Category: Royal and Castle Britain

Most visitors give Windsor a few hurried hours and a castle ticket, yet the royal town on the Thames rewards a slower day, with ancient parkland, glorious gardens, a river made for boating and the meadow where Magna Carta was sealed.

Why Windsor Deserves More Than a Morning

Windsor is the classic royal day out from London, and for good reason. The castle is still a royal residence, and it feels like a working home rather than a museum. But step away from the crowds on Castle Hill and a quieter Windsor appears: a three-mile avenue of trees running into thousands of acres of royal parkland, woodland gardens bursting with colour in spring, a lake with a Roman ruin on its shore, and the water meadows of Runnymede a short boat ride downstream.

We recommend seeing the castle early, then spending the rest of the day, or better an overnight stay, exploring the royal landscape around it.

Windsor Castle: The Essentials

Begin with the castle, ideally as the gates open. Highlights include:

• The State Apartments: A sequence of richly furnished rooms used for state occasions, hung with masterpieces from the Royal Collection. Look out for St George’s Hall and the Waterloo Chamber.
• St George’s Chapel: One of the finest examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in England, begun under Edward IV in 1475 and completed in 1528. Ten sovereigns are buried here, among them Henry VIII, Jane Seymour and Charles I beneath the quire, and Queen Elizabeth II, who rests in the King George VI Memorial Chapel. Note that the chapel is closed to sightseers on Sundays, when visitors are welcome at services instead.
• The Semi-State Rooms: Usually open in the autumn and winter months, these more intimate rooms are a lovely bonus if your visit falls in season.

Opening days

Windsor Castle is normally open Thursday to Monday and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. From November to February it opens from 10am to 4.15pm, and from March to October until 5.15pm, with last admission 75 minutes before closing. As a working royal palace it can also close at short notice for official events, so always check the Royal Collection Trust website before you travel. Book ahead at weekends and in school holidays. Windsor Castle entry tickets can be booked ahead, or combined with transport on a guided Windsor day trip from London.

Changing the Guard

The Windsor Castle Guard usually changes at 11am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, weather permitting, with a band or Corps of Drums marching through the town. The ceremony itself takes place in the castle’s Lower Ward, so you need a castle ticket to watch it there; on Tuesdays, when the castle is closed, you can still enjoy the march along the High Street for free. The schedule changes through the year, so check the Household Division’s Changing the Guard calendar a week or two before your visit.

The Long Walk and Windsor Great Park

From the castle’s south side, the Long Walk runs in a dead-straight, tree-lined avenue for around two and a half miles to Snow Hill, crowned by the Copper Horse, a great equestrian statue of George III. The view back towards the castle from the top is one of the most famous in England.

Beyond lies Windsor Great Park, managed by the Crown Estate. It is open daily and free to enter, a vast landscape of ancient oaks and lakes; you pay only for parking, the Savill Garden and a few seasonal events. In winter, the park’s illuminated light trail is a festive draw: it usually runs from mid-November into early January, so check dates and book ahead.

The Savill Garden

Created in the 1930s by Sir Eric Savill, this 35-acre garden in the southern reaches of the park is a year-round delight: woodland walks, ornamental beds, a rose garden and superb autumn colour. Admission is ticketed, and booking online at least a day in advance usually gives the best price.

Virginia Water and the Valley Gardens

At the southern edge of the park, the lake at Virginia Water makes a beautiful, largely level circuit of around four and a half to five miles, about two hours on foot. Along the way you pass the Cascade waterfall, a towering totem pole, and the romantic Leptis Magna ruins, genuine Roman columns brought from Libya and rebuilt as a folly. Just above the lake’s northern shore, the Valley Gardens are a woodland garden of azaleas, camellias, magnolias and heathers, at their peak from April to May.

Frogmore House and Eton

Frogmore House and Gardens

Set in the private Home Park, Frogmore House has been a royal retreat since George III and Queen Charlotte acquired it in the 1790s, and it hosted the evening reception after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in May 2018. Access is very limited: the house and gardens open to individual visitors on only a handful of charity open days a year, with pre-booked group visits at other times. Dates are announced by the Royal Collection Trust, so check well in advance if you want to include it.

