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Hampton Court Palace Magic Garden – What To Expect

The boys love an adventure playground and the one at Hampton Court Palace is pretty special. Called the Magic Garden. Its design has been based on the myths and legends of Tudor history. It has a wide variety of features and play equipment designed to appeal to a wide age range. We always make a beeline for it when we visit. So I thought I would share our experiences of visiting Hampton Court Palace Magic Garden. Do let me know in the comments below if you have any tips or if you have been before what you thought.

Table of Contents

What is the Hampton Court Palace Magic Garden?

Hampton Court Palace is one of six Historic Royal Palaces. Probably one of our favourites with its stunning formal gardens, rambling pleasure gardens and fragrant rose garden. Each area is distinct and offers visitors something different. So it made sense for the children’s play area to extend the garden room notion and become a new garden in its own right. Hence the Magic Garden. Located in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace next to the Kitchen garden the new playground is extremely popular during busy periods and the summer holidays.

To tie it in with the rest of the place the different play equipment which I mentioned below has been designed with legends of the Tudor Court in mind. With the introduction of mysterious mythical beasts, it is a large play area with plenty of seating for the adults. As well as good visibility for the majority of the activities giving you peace of mind. It is also not possible for adults to enter on their own.

The Magic Garden is surrounded by plants so it is not possible to enter the garden unless you go through the main entrance. This is the only access is guarded by the play garden attendants who supply wristbands to those adults accompanying children.

Do I need to buy a separate ticket for the Magic Garden, or is it included with the palace entry?

When the Magic Garden was first opened by The Princess of Wales, you needed to book a timed slot to visit. This was over six years ago, now it operates on a first-come, first-served basis. This means that you may have to wait to enter the play area since the numbers allowed inside are limited.

When you enter the adults are given a coloured wristband which indicates how long they have in the play area. When we visited our slot was an hour and twenty minutes. During bust periods you can return for a second session. However, you have to leave at least an hour between the sessions to ensure that everyone gets a turn.

When it first opened you could purchase a ticket for the Magic Garden separately, however now it is included in the ticket price for the Palace and Gardens. Normally the Magic Garden operates on the same opening hours as the rest of the Palace with the last entry forty-five minutes before closing.

Are there any age restrictions for children using the Magic Garden?

No there are no age restrictions, the Magic Garden is intended for Children aged up to thirteen. However, I would suggest that there is not that much for the older age group although Charlie at almost twelve enjoyed the aerial walkways it did not keep him as engaged as it did Harry. Therefore in my opinion the Magic Garden holds the most appeal for children between four and nine.

Are there any food and drink facilities inside the Magic Garden?

Yes there is a little cafe serving, hot and cold snacks and drinks as well as ice cream. Although there is also plenty of space for a picnic, with a large astro turf area perfect for a picnic blanket. You can bring your own food and drink into the Magic Garden although no glass or alcohol is allowed. Next to the cafe, there is a toilet block with baby changing facilities.

How much time should I allocate for a visit to the Magic Garden?

There is something for the whole family, each session is up to an hour and a half. Therefore I would allow that much time as it can be difficult to pull the children away before the session is over. The best time to visit is first thing, as it becomes very popular around lunchtime. When planning your arrival take into account that there is limited parking at Hampton Court Palace. When we visited we used the Green Park car park which is a ten-fifteen-minute walk to the entrance. Alternatively, Hampton Court train station is also close by so you want to consider using public transport during the school holidays.

What kind of play areas and features are there in the Magic Garden?

There are several different play areas within the Magic Garden. Aimed at different ages, all tied together under the theme of mythical creatures. Hampton Court Magic Garden is made up of:

In the centre there is a big astro-turfed area known as the tournament area. This is over several levels creating seating for picnicking, or pretend jousting tournaments.
To the left of this there is a discovery tower which has a long metal slide that Harry loves. It is joined by aerial walkways to the Battle Tower and the Lost Tower. The Battle Tower was a favourite since it has a long fireman’s pole.
Next to this are two colourful towers, a red one and a blue one. With seating for adults, mirrors and spiral staircases. Ideal for imaginative play and exploring the different levels.
Around the outside there are several secret grotto s such including the wild wood with pathways to explore, the perspective pergola to wander through, the dragon’s nest and the lair of mythical beasts.
On the hill is a brightly coloured crown to explore. The hillside is used as a slide and an underground grotto that leads to another metal slide.
On a hot day then the children will be delighted with the sand pit and water play area. Where a water pump provides endless fun and plenty of water features to cool off. Making it the perfect place in the Summer season.
Next to the sandy area there are several encampment tents and a very long dragon which is just begging to be climbed.

Conclusions

We really enjoyed our time at the Hampton Court Magic Garden it is a great addition to things to do for kids at Hampton Court. The other properties included in the six Historic Royal Palaces are Kew Palace, Tower of London, Hillsborough Castle, Banqueting House and Kensington Palace.

Have you visited the Magic Garden in Hampton Court Palace? Let me know about your experiences in the comments below.