Windsor Castle & Hampton Court Palace Tour

Step into one thousand years of royal history on this full-day tour to Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace, two of the most important royal residences in England. This tour follows the story of the British monarchy from the Norman kings to the Tudors and the later Stuart and Georgian periods, exploring how each generation shaped the buildings, the court, and the nation itself.

Highlights

• Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world

• State Apartments and royal ceremonial rooms (self exploration)

• Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House

• St George’s Chapel and the Order of the Garter

• The long royal history from William the Conqueror to the present day

• Hampton Court Palace, the great Tudor and Baroque royal residence

• Henry VIII and the Tudor court

• The Great Hall and Tudor kitchens

• William III’s Baroque palace

• Chapel Royal and royal apartments

• Hampton Court gardens and historic courtyards

• Royal Tennis Court and palace grounds

Full Description

This full-day tour explores two of the most important royal palaces in England, Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace, following the story of the British monarchy across nearly one thousand years.

We begin at Windsor Castle, founded shortly after the Norman Conquest and still used today as an official residence of the monarch. As the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, Windsor reflects the changing tastes, ambitions, and political power of successive kings and queens.

Inside the castle we explore the State Apartments, ceremonial rooms filled with paintings, armour, and objects that tell the story of the nation. We also see Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, a remarkable miniature palace created in the early twentieth century, and visit St George’s Chapel, one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England and the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter.

After time in Windsor, we travel to Hampton Court Palace, one of the greatest royal residences in Europe. Built first for Cardinal Wolsey and later transformed by Henry VIII, the palace became the centre of Tudor court life and later a grand Baroque residence under William III and Mary II.

Here we explore the Great Hall, the Tudor kitchens, the royal apartments, the Chapel Royal, and the galleries that reflect the dramatic lives of the Tudor kings and queens. The palace also shows the later transformation of royal taste in the seventeenth century, when new Baroque apartments were created to rival the great courts of Europe.

Throughout the day, the tour follows the timeline of English history through architecture, politics, religion, and royal personalities, moving from the medieval castle of Windsor to the Tudor and Baroque splendour of Hampton Court.

This is one of the most complete royal history tours available from London.

Duration

Full day tour, approximately 8 hours including travel time.

Meeting Point

Central London hotel pickup or agreed meeting point. Exact details will be confirmed after booking. Pickup can be arranged from your hotel, residence, or agreed central London location. At the end of the tour, guests may be dropped off at their hotel or at any preferred location within the agreed tour area.

Who This Tour Is For

This tour is ideal for visitors interested in British royal history, Tudor England, architecture, and the story of the monarchy from the Middle Ages to the modern period.

Suitable for first-time visitors, repeat visitors, families, and anyone who would like a deeper understanding of England’s royal heritage.

Customisation

The itinerary can be adjusted depending on time, traffic conditions, and personal interests.

The tour can also include Eton, Runnymede, or other nearby historic locations if requested in advance.