Eton College

Cross the footbridge over the Thames and you are in Eton, with its charming High Street and the famous school founded by Henry VI. Note that Eton College’s public Heritage Tours have been paused for building works; check the Eton College Collections website for the current programme. Its museums usually open free on Sunday afternoons, though some are closed during the works.

Runnymede and the Thames by Boat

A few miles downstream, the National Trust cares for Runnymede, the water meadows where King John sealed Magna Carta in 1215. The domed Magna Carta Memorial was designed by Sir Edward Maufe for the American Bar Association and dedicated in 1957, which makes it a particularly meaningful stop for American travellers. Nearby stands the John F. Kennedy Memorial, on an acre of land given to the United States, and Mark Wallinger’s contemplative artwork Writ in Water, which opened in 2018 and reflects Clause 39 of the charter in a still pool. There is a tea-room, and parking is free for National Trust members.

The loveliest way to arrive is by river. French Brothers run short round trips from Windsor’s riverside through much of the year, and in summer a scheduled service links Runnymede and Windsor, giving you time ashore at each end. Timetables vary by season, so check before you go, or book a Windsor Thames river cruise in advance.

Royal Ascot Nearby

Each June, the royal procession of horse-drawn carriages opens five days of racing at Royal Ascot, a short drive from Windsor. The meeting runs for five days in mid-June each year, so check the official Ascot website and book early. Windsor’s best hotels fill months ahead for race week.

Where to Stay: Luxury Near Windsor

Coworth Park, Ascot

Dorchester Collection’s country house hotel sits in some 240 acres of parkland near Ascot, with its own polo fields, a spa and Adam Smith’s acclaimed restaurant, Woven. The Stable Rooms, Suites and Cottages were recently redesigned by Martin Hulbert. Check availability at Coworth Park.

Cliveden House, Taplow

A short drive up the Thames, Cliveden House is a five-star stately home hotel set within National Trust grounds. Its history is irresistible, from the Astors to the Profumo affair, and Meghan Markle stayed here the night before her 2018 wedding at St George’s Chapel. Expect indoor and outdoor pools, a spa in the walled garden and memorable afternoon tea.

Sir Christopher Wren Hotel, Windsor

For a stay in town, the Sir Christopher Wren Hotel occupies a cluster of historic buildings by Eton Bridge, with a Grade II listed 17th-century core and a riverside brasserie. It is a few minutes’ walk from both the castle and Windsor & Eton Central station.

Note that the Gothic riverside mansion of Oakley Court is being reinvented by Soho House as Soho River House, a members’ club with rooms; check whether it has opened.

Getting There

• From London Waterloo: South Western Railway runs direct trains to Windsor & Eton Riverside, taking around 55 minutes to an hour.
• From London Paddington: Take a Great Western Railway train to Slough and change for the short branch line to Windsor & Eton Central, about six minutes on. The total journey is typically around 25 to 40 minutes, depending on connections.
• By car: Windsor lies west of London, close to Heathrow, which makes it an easy first or last night of a British tour.

Both stations are a short walk from the castle. For the Great Park, Virginia Water and Runnymede, a car or private driver makes life easier.

A Perfect Royal Day Out

1. 9.30am: Arrive by train and walk up to the castle for opening time.
2. 11am: Watch Changing the Guard in the Lower Ward (on guard days), then visit St George’s Chapel.
3. 1pm: Lunch in town, then walk the Long Walk to the Copper Horse.
4. 3pm: Drive to the Savill Garden for a cream tea, or stroll the shores of Virginia Water.
5. 5pm: Pause at Runnymede as the light softens over the meadows.
6. Evening: Dinner and a night at Coworth Park or Cliveden.

For a longer trip, our guide to Michelin-starred dining in London makes a fine prelude.

FAQs

Which days is Windsor Castle closed?

It is normally closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and occasionally on other days for royal or state events. Check the Royal Collection Trust website before you go.

Is Windsor Great Park free?

Yes. The park, the Long Walk and Virginia Water are free to enter; you pay for parking and for entry to the Savill Garden.

Can you tour Eton College?

Public Heritage Tours have been paused for building works. Check the Eton College Collections website for the current programme.

How long do you need in Windsor?

A full day covers the castle, the Long Walk and one more garden or Runnymede. Stay a night to enjoy it all without rushing.

