How to make the most of the Hampton Court Food Festival

Located in pretty Surrey, Henry VIII’s favourite abode is magnificent to behold but Hampton Court Palace offers more than just impressive looks. The palace hosts the Hampton Court Food Festival each year which offers a range of delights for adults and children alike to enjoy. From easy-to-follow cooking lessons to sampling exotic tastes, you can easily have your fill of food fun at this delectable event.

Getting stuck into the Foodies Festival

The Foodies Festival is a weekend of fabulous food exhibitions from chefs, restaurants and producers. You can sample street foods from around the world, learn cooking tips from top chefs as you watch them creating dishes and enjoy delicious meals in the restaurant area. There is also an opportunity to peruse the producers’ market where you can find some local produce to take home with you or let the kids have a go at cooking in the designated children’s area. In addition to the food attractions, there is also a live entertainment stage so you can enjoy some great music while you’re there.

Tickets range from £15 to £48, with single-day, multi-day and VIP tickets available. Children under 16 get free entry. Parking is available at Hampton Court Palace for £1.50 per hour or £1 at Hampton Court Green which is about 500 metres from the palace entrance.

Other things to see and do at the palace

While enjoying a feast for your taste buds, why not combine your visit with a feast for your eyes? Hampton Court Palace offers many delights such as the magnificent Great Hall, the breathtaking chapel and a chance to view a re-creation of Henry VIII’s crown. You can also see how cooking was carried out in days gone by in the Tudor kitchens, where feasts were created which were quite literally fit for a king.

If you’re visiting the palace as a family, you should definitely pick up one of the free family trails at the Information Centre. These are full of quizzes, facts and activities to keep everyone in the family entertained as you make your merry way around the castle. As a bonus, once you’ve completed a trail you can return it to collect a prize. There is also a family room that is ideal for youngsters to burn off some energy playing with toys and dressing up in fun costumes while adults and older children enjoy some relaxation.

Alternatively, take your explorations outside to the renowned Hampton Court maze which is the oldest surviving hedge maze in the UK. You can also stroll around the beautiful palace gardens spread over 60 acres or take in the stunning surroundings of the 750-acre park.

In addition to the Foodies Festival, there is another prime attraction that is held each year at the palace. If you love music, you’re in for a treat with the annual Hampton Court Palace Festival where a great line-up of British and international artists perform in an evening concert. Rather than a massive concert overflowing with huge crowds, this is a relatively intimate concert that caters to around 3000 visitors and provides a wonderful evening of entertainment. You can also enjoy tasty treats from the speciality food stalls, pre-order a picnic or bring your own picnic to enjoy within the palace grounds before the concert begins.

A regal day out for young and old to savour

A visit to the Hampton Court Food Festival is a taste adventure that will have each visitor eager to discover new foods or try their hand at fun cooking tasks. With so many diverse foods to sample, you’ll be able to uncover new tastes that you might never otherwise have the opportunity to relish. From faraway food delights to locally produced scrumptious dishes, no matter how long you visit the festival for it will leave you hungering for more.