Hampton Court Palace Private Tour - Secrets Of Henry Viii

I cannot say enough about our tour guide Siobhan. She is an expert in Tudor history and a lovely person to spend time with. She spent time answering all of my questions. I can’t wait to buy her books and I look forward to seeing her again on pbs specials. I highly recommend this tour!

This was wonderful and such an interesting tour! Hampton Court has so many incredible layers of history available as you walk from one wing to another. Just incredible to think of the numbers of people fed and housed in Henry’s time and how that changed through the centuries. Our guide, Siobhan, was so considerate of my pregnant daughter on the tour as well - which was very very appreciated!! It was a highlight of our trip and we’d definitely recommend to others interested in a more in-depth tour of the palace.

Outstanding! She told us everything we wanted to know. She gave us more information than we expected. Worth every penny!!!

Siobhan Clarke was a fantastic and extremely knowledgeable guide through Hampton Court Palace. We learned so much about the Tudor court, Henry VIII, and the royal generations following him. She gave us behind the scenes access and answered all our questions. Highly recommend this experience!

This tour was necessary to understand the history of this spectacular palace. Siobhan was very attentive and catered the tour to our interests. She was extremely knowledgeable and knew the palace like the back of her hand. Definitely worth it!

Siobhan was fabulous! A ton of great information and extremely responsive to my questions prior to and during our visit. She went out of her way to get us to the cafe before walking us to the jousting afterwards. Best tour this trio!

If you have any love for history, a private tour of Hampton Court Palace is an absolute must. From the moment we stepped inside, it felt less like a tourist visit and more like being genuinely transported back through centuries of royal intrigue, power, and drama. What set this experience apart was our guide, Siobhan Clarke. Her knowledge was extraordinary — not just the well-known facts you'd find in a guidebook, but the kind of rich, layered storytelling that brings a place like this truly to life. She wove together the personal, the political, and the architectural in a way that made every room feel like it had a heartbeat. By the end, Henry VIII and his court felt less like textbook figures and more like people whose presence still lingers in those corridors. The private nature of the tour made all the difference. There's something special about being able to linger, ask questions, and absorb the atmosphere without the noise and rush of a crowd. It creates space for the history to actually land. I'd highly recommend this to anyone visiting the area — whether you're a seasoned history enthusiast or just curious. It's one of those experiences that stays with you long after you’ve left.

This turned out to be one of the best tours we experienced during a three-week trip to the UK, perhaps the best tour. Siobhan Clarke is an expert on Henry VIII and the Tudor dynasty. She has written 3 or 4 books on the subjects and there wasn’t a question she couldn’t answer or a fact that we weren’t awed by. As important, she was a delight to be with and guided us through the palace with a great communication style and personality. The palace staff and volunteers all knew her and treated her with obvious and cheerful respect. You won’t be disappointed if you book with her!

This tour guide is absolutely wonderful - she has professionally researched so many small Details that make the experience of touring so rich!

Siobhan was extremely knowledgeable and catered the tour to what we were most interested in. Would recommend.

The Ms. Siobhan was very accommodating to our request for a slow paced tour. I toured with my elderly parents and she was very considerate and amiable.

Our guide was absolutely fantastic! She was so knowledgeable - we felt that we learned so much, and this is a bit of history that we already knew about. I cannot stress enough how lovely, accommodating and professional our guide was.

Siobhan is a world of knowledge and a real joy to be around. She brought the Tudors to life for us, along with William. You will not be disappointed if you book this tour.

We spent an afternoon with Siobhan Clarke at Hampton Court. Her knowledge of the monarchs, coupled with her ability to explain the nuances of their courtly life, provided a highly entertaining tour. Her deep understanding of the palace, its various functions, and its importance throughout history made the afternoon well worth the trip. I was so inspired that I purchased one of her books and read it in full on my flight home. I would definitely recommend taking this tour!

Super informative and so interesting! Great for kids who are into Tudor history. Siobhan was kind and patient

Absolutely brilliant tour with Siobhan. Really enjoyed it! Siobhan was extremely knowledgable and friendly.

Having Siobhan as our guide far exceeded all of our expectations. Her historical expertise brought Hampton Court Palace to life as she effortlessly answered all of our questions and packed every minute of the tour with details about court life- it was one of the best days on our trip!