Between the Tyne and the Scottish border, the Northumberland coast unfolds as a run of empty golden beaches, fishing harbours and some of the most dramatic castles in Britain, each one standing guard over the North Sea.

Why Northumberland’s Castle Coast?

England’s northernmost county was a frontier for centuries, fought over by Northumbrian kings, Vikings, Scots and rival English barons. The legacy is a coastline studded with fortresses, some still lived in, some gloriously ruined, all set against wide skies and sand that you can often have almost to yourself.

Much of this shore is protected as the Northumberland Coast National Landscape, the new name (since late 2023) for what was the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Designated in 1958, it is a narrow ribbon of dunes, cliffs and islands running roughly from Berwick-upon-Tweed down to Amble. In a few days you can walk to a ruined castle, sail out to a puffin colony and cross a tidal causeway to a holy island.

The Castles

Bamburgh Castle

Few castles make an entrance like Bamburgh, sprawled along a volcanic crag above the dunes. The Northumbrian kings made it their royal capital in the sixth century, and fans of Bernard Cornwell’s novels and The Last Kingdom will know it as Bebbanburg, home of Uhtred. The Norman keep at its heart dates from after 1095, and during the Wars of the Roses it became the first castle in England to be destroyed by gunfire.

What you see today owes much to the Victorian industrialist William Armstrong, who bought the half-derelict castle in 1894 and poured more than a million pounds into restoring it. It remains the private home of the Armstrong family, with fourteen rooms open to visitors, including the medieval kitchen and the splendid King’s Hall. Opening hours change through the year and there is a short closure in November while the Christmas displays go up, so check the castle website before you travel.

Alnwick Castle and The Alnwick Garden

A few miles inland, Alnwick Castle has been the seat of the Percy family for more than 700 years and is still the family home of the Duke of Northumberland. Film lovers may recognise its courtyards: Alnwick stood in for Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films, and today’s broomstick training sessions take place in the Outer Bailey where Harry had his first flying lesson. The castle is seasonal, usually open from late March to the end of October.

Next door, The Alnwick Garden is a contemporary garden created by the Duchess of Northumberland and run by a charitable trust. Highlights include the tiered Grand Cascade, a cherry orchard and the famous Poison Garden, visited only on a guided tour. Book Alnwick Castle tickets and tours ahead in summer.

Dunstanburgh Castle and the walk from Craster

Dunstanburgh is the coast’s great romantic ruin, its shattered gatehouse silhouetted on a headland with nothing but sea beyond. It is owned by the National Trust and cared for by English Heritage, and you can only reach it on foot. The classic approach is the National Trust’s coastal trail of about 1.3 miles from the fishing village of Craster, across sheep-cropped grass beside the rocks. Strong walkers can continue along Embleton Bay to Low Newton-by-the-Sea.

Before or after, follow your nose to Craster’s smokehouse. L. Robson & Sons, now in its fourth generation, still oak-smokes herring into the celebrated Craster kippers in smokehouses dating back to the nineteenth century.

Warkworth Castle and Hermitage

South towards Amble, Warkworth Castle crowns a loop of the River Coquet above a pretty village. For around three centuries it was a favourite home of the Percys, and its great tower was begun for the first Earl of Northumberland in 1377. The castle is in the care of English Heritage. Upriver, a small boat ferries visitors in summer to a medieval hermitage chapel carved into the cliff, one of the most atmospheric corners of the county.

Chillingham Castle

Inland, near Wooler, Chillingham Castle is a privately owned medieval fortress rescued from ruin by Sir Humphry Wakefield from 1982 onwards. It is famously eccentric, crammed with curiosities and reputed to be one of Britain’s most haunted castles, with evening ghost tours. You can also stay here in self-catering apartments.

Lindisfarne, the Holy Island

St Aidan came from Iona in 635 to found a monastery on Lindisfarne, and the island became the cradle of Christianity in northern England. Today you can explore the red sandstone ruins of the later Lindisfarne Priory (English Heritage) and the little Lindisfarne Castle (National Trust) perched on its rock, restored in the early twentieth century and gifted to the Trust in 1944.

Holy Island is reached by a causeway that floods twice a day. Northumberland County Council publishes official safe crossing times, which change daily with the tides, and vehicles are stranded every year by drivers who misjudge them. The tide comes in fast, and the road becomes deep water within minutes.

