Fastest ~35-40 min by train
| 🚆 Train | ~35-40 min | South Western Railway direct from Waterloo, station by the palace gates |
| 🚗 Car | ~45 min-1h+ | 25km through congested outer London suburbs |
| 🛥️ Boat | ~3-4h | Seasonal riverboat from Westminster, scenic but slow |
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Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII's great Tudor residence on a bend of the Thames, is one of the easiest and most rewarding half-day or full-day trips from London — a direct train gets you there in well under an hour, and the station sits right by the palace gates. Here's how to plan the trip, plus the slower riverboat option for a more scenic approach.
The quickest way: direct train from Waterloo
South Western Railway runs frequent direct trains from London Waterloo to Hampton Court station, taking around 35–40 minutes, with departures roughly every half hour through the day. This is about as simple as English day trips get: no changes, no shuttle bus, and the station is directly across a footbridge over the Thames from the palace entrance. No seat reservation is needed — just buy an off-peak return and turn up.
The scenic way: the riverboat from central London
In the warmer months, riverboat operators run services up the Thames from central London piers (Westminster, or from Kingston further along) to Hampton Court, taking considerably longer than the train — often 3 to 4 hours from Westminster — but offering a leisurely, very English way to arrive that turns the journey itself into part of the day out. This only runs seasonally and is weather-dependent, so it suits travellers with a full day to spare and no fixed schedule, rather than anyone trying to see the palace and get back for an evening commitment.
Driving
Hampton Court is about 25 km from central London, and driving takes 45 minutes to well over an hour depending on traffic, since the route runs through outer London's congested suburbs rather than open motorway. There's a pay car park at the palace, but given the train's speed and simplicity, driving offers little advantage here unless you're combining the visit with other stops in Surrey. See our guide to driving in the UK for the basics if you're visiting from abroad.
What to see at Hampton Court Palace
The palace is really two buildings in one: Cardinal Wolsey's and Henry VIII's Tudor state apartments, all linenfold panelling and vast fireplaces, grafted onto Christopher Wren's grand Baroque wing built for William and Mary two centuries later. The Tudor kitchens, among the largest surviving from the period, and the Great Hall with its hammerbeam roof are highlights inside. Outside, the palace's famous hedge maze, planted in the 1700s, is one of the oldest surviving in the world and still genuinely easy to get lost in — budget at least 20–30 minutes if you want to actually solve it rather than give up. The wider gardens, including the Great Fountain Garden and the Privy Garden, reward a slow wander and are included in general admission.
Planning your visit
- Allow at least four hours for the palace, gardens and maze together — it's a large site and easy to underestimate.
- Book tickets online in advance for a modest discount and to skip the ticket queue at busier times.
- Costumed interpreters and themed tours run on many days — check the schedule if that's part of the appeal for you.
- The gardens alone are extensive enough to justify a return visit in a different season — the famous herbaceous borders and the ancient Great Vine look quite different in spring versus late summer.
Beyond the maze, the Magic Garden, a modern play area themed around Tudor legend, is a popular stop for visitors with children, and the palace's costumed guides are usually happy to answer questions about specific rooms if you want more context than the information panels provide.
Combining with Windsor or Kew
Hampton Court sits within easy reach of other riverside sights, and some visitors combine it with a trip to Windsor Castle on a separate day, or with Kew Gardens further down the Thames, though each of these deserves its own half-day rather than being squeezed together. Hampton Court alone is easily worth a full day if you want to see the maze and gardens properly rather than just the state apartments. For a very different kind of castle day trip, our guides to London to Leeds Castle and London to Warwick Castle cover options further out in Kent and the Midlands.
If you're starting from a London airport
Visitors beginning their day from Heathrow, Gatwick or another London airport rather than a central hotel should factor in the transfer into town before catching the Waterloo train — see our guide to London airports to the city for the options. If you're new to British rail travel generally, our explainer on seat reservations is a useful primer, though as noted above this particular route doesn't require one.
Which should you choose?
For nearly everyone, the direct train from Waterloo is the obvious choice: fast, frequent, no booking required, and it drops you right at the palace gates. The riverboat is worth it only if the journey itself — several unhurried hours on the Thames — is part of what you want from the day. Driving makes sense mainly if you're continuing on to other parts of Surrey afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from London to Hampton Court Palace?
The easiest way is the direct South Western Railway train from London Waterloo, taking around 35–40 minutes, with the station right by the palace entrance.
Is there a boat from London to Hampton Court?
Yes, seasonal riverboats run from central London piers, but the trip takes several hours each way — much slower than the train, and best treated as a scenic day out in itself.
Do I need to book the train in advance?
No — there's no reservation requirement on this route, so an off-peak return bought on the day is fine, though booking ahead online can occasionally be cheaper.
How long should I spend at Hampton Court Palace?
Most visitors need at least four hours to see the state apartments, gardens and the famous maze without rushing.
Sources and further reading:
- Train times and fares: National Rail.
- Route and station context: The Man in Seat 61.