The Gardens

One of the luxuries guests and residents had while staying at Hampton Court would have been the 60 acress of beautiful gardens that lay around the palace. From rose gardens to pond gardens to mazes to the oldest and largest grape vine in the world, it is easy to see that nature abounds. Here are some of the things my parents saw:

The Great Fountain Garden made by William III and Mary II that originally held 13 fountains. However only one remains today.

The Tiltyard was a place for tournaments during the reign of King Henry VIII. Jousting, wrestling, and other sports were played on this site.


The Great Vine was planeted in 1768 and continues to produce crops every year.

The world-famous Hampton Court Palace Hedge Maze was planted sometime between 1689 and 1695 by George London and Henry Wise for William III of Orange. It covers a third of an acre and contains half a mile of paths. Some say that the maze in Alice and Wonderful was designed after these hedges.