The Farne Islands: Puffins and Seals

From Seahouses harbour, boats sail out to the Farne Islands, a National Trust nature reserve and one of Britain’s great seabird spectacles. Puffins return in April and are best seen in the breeding season from May to July, when the Farnes host around 40,000 pairs, alongside guillemots, razorbills and terns. In autumn the islands belong to England’s largest breeding colony of Atlantic grey seals, with pups appearing from September and numbers peaking in late October.

Landing on Inner Farne, where St Cuthbert lived as a hermit, is generally possible from spring to the end of September; boat trips run from April to October, weather permitting. Landing fees are paid separately from the boat fare (National Trust members land free), and landing times can be limited, so check current arrangements. Book a Farne Islands boat trip from Seahouses in advance for puffin season, wear a hat (the terns dive-bomb), and pack waterproof binoculars.

Dark Skies and Wide Horizons

Northumberland has some of the darkest skies in England. The International Dark Sky Park covering Northumberland National Park and Kielder lies inland, but the coast also enjoys very little light pollution, and on a clear winter night the Milky Way arcs over Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh. Wrap up warmly, find a spot away from village lights and give your eyes twenty minutes to adjust.

Best Time to Visit

• May to July: Puffin season, long light evenings and all the castles open. The busiest time, so book boats and hotels early.
• September and October: Golden light, quieter beaches and the start of the seal pupping season.
• November to February: Empty sands, dramatic seas and the best dark skies, though Alnwick Castle and some attractions close for winter.

Where to Stay

Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa, near Chathill

Our pick for a polished country-house base, Doxford Hall is a nineteenth-century mansion on a rural estate roughly fifteen minutes north of Alnwick, perfectly placed for Bamburgh, Craster and Seahouses. Expect fireside afternoon tea in the library, a spa with an indoor pool and the two AA Rosette George Runciman Restaurant.

The Lord Crewe, Bamburgh

Right on Front Street below the castle, The Lord Crewe is a stylishly updated seventeenth-century inn with smart rooms (some with window seats overlooking the village) and a short stroll to the beach.

The Bamburgh Castle Inn, Seahouses

For a characterful harbourside stay, The Bamburgh Castle Inn overlooks the boats in Seahouses, steps from the Farne Islands sailings. It is a relaxed, dog-friendly inn rather than a luxury hotel, but the location is hard to beat.

The Cookie Jar, Alnwick

A former convent a short walk from Alnwick Castle, The Cookie Jar is an intimate boutique hotel of eleven individually styled bedrooms with a bistro and walled garden.

Castle stays

To sleep inside the walls, Chillingham Castle lets apartments in the castle and its Coaching Rooms (book directly). Further inland near Hexham, Langley Castle Hotel is a natural add-on if you are heading for Hadrian’s Wall; we feature it in our guide to haunted castles you can sleep in. Continuing north over the border? See our favourite castle stays in Scotland.

A Three-Day Castle Coast Itinerary

Day 1: Alnwick and Warkworth

Spend the morning at Alnwick Castle and lunch in the Treehouse at The Alnwick Garden. In the afternoon, drive down to Warkworth for the castle and, in summer, the boat to the hermitage. Overnight at Doxford Hall.

Day 2: Craster, Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh

Walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh, then pick up kippers on the way back. Head north to Bamburgh for the castle in the afternoon and a sunset walk on the beach. Overnight at The Lord Crewe.

Day 3: Farne Islands and Lindisfarne

Take a morning boat from Seahouses to the Farnes, then time your afternoon around the Holy Island safe crossing times to explore the priory and castle on Lindisfarne.

For route planning, pack a good Northumberland coast walking guide.

FAQs

Who owns the Northumberland castles?

Bamburgh is the private home of the Armstrong family, Alnwick belongs to the Duke of Northumberland, and Chillingham is privately owned by the Wakefield family. Dunstanburgh is owned by the National Trust and run by English Heritage, Warkworth and Lindisfarne Priory are in the care of English Heritage, and Lindisfarne Castle belongs to the National Trust.

When can I see puffins on the Farne Islands?

Puffins return in April and are best seen from May to July. By August most have left for the open sea.

Is it safe to drive to Holy Island?

