The Georgian House

Hampton Court Palace, Surrey

Overview

The Georgian House is an imposing and elegant 18th-century building on the alley leading to Henry VIII’s Real Tennis Court at Hampton Court Palace. 

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Beds 2 Single, 2 Twin, 1 Double

Sleeps
8
4 nights from
£1244 equivalent to £38.88 per person, per night

Hampton Court Palace

Originally the kitchens for George, Prince of Wales, The Georgian House was built in 1719 at Hampton Court Palace. Begun by Cardinal Wolsey, the palace was enlarged by Henry VIII and is a labyrinthine of corridors, gardens and courtyards. The Georgian House is sufficiently imposing to be mistaken for a garrison commander’s house, but was in fact built as a kitchen in 1719 for George, Prince of Wales. Its near-twin at St James’s Palace is thought to be by Vanbrugh. Later it became two houses, for the Clerk of Works and the Gardener. You can stay in the eastern one, with a private walled garden into which the morning sun shines and, in season, wisteria blooms. The main rooms are handsome, the attics have a fine view of the palace roofs and their decorative, twisted brick chimneys, and in the kitchen is a huge blocked arch, once a royal cooking hearth.

On the same side of the Palace as the Georgian House are the Rose Gardens, Maze and Henry VIII’s Real Tennis Court. The Georgian House also reminds us that monarchs besides the ebullient Henry VIII made Hampton Court their Palace: William and Mary left their mark and so too, as here, did the Georgians. Waiting inside the main Palace for you to enjoy lie the elegant courts, halls and chapel where these grander folk led their own, often less predictable, existences.

A Secret Life Beyond Public Gaze

Just as it always would have been, Hampton Court Palace is a large and thriving community. Very few residents now share it with its institutions and day visitor areas, but the sense of a secret life beyond the public gaze survives – of doors leading to invisible staircases, of figures disappearing up a staircase with a briefcase or basket. Staying here, you become part of this life, passing the security barrier and making yourselves at home in a palace. You are free to explore the magnificent gardens and most of the courtyards and the public rooms of the palace during opening hours as often as you like, and the friendliness of the palace staff will help you feel even more part of the scene. It will be an unforgettable experience.

Floor Plan

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Map & local info

The Georgian House sits within Hampton Court Palace, with a private walled garden and views of the palace roofs from the attic. From here, you can explore the magnificent palace and gardens and challenge yourself to find your way through the twists and turns of the intriguing hedge maze. Wander through the extensive grounds of nearby Bushy and Richmond Parks, both home to roaming herds of deer. Marvel at the world's largest collection of living plants in the exotic Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

Sports enthusiasts have the chance to visit Twickenham stadium, the home of England rugby, and the famous horse racing tracks at Kempton and Sandown. Experience the delights of Richmond, an attractive town bursting with shops, restaurants, theatres, museums and galleries. And of course all the wonders of central London, such as St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London, are only just over an hour's journey from here.  

 For more ideas and information on things to see and do during your stay at The Georgian House, take a look at our Pinterest page.

Please Note: The Landmark Trust does not take any responsibility and makes no warranties, representations or undertakings about the content of any website accessed by hypertext link. Links should not be taken as an endorsement of any kind. The Landmark Trust has no control over the availability of the linked pages.