When I saw there was a tour of Hampton Court Palace led by one of my favorite authors, Siobhan Clarke, I could hardly believe it — and it truly turned out to be a magical day. She made every step of the experience feel special, bringing the palace to life with rich history, fascinating stories, and behind-the-scenes insights you simply wouldn’t get anywhere else. At several points other visitors even tried to join our group because her knowledge and storytelling were so captivating. Siobhan was an absolute delight — incredibly informative while still making the tour fun and engaging for everyone. It was one of the highlights of our trip and an experience I’ll always remember.

This was an amazing tour. We have done many guided tours but this was our first private tour. Our guide was very friendly, interactive, knowledgeable, and interacted with us throughout the tour.

This was our first time at Hampton Court and Siobhan was an amazing tour guide! She was very knowledgeable, prompt and responsive. My sister and I were traveling from the Cliveden Hotel and were worried about what we would do with our bags, but they had accommodations for our large luggage (free of charge) which made it much easier for us. Please note that you MUST purchase entry tickets to Hampton Court at an additional and separate charge from the private tour on Viator, which was not made clear. They mention you need tickets for entry but the wording suggests the purchase of tickets are optional rather than mandatory (which is why I gave 4 stars instead of 5) You have to purchase entry tickets from Hampton courts online website, without those tickets you cannot get in. I am a huge fan of Tudor history so for me this tour was incredible! My sister knew nothing of the history and she even loved the tour. I would certainly visit again and recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area or interested in the information. They also have a cafe which was nice and a gift shop!

Had an absolutely splendid time touring Hampton Court with Ms. Clarke. She went in to marvelous detail about the palace and it's Tudor history. My wife is an avid fan of the monarchy. I strongly recommend Ms. Clarke for any fans of the Tudor court history.

Siobhan Clarke is an outstanding guide., lecturer, historian and author. She brings HC alive and you can practically feel Wolsey and Cromwell working away in service to Henry VIII. Best way to see HC!!!!

It was great to get a good view of Henry VIII and all his wives in the actual place where they lived! It really made the story come alive for us! Siobhan gave us personal details about the people involved that made the story real for us.

While planning my short London trip, I debated doing an audio tour of Hampton Court Palace, figuring I could explore and learn on my own. I’m so glad I changed my mind and booked a tour with Siobhan Clarke; she gave me an inside look into the Tudors and Hampton Court Palace that no audio guide could’ve ever matched. In just two hours, she walked me through the expansive palace, sharing fascinating stories about King Henry VIII, his wives, and court life. What a treat! I learned so much more than I would’ve reading the exhibit plaques or wandering alone. As an official Historic Royal Palaces Guide Lecturer and author of multiple Tudor books, Siobhan knows the Tudors inside and out, so she can easily tailor a tour to your interests. Whether you’re a Tudor fan, history buff, or just love exploring palaces, Siobhan’s the perfect guide for you. I can’t wait to return to London and book another one of her tours.

Hampton court palace is vast and can take many hours to walk around, so having a personal guide like Siobhan Clarke was fantastic! As a historian she was so knowledgable about Henry VIII and all the kings and queens who can after him. We learnt so much more than the audio guides, plus you can ask as many questions as you like. If you’re into history and want a deep dive then you need a personal guide to give you the best experience possible. Highly recommend.

As an absolute Tudor history nerd, touring Hampton Court Palace with Siobhan is an absolute must! Even knowing a lot about Henry VIII, his reign, and his wives you’ll still learn more and really get a better understanding of his court and how all of the people at it lived their days. During the 90 minute tour, you’ll see and learn more within the palace than you can imagine without feeling rushed or short on time at all. And for my fellow history nerds out there: Siobhan cowrote The Tudor Christmas with Alison Weir so you know she’s the real deal!

Siobhan was very knowledgeable and we shared a love of the history. She really brought to life the stories I had only read about.

Siobhan was an excellent and knowledgeable tour guide. This was my second time at Hampton Court but I learned so much more with her guiding us. This was a great way to cap off our trip to the U.K. Highly recommend!

I could not recommend this tour or experience enough. Siobhan is a consummate historian on the era and moves you deftly through the property so that a 1.5-hour tour feels like you have learned and seen a week's worth of history. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience such a significant historical event, and I strongly encourage others to pursue a similar experience.