Yes, but only within the official safe crossing times published by Northumberland County Council. Never cross if there is water on the road.

Upriver from Westminster, where the Thames runs green and slow past Surrey’s water meadows, Hampton Court Palace holds five centuries of royal ambition in one glorious sweep of Tudor brick and baroque stone.

Why Hampton Court Belongs on Every Royal Itinerary

Many palaces tell one story. Hampton Court tells two, side by side. Walk through the gatehouse and you are in the red-brick world of Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII, all turrets, twisted chimneys and great courtyards. Keep going and the palace turns into something else entirely: the cool, symmetrical baroque state apartments built for William III and Mary II, opening onto formal gardens that run down to the river.

It is also one of the easiest grand day trips from London. A direct train from Waterloo takes under 40 minutes, and the palace sits just across the bridge from the station. On our Royal & Castle Britain trail, it is the essential Tudor chapter.

From Cardinal to King to Baroque Palace

Wolsey’s palace

The story begins with Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII’s chief minister, who took on the manor at Hampton in the mid-1510s and transformed it into a palace fit to entertain kings and ambassadors. It was almost too magnificent. As Wolsey fell from favour at the end of the 1520s, the palace passed to Henry, who made it one of his favourite residences.

Henry VIII’s river palace

Henry spent lavishly. He built the vast kitchens, the Great Hall and the Chapel Royal’s extraordinary ceiling, and the palace saw some of the most dramatic moments of his reign: honeymoons, the birth of his longed-for son Edward, the death of Jane Seymour, and the arrest of Catherine Howard.

Wren, William and Mary

After William III and Mary II came to the throne in 1689, they commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to rebuild the palace in the latest baroque style. Ambitions were scaled back and much of the Tudor palace survived, but Wren’s new royal apartments around Fountain Court, with their elegant South and East Fronts, gave Hampton Court its second, very different face. Today the palace is cared for by Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity that also looks after the Tower of London and Kensington Palace.

The Highlights: What Not to Miss

The Great Hall

Henry’s Great Hall, built in the 1530s, is the theatrical heart of the Tudor palace. Look up at the carved hammerbeam roof, where tiny painted heads known as the “eavesdroppers” peer down, and look for traces of Anne Boleyn’s arms, carved during her brief reign. The walls are hung with sixteenth-century tapestries telling the story of Abraham, woven for Henry and as rich in colour as they are in symbolism.

The Tudor Kitchens

Henry’s kitchens were built to feed a court that could number around a thousand people, and they survive on a remarkable scale. Wander through the boiling house, the great fireplaces and the serving places, and on selected days you may find costumed cooks recreating Tudor recipes. It is the moment the palace comes alive for children and adults alike.

The Haunted Gallery and the Catherine Howard legend

Few corridors in England carry a better story. Catherine Howard, Henry’s fifth wife, was confined at Hampton Court in 1541 before her execution the following year. Legend says she broke free from her guards and ran down this gallery, screaming for the king, and that her ghost still repeats the dash. Historians doubt the tale, but it is cherished palace lore, and the gallery is wonderfully atmospheric on a grey afternoon.

The Chapel Royal

Still a working chapel after nearly five hundred years, the Chapel Royal is crowned by Henry’s dazzling vaulted ceiling of deep blue and gold, studded with stars and carved pendants. If you can, attend a service: it is a wonderfully atmospheric way to experience the palace.

The Gardens, the Great Vine and the Maze

The palace sits in around 60 acres of formal gardens beside the Thames, and they deserve almost as much time as the interiors.

• The Privy Garden: William III’s private garden, reconstructed in 1995 to its early eighteenth-century design, with clipped yews, formal parterres laid out between the palace and the river.
• The Great Vine: Planted in 1768 when Lancelot “Capability” Brown was head gardener, it is widely recognised as the largest grapevine in the world. Its black grapes are harvested each year and traditionally sold in the palace shop in early autumn.
• The Maze: Planted for William III around 1690, it is the oldest surviving hedge maze in Britain.
• The Magic Garden: An imaginative play garden in Henry VIII’s former Tiltyard, guarded by a great sleeping dragon and full of towers, battlements and hidden corners. Opening is seasonal, so check before you go if you are travelling with children.