Clear directions
Essential info
What you need to know about this building
  • No.
  • Via the Palace security directly from the main road.
  • Hampton Court Station – 0.5 miles.
  • Yes – the parking is approximately 100 metres from the Landmark.
  • There is central heating.
  • To check up-to-date mobile network coverage in the area, visit signalchecker.co.uk.* Due to the location and structure of many of our buildings, signal strength may differ to those indicated.
    * Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only.  We do not endorse any such websites and we are not responsible for the information, material, products or services contained on or accessible through those websites.  Your access and use of such websites remains solely at your own risk.  For further information, visit our website terms of use.
  • The majority of properties do not offer WiFi but many now have mobile coverage. Facilities in some properties rely on WiFi to function and we are currently piloting guest use of WiFi at a few of our buildings. We are going to extend the pilot across more properties and review customer feedback in 2025.
  • The kitchen is fully equipped with all plates, cutlery, fridge etc.
    There is also an electric cooker, separate freezer and a dishwasher.
  • There are two bathrooms, both with baths.
  • There are steep, narrow stairs.
  • You are free to explore the Palace gardens and most of the courtyards, and the public rooms of the Palace during opening hours. You do not need to pay the normal ticket price.
Booking and Payment
  • If the weather is bad, please contact our booking office who will be able to tell you whether the Landmark is accessible. If the housekeeper can safely get to the building to prepare it then we consider that it is open and available for guests. However if we cannot undertake a changeover then we will do our utmost to transfer your stay to another Landmark, depending on what we have available. It may not be of a similar size or in the same part of the country as your original booking. If the building is accessible but the customer cannot travel due to poor weather in his/her local area then please be aware that Landmark will not provide a refund. However the customer may be able to claim on his/her own travel insurance. We recommend that all guests take out travel insurance when they first secure a booking.
  • We accept Maestro (if issued in the UK), Visa, MasterCard, direct transfer and sterling cheques drawn on a UK bank. Cheques should be made payable to the Landmark Trust except for Lundy stays and boat/helicopter tickets which should be payable to The Lundy Company Ltd. All payments must be in sterling.
  • The key arrangements will be included in the Further Infomation document which will be sent to you prior to your stay.
  • If your stay starts more than two months from the date you make the booking, you are required to pay a deposit of one third of the cost of your stay (or £100 per booking, if greater) at the time of booking. Camping on Lundy and The Bunk House at Llwyn Celyn must be paid for in full at the time of booking.
  • If you wish to cancel or change your booking, please contact our Booking Office on 01628 825925
  • At the moment we only accept payment in sterling.
  • Our housekeeper will leave the key in a suitable place, the details of which will be sent to you prior to your stay.
  • It depends. Some of our most popular Landmarks are booked up a long time in advance, but many can be booked at short notice. We will always have Landmarks free for the coming weekend so it’s always worth checking our availability list.
  • No, Landmarks are available to be booked for anyone.
  • No, all the information you need can be found on our website, although we’d like you to buy one anyway as it will be a pleasure to own!
Staying at a Landmark
  • Some of our Landmarks are suitable for people with disabilities or limited mobility. However, many Landmarks have steep or narrow staircases, uneven floors and thresholds, changes of level, low ceilings or beams, as well as indistinct colours on steps and in corridors. We recommend that you call Booking Enquiries on 01628 825925 if you would like to find out the suitability of a particular Landmark for anyone with a specific disability.  Further information on access when visiting Lundy can also be found here.
  • Yes, Landmarks are only available as self-catering accommodation. We do not offer bed and breakfast.
  • Landmark does not provide catering, but we can recommend Greycoat Lumleys who can arrange for expert and well-trained staff to cater for one evening or for your entire holiday. Their cooks and chefs are able to work with you to meet your specific requirements
  • You may bring up to two dogs to properties where dogs are allowed (please see specific property details for exemptions however dogs are not permitted on Lundy except assistance dogs). They must be kept off the furniture and under proper control. A charge of £20 per stay is made for each dog. Please contact booking enquiries if a registered assistance dog is supporting one of the guests, for which there is no charge.
  • Apart from two dogs (see above) no other pets are permitted.
  • Arrival is from 4pm and departure is by 10am.
  • We do not carry insurance for breakages. However we appreciate that accidents do sometimes happen. If you have a breakage during your stay, please let the housekeeper know and if appropriate we reserve the right to invoice you accordingly.
  • Yes, most of our Landmarks are perfect for children, with gardens to play in and secret places to discover. Our furniture is surprisingly robust and we positively encourage families to stay. However, some of our buildings may not be suitable for small children; for example, some of them have steep or uneven spiral staircases. We recommend that you call the Booking Enquiries team if you would like to find out the suitability of any of our Landmarks for young children.
  • Unfortunately, most of our Landmarks are not licensed for weddings. However, you may get married on Lundy.
  • All our larger Landmarks are perfect for gatherings of family or friends. You may invite an additional two guests to visit you during your stay, however they must not stay overnight. This is very important because our fire regulations specifically note the maximum number of people in any one building. In addition our properties are prepared, furnished and equipped for the number of people specified and greater numbers cause damage and excessive wear and tear to vulnerable buildings. Should this condition be ignored we shall make a retrospective charge per person per day (whether or not they stay overnight) for each guest over the permitted limit, the charge being pro-rated on the total cost of your booking.
  • We deliberately do not provide televisions and find that most people appreciate this.
  • One of the challenges of restoring unloved buildings is gaining access to them. We frequently have to negotiate rights with our neighbours and share tracks with them. In many cases tracks do not belong to us and we have no right to maintain them. Wherever possible we work with our neighbours to provide you with a good quality surface, but where this is a problem then you will be warned at the time of booking.
  • Yes, we have standard electricity sockets for UK appliances. If you are coming from outside the UK, you will need to bring your own adaptor plug(s). If you are visiting one of our European properties we have standard European electricity sockets. If you are visiting from the UK, you will need to bring your own adapter plug (s).
  • Landmark’s electrical systems have not been designed to provide continuous power from one socket over several hours.  If an ordinary socket is used to charge an electric vehicle, there is significant risk of an electrical fire and consequent danger to life.  Therefore, we are unable to allow electric vehicle charging from most of our Landmarks at present.

