Does anyone still live at Hampton Court Palace?
Hampton Court Palace has stood beside the Thames for 500 years. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey began it, Henry VIII took it over, and later monarchs rebuilt and extended it. Today it is one of London’s best-loved days out, but does anyone still live there?
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No king or queen has lived here since George II. When George III came to the throne in 1760 he chose not to live at Hampton Court, and the palace found a new life: its rooms were turned into homes for people the Crown wanted to thank. These were the famous grace-and-favour apartments. Applicants wrote to the Lord Chamberlain and, if chosen, received a warrant to live in the palace rent-free. Most were widows of soldiers, diplomats and senior public servants.
At the height of the practice, in the 19th century, as many as a hundred grace-and-favour residents lived in the palace, with 200 to 300 servants. The scientist Michael Faraday was given a house on Hampton Court Green in 1858; it still carries his name, Faraday House. Palace workers lived here too: the vine-keeper, the lamplighters, the palace fire brigade.
After the Second World War the numbers fell, and the last new warrants were granted in the 1980s. In 1986 a fire badly damaged the King’s Apartments and the grace-and-favour apartment above them; its resident, Lady Gale, died in the fire, and the rooms were later restored. When the palace opened two empty attic apartments to visitors in 2005, its curator said three grace-and-favour residents remained, apart from palace staff. At that time a few historic posts still came with a home at the palace, including the Chaplain and the Vine-Keeper.
Today the palace is looked after by Historic Royal Palaces, an independent charity. So no royals live here, but for more than two centuries after the last king left, the palace was home to hundreds of people.
Checked October 2026. Sources: Sarah Parker, Grace and Favour: A handbook of who lived where in Hampton Court Palace 1750 to 1950 (Historic Royal Palaces, 2005); Hampton Court attics reveal a lost world (The Guardian, 24 March 2005).
When you visit, look up in the courtyards and stairways: the nameplates, bell pulls and pulley baskets the residents used to haul up their shopping are still there, and the attic rooms show how these households lived.
Hampton Court Palace Entrance Ticket
Experience the grand lifestyle of Henry VIII with an entrance ticket to Hampton Court Palace. Explore the King’s and Queen’s State Apartments, Tudor kitchens, and take a stroll through the palace gardens including the iconic maze and Great Vine. With included tours and presentations guided by costumed experts, you’ll get a real feel for what it was like to be a royal. Upgrade to the Royal Palaces Pass and gain access to Hampton Court, Kensington Palace, and the Tower of London which is valid for two years.
Family-friendly attractions also abound with Family Trails designed specifically for children, and the Family Room filled with play equipment. Whether you’re seeking a unique experience or a family day out, Hampton Court Palace Entrance Ticket has something for everyone. Don’t miss this great opportunity to explore the palace and discover the incredible history behind it!
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