The Magic Garden is the charming outdoor backyard 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 kids’s landscape. Playground functions include Tudor towers, sand and water play and legendary animals concealed among the foliage.
In this quick London with Kids guide, find out more about Hampton Court Palace, what to see and do in the Magic Garden play ground and pointers for checking out Hampton Court Palace with kids. Hampton Court Palace Located in the London District 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 ended up being home to King Henry VIII in 1529. Henry VIII extended and established the palace into a magnificent location for luxurious extravaganzas. Highlights consist of huge kitchens that produced over 1200 meals a day and a spectacular 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 brand-new classy baroque palace and replace large parts of the Tudor building. Water fountain Court belonged to this ambitious rebuilding task and held the private and state houses for both the King and Queen.
Visiting Hampton Court Palace is a journey through England’s history, from checking out 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 special and immersive Magic Garden play ground. Related:
Finest Places to See Spring Flowers in London Magic Garden at Hampton Court
Palace Set within the formal gardens, stashed behind the Kitchen area Garden through a labyrinth of topiary, is the one-acre Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace.
Opened in 2016, the Magic Garden at
Hampton Court Palace was constructed on the site of Henry VIII’s former tiltyard.< img src=" https://piccoloexplorer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Dragon-Magic-Garden-at-Hampton-Court-Palace.jpg "alt="Dragon Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace "width="650"height="488"/ > This unique and immersive children’s play landscape is motivated by Tudor themes and legendary heraldic animals. Related: Things to
Do in Might Half Term in London with Children The Hampton Court Magic Garden consists of a series of interesting aspects, from tiltyard towers and aerial sidewalks to
a 25 foot long dragon and a secret underground grotto.< img src="https://piccoloexplorer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Tiltyard-Towers-Magic-Garden.jpg"alt ="Tiltyard Towers Magic Garden "width ="650 "height="488 "/ > Other Magic Garden highlights are the water fountain plaza location, the sandy beach with water pumps and encampment tents and an exhilerating helter-skelter at the end of the aerial walkway.
There is a little kiosk in the Magic Garden( near the dragon )open at weekends and school vacations serving beverages and ice cream. The next closest location to the Magic Garden for food and drinks is the Tiltyard coffee shop, which provides a variety of pastries and
baked products, sandwiches and salads and heart hot meal alternatives. The play fountains at the Water fountain Plaza are
a favourite for all ages and a best place to cool off on a hot day. Related: Summer Holidays in London with Kids< img src =" https://piccoloexplorer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Fountain-Plaza-Magic-Garden.jpg "alt=" Water fountain Plaza Magic Garden"width ="650 "height ="488"/ > Picnic blankets are not enabled on the huge Astroturf location in the centre of
the Magic Garden. There are lots of beautiful areas around the Hampton Court Palace
gardens for picnicking. Related: Diana Memorial Play Area Kensington Gardens Be prepared to queue during the summer as the Magic Garden is usually busy during the school vacations. Throughout busy periods, coloured wristbands are provided at the entrance and there is a time limit to give everybody the possibility to check out.
What’s On at Hampton Court Palace 2025
Hampton Court Palace regularly organises household activities and occasions throughout the year. Keep an eye on their What’s On page for activities for kids throughout the weekends and school holidays. Here’s a list of the upcoming family activities and events at Hampton Court Palace;
The Big Bahooey at Hampton Court Palace
24– 26 May 2025
Bahooey suggests “utter silliness”, and you’ll discover plenty of that in this extraordinary household adventure! The Big Bahooey will fill the gardens of Henry VIII’s famous palace with jaw-dropping acrobats, slapstick funny, live music and larger than life characters.
The Big Bahooey is occurring this late May Bank Holiday, right at the start of the May school half-term and is consisted of in palace admission.
Book tickets to go to Hampton Court Palace
Discover more motivation for May half term
in London occasions: Might Half Term London Activities
2025 Hampton Court Palace Address Address: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU Opening Hours: Hampton Court Palace is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout parts of the year. Inspect their Palace and Gardens opening hours for the total list because opening hours also vary depending upon the season.
Tickets: Historical Royal Palaces members go into free. Ticket prices are ₤ 27.20 (off peak) or ₤ 30 (peak) for grownups aged 18 to 64; ₤ 13.60 (off peak) or ₤ 15 (peak) for kids aged 5– 15. Under fives go complimentary and do not require a ticket. See the complete ticket cost list, including for elders, students and groups here.
Currently there is a half-price ticket offer for advance online reservations until 7 February 2025.
Closest Stations: Hampton Court train station (zone 6) is a five minute walk from the palace. National Rail train services range from Waterloo every thirty minutes. Bus services range 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: Restricted vehicle parking is available on a very first come, first served basis, with payment required on site. Parking expenses approx ₤ 1.60 per hour and can be paid at the parking devices (card online) or by using the Trust app (formerly Slide). There is also an off-site parking lot at Hampton Court Green and pay per hour (RingGo) street parking on Hampton Court Road.
Food and Consume: 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 beverages is the Tiltyard coffee shop, which provides a variety of pastries and baked products, sandwiches and salads and heart hot meal options. Inside the palace, there is the Privy Kitchen area coffee shop serving a variety of hot beverages, sweet treats and Tudor-style pies and soups.
www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace
Days Out in London Inspiration
Keep reading for more things to do over the half terms and school vacations, with ideas for days out checking out London and surrounding Surrey and Kent.
Summer Season Vacations in London with Children
Visiting Osterley Park National Trust with Children
Gruffalo Experience Trail at Horsenden Hill
Dinosaur Experience Golf West London
Things to Do in St James’s Park London with Children
Summer in Kew Gardens
Hobbledown Adventure Farm Park Epsom
Bocketts Farm Park Surrey Select Your Own Farms near London Garsons Select Your Own Farm
Esher Crockford Bridge Farm Surrey
Water Backyard at London Attractions
Discover more days out ideas with these evaluations on playground and tourist attractions in London that have fantastic water play areas and activities;
The Very Best Play Fountains in London
Dukes Meadows Chiswick Paddling Swimming Pool
Family Day Out at London Wetland Centre Barnes
Family Day Out at London Zoo
Children’s Garden at Kew Gardens
Princess Diana Playground Kensington Gardens London Museum of
Water and Steam with Kids Museums in London for Kids Keep reading for more household days out motivation with our evaluations on the top museums in London for kids;
Household Day Out at the British Museum
Visiting the Horniman Museum and Gardens with Children
Wonderlab at the Science Museum London
London Transport Museum
with Children Day Out at the National Maritime Museum
Dino Snores for Children at the Nature Museum Royal Air Force Museum London with Children
Cutty Sark Activities for Kids
London Museum of Water and Steam with Kids
National Portrait Gallery London with Children
This post was updated on 2 May 2025 with approximately date visitor info and details about May half term activities on at Hampton Court Palace.
Pin for Later– Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace
< img src="https://piccoloexplorer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Magic-Garden-Playground-at-Hampton-Court-Palace-683x1024.jpg" alt="Magic Garden Play Area at Hampton Court Palace" width="683" height="1024"/ >