    We are working to provide Type 2 Electric Vehicle charge points at our properties where there is private parking.  Where this is available, please request this facility when booking the property to ensure the outlet is enabled on your arrival.  There is a small charge to cover the cost of electricity provided.  Please book this facility in advance.
  • No, we do not allow smoking in any Landmark.
Facilities
  • Sometimes our kitchens and bathrooms have to be imaginatively fitted into the available space in buildings where before there were none, but they are all planned and equipped to a high and modern standard.
  • Yes, Landmarks are fully equipped with sheets and towels. All the beds are fully made up for your arrival. Except for the Llwyn Celyn Bunkhouse.
  • Yes, our kitchens are well equipped with cookers and fridges. There are freezers and dishwashers (in larger buildings) and, where space allows, microwaves as well as a wide and standard range of utensils. A full equipment list is available at time of booking.
  • Logs are provided at many of our Landmarks for an additional cost.
  • Mobile coverage varies. Some Landmarks have an excellent signal, but others have none at all. You can find those with 4G and 5G signal on our Landmarks with mobile signal page and each building has a link to signal checker in the Essential Information so you can check individual service providers' coverage in the area.
  • The majority of properties do not offer WiFi but many now have mobile coverage. Facilities in some properties rely on WiFi to function and we are currently piloting guest use of WiFi at a few of our buildings. We are going to extend the pilot across more properties and review customer feedback in 2025.
  • A welcome tray with tea and sugar awaits your arrival and you will find a pint of milk in the fridge. We also provide toilet rolls and a bar of soap per basin, but no other toiletries. Hairdryers are provided.
History

A latecomer to Hampton Court

The building known as the Georgian House is a latecomer to Hampton Court, and caught only a brief glimpse of the palace as an active royal residence. It belongs more to the time when Hampton Court was first of all a palace in waiting, then a home for the great and the good, "the quality poor-house", as it was christened by William IV. At the same time, the palace remained part of the royal household, with its own organisation and officials.

