Step inside the palace to explore the State Apartments, from the Tudor splendour of Henry VIII’s Great Hall with its hammerbeam roof and rich tapestries to the intimate later suites. Visit the glowing Chapel Royal and admire painted ceilings, carved stone and heraldic detail.

Trace the palace’s dual identity—Tudor power and Baroque elegance—shaped by Cardinal Wolsey, Henry VIII, and later William III and Mary II. Court ceremony and faith come into focus as rooms reveal how monarchs projected authority.

Find your bearings in the famous Hampton Court Maze in the Wilderness Garden, a playful network of high yew hedges where you’ll navigate winding paths to reach the hidden centre. Light, laughter and gentle wrong turns add to the fun.

Commissioned for William III in the 1690s by royal gardeners George London and Henry Wise, the Maze is England’s oldest surviving hedge maze. Living walls, shifting perspectives and rustling leaves create a spirited counterpoint to the palace’s formal courts.

Explore Hampton Court Palace during the annual Tulip Festival with admission to Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival included. Stroll the formal gardens and courtyards as thousands of blooms colour the Great Fountain Garden, Privy Garden and Clock Court. Follow the Long Water paths and pause for photos and reflection beside clipped yews and ornate parterres.

Discover how 17th-century tulip mania shaped royal taste, set against Baroque vistas fashioned for later monarchs. Seasonal designs reveal rare cultivars and playful colour themes in pots and borders around gateways and statuary.

2027 Hampton Court Tulip Festival & London

From a morning pickup in your local area, we travel by coach to London, where you’ll have free time to make the most of the capital. Whether you choose to browse the shops of Oxford Street, relax in Hyde Park or discover some of London’s iconic landmarks, there is plenty to see and do. Later, enjoy dinner at leisure before we continue to our hotel for our overnight stay.

2027 Hampton Court Tulip Festival & London

After breakfast, we head to Hampton Court Palace to enjoy the annual Tulip Festival. Explore the magnificent palace rooms and exhibitions, stroll through the gardens and courtyards adorned with vibrant floral displays and visit the famous Maze. With thousands of tulips creating a colourful spectacle throughout the grounds, this is a wonderful opportunity to experience one of Britain’s most celebrated springtime events. We rejoin the coach in the late afternoon for our journey home.