parties against cancellation charges and repatriation in the event of accident, illness or death, loss of baggage or belongings.
10. Refunds
10.1 How we will refund you. If you are entitled to a refund under these Terms, we will refund you by the method you used for payment.
10.2 When your refund will be made. We will make any refunds due to you as soon as possible. If you are a consumer exercising your right to change your mind then your refund will be made within 14 days of you telling us you have cancelled.
11. If there is a problem
11.1 You are responsible for informing us of any issues with the Contract. You must inform us without undue delay, taking into account the circumstances of the case, of any lack of conformity with the Contract that you become aware of.
11.2 How to tell us about problems. If you have any questions or complaints please contact us. You can telephone our Development Office at 0203 166 6366 or write to us at [email protected] or Patrons, c/o Development Office, 2nd Floor Waterloo Block, HM Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB.
12. Our responsibility for loss or damage suffered by you
12.1 We are not liable where a breach of the Contract is your or another third party’s fault. We will not be held liable where there is a breach of the Contract that is:
(a) attributable to you or a named party;
(b) attributable to unforeseeable or unavoidable actions of a third party not connected to any of the services included in the Tour (for example, where the breach is caused by your flight operator);
(c) due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances (except as set out at clause 8.3).
12.2 We are responsible to you for foreseeable loss and damage caused by us. If we fail to comply with these Terms, we are responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breaking this Contract or our failing to use reasonable care and skill, but we are not responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable. Loss or damage is foreseeable if either it is obvious that it will happen or if, at the time the Contract was made, both we and you knew it might happen, for example, if you discussed it with us during the bookings process.
12.3 Our liability for expenses. We will not pay any compensation or be liable to reimburse you for any incidental expenses that you incur as a result of your Booking which were not reasonably foreseeable at the time the Contract was entered (such as visas, vaccinations, non-refundable flights, travel insurance, etc). You will also be responsible for mitigating any losses as far as reasonably possible.
12.4 Your liability for failure to make payments. If you fail to make payment or otherwise breach the Contract, we reserve the right to hold you responsible for our costs in pursuing a claim against you.
13. How we may use your personal information
We will use your personal information as set out in our privacy policy, a copy of which can be found on our website at https://www.hrp.org.uk/privacy-notice/.
14. Other important terms
14.1 We may transfer this Contract to someone else. We may transfer our rights and obligations under our Contract with you to another organisation. We will always tell you in writing if this happens and we will ensure that the transfer will not affect your rights under the Contract.
14.2 Nobody else has any rights under this Contract. This Contract is between you (including all persons named on the Booking) and us. No other person shall have any rights to enforce any of its terms. Neither of us will need to get the agreement of any other person in order to end the Contract or if we decide to make any changes to these Terms.
14.3 If a court finds part of this Contract illegal, the rest will continue in force. Each of the clauses of these Terms operates separately. If any court or relevant authority decides that any of them are unlawful, the remaining clauses will remain in full force and effect.
14.4 Even if we delay in enforcing this Contract, we can still enforce it later. If we do not insist immediately that you do anything you are required to do under these Terms, or if we delay in taking steps against you in respect of your breaking this Contract, that will not mean that you do not have to do those things and it will not prevent us taking steps against you at a later date. For example, if you miss a payment and we do not chase you but we continue to provide the services and the Tour, we can still require you to make the payment at a later date.
14.5 The laws which apply to this Contract and where you may bring legal proceedings if you are a consumer. These Terms are governed by English law and subject to your rights under consumer law to bring a case in your local jurisdiction, you agree that the English Courts will have jurisdiction to hear any dispute under these Terms.