The Magic Garden is the enchanting outdoor play area of Hampton Court Palace in south-west London. Based on the myths and legends of the Tudor court, the Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace is a one-acre, immersive children’s landscape. Playground features include Tudor towers, sand and water play and mythical creatures hidden among the foliage.
In this quick London with Kids guide, learn more about Hampton Court Palace, what to see and do in the Magic Garden playground and tips for visiting Hampton Court Palace with kids.
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Hampton Court Palace
Located in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Hampton Court Palace is an over 500-year old Grade I listed royal palace and the former home of King Henry VIII.
Originally a Tudor palace built by Cardinal Worsley, the stately, red-brick Hampton Court Palace became home to King Henry VIII in 1529. Henry VIII extended and developed the palace into a splendid place for lavish extravaganzas. Highlights include massive kitchens that produced over 1200 meals a day and a breathtaking Great Hall with a hammerbeam roof.
After taking the throne in 1689, William III and Mary II (1689 – 1702) commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to design a new elegant baroque palace and replace large parts of the Tudor building. Fountain Court was part of this ambitious rebuilding project and held the private and state apartments for both the King and Queen.
Visiting Hampton Court Palace is a journey through England’s history, from exploring the magestic home of Henry VIII to discovering the baroque palace built for William III and Mary II.
The world-famous gardens at Hampton Court Palace include 60 acres of formal gardens and the unique and immersive Magic Garden playground.
Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace
Set within the formal gardens, tucked away behind the Kitchen Garden through a maze of topiary, is the one-acre Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace.
Opened in 2016, the Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace was built on the site of Henry VIII’s former tiltyard.
This unique and immersive children’s play landscape is inspired by Tudor motifs and legendary heraldic creatures.
The Hampton Court Magic Garden includes a range of exciting elements, from tiltyard towers and aerial walkways to a 25 foot long dragon and a secret underground grotto.
Other Magic Garden highlights are the fountain plaza area, the sandy beach with water pumps and encampment tents and an exhilerating helter-skelter at the end of the aerial walkway.
There is a small kiosk in the Magic Garden (near the dragon) open at weekends and school holidays serving drinks and ice cream. The next closest place to the Magic Garden for food and drinks is the Tiltyard Café, which offers a variety of pastries and baked goods, sandwiches and salads and heart hot meal options.
The play fountains at the Fountain Plaza are a favourite for all ages and a perfect place to cool off on a hot day.
Picnic blankets are not allowed on the big Astroturf area in the centre of the Magic Garden. There are plenty of lovely spots around the Hampton Court Palace gardens for picnicking.
Be prepared to queue during the summer as the Magic Garden is usually busy during the school holidays. During busy periods, coloured wristbands are given at the entrance and there is a time limit to give everyone the chance to visit.
What’s On at Hampton Court Palace 2023
Hampton Court Palace regularly organises family activities and events throughout the year. Keep an eye on their What’s On page for activities for kids during the weekends and school holidays. Here’s a list of the upcoming family activities and events at Hampton Court Palace;
The Joust at Hampton Court Palace
2 – 6 August 2023
Be dazzled by a real Tudor joust at the home of Henry VII and experience the pomp, ceremony and splendour of what it took to be in a joust.
Between shows, spectacular falconry displays will offer visitors the chance to learn more about the birds and their hunting techniques.
The Joust is included in Hampton Court Palace admission (members go free). All performances are open-air and seated directly on grass.
Find more inspiration for things to do this summer in the latest round-up post: Summer Holidays in London 2023
Food Festival at Hampton Court Palace
26 – 28 August 2023
Feast on delicious street food, sip on cocktails and pick up tasty treats from artisan producers and companies at Hampton Court Palace’s Food Festival. With everything from cheese to sausages, brownies to churros, there’s something for everyone.
Family fun activities going on during the festival include face painting and a circus school. Entry to the Hampton Court Palace Food Festival is included in palace admission ticket.
Book tickets to visit Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace Address
The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace is open in line with palace opening hours until 29 October 2023. Note that the Magic Garden will open at 11am on the following dates due to Rise and Roar sessions: 16 July, 13 August, 10 September and 8 October 2023.
Address: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU
Opening Hours 2023: 07 June – 23 July: Wednesday to Sunday – 10am to 5:30pm. 24 July – 3 September: Daily 10am to 5:30pm. 4 September – 22 October: Wednesday to Sunday – 10am to 5:30pm. 23 October – 29 October: Daily 10am to 5:30pm. Last admission is 4:30pm, one hour before closing.
Tickets: Historic Royal Palaces members enter free. Ticket prices are £26.30 (off peak) or £29 (peak) for adults aged 18 to 64; £13.10 (off peak) or £14.50 (peak) for children aged 5 – 15. Under 5s go free and do not need a ticket. See the full ticket price list, including for seniors, students and groups here.
Closest Stations: Hampton Court train station (zone 6) is a five minute walk from the palace. National Rail train services run from Waterloo every 30 minutes. Bus services run from Kingston (111, 216, 411, 461 and 513) and Richmond (R68). There is no London Underground station at Hampton Court. The closest Underground stations are in Wimbledon and Richmond.
Parking: Limited car parking is available on a first come, first served basis, with payment required on site. Parking costs £1.60 per hour and can be paid at the parking machines (card online) or by using the Glide app. There is also an off-site car park at Hampton Court Green (parking costs £1.50 per hour) and pay per hour (Ringgo) street parking on Hampton Court Road.
Food and Drink: There is a small kiosk in the Magic Garden open at weekends and school holidays serving drinks and ice cream. The next closest place for food and drinks is the Tiltyard Café, which offers a variety of pastries and baked goods, sandwiches and salads and heart hot meal options. Inside the palace, there is the Privy Kitchen Café serving a variety of hot drinks, sweet treats and Tudor-style pies and soups.
www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace
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