Siobhan was a fabulous guide. She was very knowledgeable and and a very impressive wealth of knowledge of Hampton Court. I highly reccomend a tour with Siobhan.

Wonderful tour of Hampton Court. Siobhan was a wonderful and talented storyteller and did a fantastic job painting a picture of life at Henry VIII’s court. Highly recommend this tour.

Siobhan is an absolute GEM and wealth of knowledge on not just Tudor history but Hampton Court as a whole. We appreciated her involving my 16 year old son and making our tour fun, interactive and informative. As someone who has loved Tudor history since childhood coming to Hampton court and being able to have a private tour was just thrilling. I will absolutely recommend her tour to anyone, it is well worth the cost!!! Needless to say my 16 year old said this is his favorite part of the trip

This tour was the highlight of our holiday. Siobhan was utterly amazing, knowledgeable and did absolutely everything to cater the tour to our interests. She answered every one of our questions and even showed us some hidden gems. Highly, highly recommended this tour!!

Our group of 6 people (4 in their 20s and 2 in our 50s) was delighted this tour. Vanda worked at Hampton Court Palace as a conservationist of objects and textiles for 25+ years. Her knowledge and experience, as well as her engaging personality, made for an educational and entertaining tour for all of us. She has a wealth of information, and I wish we could have spent the entire day with her! She helped us bypass the large school groups and speak in more peaceful places. The palace is a "must see" in my opinion, and Vanda (and her colleagues) are the perfect folks to show you around.

Our private guide Sioban Clarke,was extremely well informed , pleasant and accommodated our interests. We would recommend her highly.

Absolutely amazing. Had an amazing tour guide that made the experience so great. They were a historian so they were knowledge and engaging.

My visit to Hampton Court Palace had been a long time coming with several attempts made over the years on past visits to London, solo or with the family. I finally decided to bite the bullet this time and do it right by booking a tour with a renowned expert. And I’m so glad I did! Siobhan Clarke’s knowledge on the subject and rare access to the inner workings of the Palace made for a 2-hour visit extremely well-spent. I came early and stayed on after the tour to explore the grounds further, but if you only have 2 hours, book this tour. Siobhan patiently answered all my questions and was kind enough to sign some books written by her which I ordered prior to my visit. Thanks, Siobhan!

Siobhan Clarke was our delightful and knowledgeable tour guide. She greeted us at the entrance, and she took into account our special needs. We learned so much during our tour and had a great time.

Having a private guide was a fantastic experience. Siobhan was knowledgeable, accommodating and offered insights we otherwise would not have known. Hampton Court itself is amazingly beautiful and well worth a visit. We were there during the tulip festival, which was an additional highlight!!

Excellent tour! Our guide Siobhan was great, very friendly and full of knowledge! It was a perfect gift for my wife.

Very welcoming, they were wonderful every step of the way, the site was so clean and everyone was helpful. No one minded taking time to answer questions, they even assisted with a wheelchair.

I visited Hampton Court Palace for the first time and had a guided tour with Siobhan Clarke. The Palace is beautiful, very large and there is a lot to take in. Siobhan is an excellent guide and extremely knowledgeable. I really enjoyed the tour, learnt a lot about life at Hampton Court and would highly recommend this tour.

Siobhan was very friendly and knowledgeable and was brilliant at including the children. Highly recommend!

Our tour guide, Siobhan, was fabulous! Hampton Court Palace is huge and complex. Without Siobhan's expert guidance, we would not have been able to make sense of what we were seeing. She provided invaluable context.

Getting to walk Hampton Court, with our knowledgeable and welcoming guide, was more than I could have imagined. Even in the cold and rain it was a wonderful experience.

My wife and I celebrated our 50th anniversary in England, and this was a highlight. Siobhan Clarke was unfailingly informative and pleasant, a clearly knowledgeable and well educated tour guide. She has a charming manner and voice, which made it all the more a delight. Everyone should have this opportunity, I felt like we had a private audience with a TV celebrity. We later bought one of her books!

The guide was very easy to talk with, very warm and welcoming. She was extremely knowledgeable but not lecturing.

We had a wonderful guide, Siobhan Clarke, who brought everything to life. Her knowledge and enthusiasm made our tour the best!

The grounds and interior were worth the time. We loved the great hall. I did expect more from the tour guide. The private car option is worth the price.