It is to this palace organisation that the Georgian House chiefly belongs. From 1785 it housed the Foreman of the Gardens and from 1834 the Clerk of the Works as well; the one providing fruit and vegetables on a large scale for the royal tables at Windsor, the second maintaining the fabric of the palace under H.M. Office of Works.

A role as official residence does not come as a surprise, since from the outside, the house looks very like the plain and dignified buildings, officers' quarters perhaps, at contemporary defence establishments such as Chatham. Its origins are much more unexpected, because it was in fact built as a kitchen, in 1719, for the then Prince of Wales. As a detached kitchen, it again highlights the links between a palace and a military or naval base, the feeding of large numbers being common to both. In such circumstances, it becomes practical to give the kitchens their own building. It also harks back to the Middle Ages when, because of the risk of fire from their great hearths, kitchens were often kept separate.

Associations of this kind arise in other aspects of palace life, too. Parallels are often drawn between Oxford and Cambridge Colleges and the great households of the past, with their complex, crowded and inward-looking populations. Palaces, too, have a continuity with the past. Hampton Court still houses, as it always has, a varied but structured society, with its own customs and conventions, a strong sense of community and not much individual privacy. Though mostly left to its own devices, there is the feeling of a place well-run on behalf of an owner who, while not necessarily present, might be without much warning, and for whose benefit the place exists.

So must it have been in any one of a series of castles or palaces belonging to a great medieval, Tudor, or even Stuart, lord, to which he might pay a single annual visit. Each had its permanent population, for whom life went on throughout the year regardless. Today it is the flow of day visitors for whom standards are kept up, but they too are only an interruption to the palace's real, more hidden, existence.

For a short history of The Georgian House please click here.

Restoration

Grace and Favour

Few officials now live in the Palace and since 1977 there have been no new warrants for Grace and Favour apartments. More of the Palace has been made available to the public, such as the kitchens. The idea arose in 1991 of making a limited number of apartments available for holidays. The Palace did not have the organisation to do this on its own. Instead it approached the Landmark Trust, which has both the organisation and the experience of furnishing and letting historic buildings, with the suggestion that it act as an agent for Historic Royal Palaces.

Two apartments were proposed, No. 43a in Fish Court, which occupies the upper floor of the Tudor Pastry House; and No. 65, in the eastern wing of the Georgian House, which had recently been vacated by the former Superintendent of the Palace, Mr Ian Gray. Both apartments needed some alteration and repair. This work was supervised by Fielden and Mawson, the architects employed throughout the Palace, in consultation with both Landmark and Historic Royal Palaces. Landmark was to choose the decorations and provided all the furniture and equipment, as with its own properties.

Fish Court needed less work, so was ready for visitors early in 1993. The Georgian House turned out to be a rather more complicated job. Not only is it larger, but a number of problems were found, such as rotten floors joists, which had to be dealt with. The large south-west bedroom had been divided into two rooms, and was put back as one. Its fireplace was unblocked and provided with a new surround. This was copied, in timber, from a stone surround fitted in the north-east bedroom, salvaged from the Palace store.

The main rooms, dating originally from 1719, but only converted to domestic use in 1834, have been decorated with more of the later period in mind. Clues can still be found to the building's curious past, however, and the way in which a conventional dwelling was fitted into a structure designed for quite another purpose. This becomes most obvious as you pass through into the central space, where the modern kitchen sits inside its royal predecessor. It now has a stone floor once again, and the great arches of the fireplaces can be seen in the walls, blocked on the east, but providing space for cloakrooms and cupboards on the west. The final task was to renew the rather functional pergola on the east front to a more decorative design. Meanwhile, the Palace gardeners had been at work in the garden, making it ready for the first visitors in early March.

Availability & booking

Select a changeover day to start your booking...

What's a changeover day? and Why can't I select other dates?Explain MoreQuestion

A changeover day is a particular day of the week when holidays start and end at our properties. These tend to be on a Friday or a Monday but can sometimes vary. All stays run from one changeover day until another changeover day.