For skip-the-line entry, consider pre-booked Hampton Court Palace entrance tickets, or let an expert bring the Tudors to life on a guided Hampton Court tour from London.

Annual Events at the Palace

Hampton Court Palace Festival

Each June, the palace’s Base Court becomes an open-air concert venue for the Hampton Court Palace Festival, with picnics in the gardens before the music. The festival runs over selected nights each June; check the line-up and book early. The best tickets go quickly once the next line-up is announced.

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

The Royal Horticultural Society’s summer show in the palace grounds, formerly known as the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, has moved to a biennial schedule. It is traditionally held in early July; check the RHS website for the next date and book early.

Christmas at the palace

In winter, Hampton Court puts on festive programming and an outdoor ice rink. At Christmas the palace usually stages a festive season; check dates and timed tickets before travelling.

Getting There from London

By train

South Western Railway runs direct trains from London Waterloo to Hampton Court, the end of the line, in around 35 to 40 minutes. From the station, simply cross the bridge over the Thames and the palace gates are a few minutes’ walk away.

By river

For a leisurely, quintessentially English approach, seasonal boats run upriver from Westminster Pier via Kew and Richmond to Hampton Court, typically from spring to the end of October. The full trip takes several hours and sailing times vary with the tides, so many visitors take the boat one way and the train back. Services do not usually run from Westminster in winter, so check the operator’s timetable before you plan around it. You can also book a Thames river cruise to see more of the royal river.

How Long to Allow

Allow a full day. Three to four hours covers the Tudor and baroque interiors at a good pace, and the gardens, maze and vine easily take another two. With lunch, five to six hours is ideal. Opening hours are shorter in winter, when last admission is in mid-afternoon, so arrive early if you are visiting between November and March.

Where to Stay Nearby

Inside the palace: the Landmark Trust

For a truly once-in-a-lifetime stay, the Landmark Trust lets two historic apartments within the palace itself. The Georgian House, built in 1719 as kitchens for George, Prince of Wales, sleeps up to eight and has its own walled garden, while Fish Court occupies former Tudor service quarters. Both book up far in advance, directly with the Landmark Trust.

The Mitre, Hampton Court

Directly across the road from the palace on the riverbank, The Mitre is a characterful boutique hotel with eclectic, colourful interiors, a riverside terrace and a restaurant overlooking the Thames. It is the natural choice if you want to be first through the palace gates in the morning.

The Petersham, Richmond

A short drive downriver, The Petersham sits high on Richmond Hill with famous views over the Thames meadows, a fine base for combining Hampton Court with Richmond Park and Kew.

Combining with Richmond and Kew

Hampton Court sits at the top of a remarkable stretch of royal river. Richmond offers riverside walks, Richmond Park’s deer herds and the view from Richmond Hill, while Kew has the Royal Botanic Gardens and little Kew Palace, also cared for by Historic Royal Palaces. Both lie on the river boat route, making a two-day “royal Thames” itinerary easy. Pre-book Kew Gardens tickets to save time at the gate.

A Perfect Hampton Court Day

1. Morning: Take an early train from Waterloo and be at the gates for opening. Start in the Tudor Kitchens and Great Hall, then the Chapel Royal and the Haunted Gallery.
2. Midday: Lunch at the palace café or across the bridge in East Molesey, then the baroque state apartments.
3. Afternoon: The Privy Garden, the Great Vine and the Maze, with a riverside walk along the Thames.
4. Evening: Stay for dinner at The Mitre, or head back into town for something special from our guide to Michelin-starred dining in London.

FAQs

How do I get to Hampton Court Palace from central London?

The easiest way is the direct South Western Railway train from London Waterloo to Hampton Court station, around 35 to 40 minutes, then a short walk across the bridge. In season, river boats also run from Westminster.

Who runs Hampton Court Palace?

Historic Royal Palaces, an independent charity that also cares for the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, the Banqueting House and Kew Palace.

Is the Haunted Gallery really haunted?

The tale of Catherine Howard’s ghost is a much-loved legend, not established fact. Historians doubt the story, but the gallery remains one of the palace’s most atmospheric spaces.

Is the RHS flower show at Hampton Court every year?

Not any more. The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival now runs every other year and is expected to return in 2027. Check the RHS website for confirmed dates.