Hampton Court Palace is a story of two palaces: a Tudor palace built by Cardinal Wolsey and later developed by Henry VIII. Dovetailing with the Tudor splendour is a Baroque palace designed by Sir Christopher Wren for William III and Mary II in the 17th century. Today you can visit as one of Henry’s courtiers, adorn a Tudor cloak to discover his State Apartments and sneak below stairs to indulge in his vast Tudor Kitchens where banquets were prepared for 1,000 people at any one time. EVENTS NOT TO MISS Here be Dragons at Hampton Court Palace. 20 July 2019 - 3 November 2019. This summer come to Hampton Court Palace, explore the gardens and see if you can uncover the colourful dragons lurking among the trees and plants. Each dragon has a special name and its own superpower for you to discover. Pick up an activity map from the Information Centre when you arrive to begin your hunt. Henry VIII's Sporting Academy. 3-11 August 2019. Drop in daily activities. Have a go at exciting Tudor sports with King Henry VIII and his court. As a young man Henry was a keen sportsman who enjoyed jousting, hunting and playing real tennis. Now it's your turn to impress him in the King's very own sporting academy! Try sword fighting, practice with a cross-bow and shake it out in the Tudor Dance Off, plus much more. All young competitors will have the chance to win a medal that King Henry VIII himself will be proud to present. Hampton Court Palace Food Festival. 24 - 26 August 2019. 10:00-18:00 Additional Payment required. Come to Hampton Court Palace for a summer celebration of food and drink in the iconic East Front Gardens. The Kitchen Live cooking demonstrations from top chefs and experts including Michel Roux Jr, Nadiya Hussain and Rhiannon Lambert. Eating, shopping and drinking Discover, taste and shop your way around over 100 hand-picked artisan producers and companies. Children's activities There are plenty of activities on offer to keep children of all ages entertained, from face painting to the circus school, arts and crafts and Dance Stars. Tudor Cookery. Drop in Daily. 10:00-17:00. Come and feel the heat of the fires in Henry VIII’s enormous kitchen complex as you try your hand at roasting meat, help our cooks create Tudor dishes fit for Henry’s Court, or just watch the hustle and bustle in this busy food factory. From roast beef to spiced marchpane, discover some of the Tudor delicacies that would grace the tables in Henry VIII’s palace as our team of history cooks whip up some tasty Tudor treats. This event takes place in King Henry VIII's Kitchens.