Plan Your Visit
Everything you need to know about the festival
Our address
Our Address
Hampton Court Palace
East Molesey
Surrey
KT8 9AU
Download the visitor access map (694 kB pdf)
Opening times
Opening times
Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 July
10am – 6.30pm
Sunday 7 July
10am – 5.30pm (sell off of displays begins at 4.30pm)
Getting here
Getting here
We welcome car-free visitors to RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. Plan your car-free journey at Good Journey.
Download our visitor access map (610 kB pdf)
*This information is correct at the time of writing, but is subject to change.
Travel by train
Nearby stations (operated by South Western Railway)
- Hampton Court Station
- Walking: Approx 25 minutes or 0.7mile walk to Ditton Gate. This is via the beautiful Privvy Gardens of Hampton Court Palace available to show visitor ticket holders.
- Accessibility Shuttle: to Long Water Gate
- Kingston Station
- From Kingston Station – take one of the regular buses (111 / 216 / 411 / 461) to Hampton Court Green/Hampton Court Palace, and walk approx. 20 minutes or 0.5 miles (across a footbridge) to Ditton Gate.
- Surbiton Station
- 7 minutes connecting train to Hampton Court Station.
Travelling with 3+ people – save 34% with South Western Railway GroupSave discount.
Download our visitor access map (610 kB pdf)Park & Ride
Address: Apps Court Farm, Hurst Rd, Walton-on-Thames KT12 2EG. Outside ULEZ zone.
Cost: £9 per day
Book online (via website) or pay on the day
This car park is located outside of the ULEZ Charging Zone.
There are toilets and a tea and coffee cart at this location.
Journey time: Bus to Hampton Court Bridge approx 15–20 minutes (depending on traffic) plus walking time of approx. 20 minutes (or 0.5 miles) to Ditton Gate. Remain on the bus to Long Water Gate if less able to walk. All journey times will vary depending on traffic.
Download our visitor access map (610 kB pdf)
Travel by car
Day parking cost: £16. Book in advance or pay on day (card preferred).
Please allow adequate time for your journey, while we endeavour to keep traffic free-flowing, situations beyond our control may cause delays. Please be aware of ULEZ charges in this area.
Postcode: Use KT8 9AU to get you to the local area and then follow AA and electronic signs to your nearest car park.
- Black Car Park (including Accessible Parking) – situated off the A308 Hampton Court Road (coming from Kingston)
- Green Car Park – situated off the A308 Hampton Court Road (coming from M3): 20min/0.6 miles approx. walk to Ditton Gate via the beautiful Palace grounds
- Walking – Approx 20 minutes/0.5miles to Ditton Gate through the beautiful Palace Grounds. This requires using a footbridge
- Shuttle/Accessibility Bus – Between Green Car Park and Long Water Gate. Please check with steward for up to date timings. Journey time can vary depending on traffic.
- A frequent shuttle and mobility bus runs from Green Car Park to Long Water Gate. Please check with the nearest steward for up-to-date timings (traffic dependant)
Accessible Parking: £9 If you have purchased Accessible Parking or mobility equipment, you should head to Black Car Park. Please ensure your Blue Badge is displayed.
Taxi / Drop off
There is no official drop-off point, due to the location of the Festival. The easiest drop-off location would be Hampton Court Station, which is approximately a 25-minute walk/0.7mile to the Festival Entrance or a Accessibility Bus Service from the Station.
Download our visitor access map (610 kB pdf)
Coaches
A permit is required to drop off coach passengers. Please email [email protected]. to arrange this.
Coach drop off: Green Car Park. To reach the showground, there are two options:
- Walking – Approx 20 minutes / 0.5 to Ditton Gate through the beautiful Palace Grounds. This requires using a footbridge
- Shuttle and mobility buses – Between Green Car Park and Long Water Gate. Please check with steward for up to date timings. Journey time will vary depending on traffic
Travel by boat
Ferry services
The following Services will run this year from:
- Kingston and Richmond to Hampton Court Turks Pier (Barge Walk) via Turks Ferries
- Molesey Lock to the Golden Gate entrance via Turks & Parr Ferries. This Service runs from: 9.30am until 6.45pm. Please note on Friday 5 July this shuttle service will finish at 5pm due to a private event in Privvy Gardens. Visitors will be asked to go through another exit in the palace after that time.
There is an Accessible/Mobility Bus running from the station this year to Long Water Gate for those that need it. Those able to, the walk is 0.7miles/25minutes and includes the chance to enjoy the beautiful Privvy Garden within the Palace grounds enroute to the Festival.
Cycling
Bike racks are available at Long Water Gate and Golden Gate (route to Ditton Gate) on Barge Walk.
Tube and bus
If you wish to travel to the show by tube and bus, please use the Transport for London Journey Planner to plan your journey.
Entrances
The festival has two public entrances/exit gates.
- Ditton Gate – situated in the beautiful East Front Garden, Palace Grounds. This is closest to Green Car Park (0.5 miles or Shuttle Service) and Hampton Court Station (0.7 miles or Shuttle Service). Those entering via this gate will get to enjoy the beautiful Palace Grounds and gardens as part of your Festival entrance ticket.
- Long Water Gate – situated in Black Car Park. The shuttle and accessibility buses from Green Car Park and Hampton Court Station will drop off here.
Food & drink
Food & drink
From delicious street food, grab-and-go options, coffee, ice cream and snacks, there is a variety of food on offer including:
- 3 Cafes offering light lunch options and tea and coffee
- Street Food Courts
- Fortnum and Mason Hampers
- Free water refill stations
Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options are available.
Facilities
Useful information
This is a temporary, outdoor event on open parkland and is subject to varying weather and ground conditions. Although some temporary trackway is laid, much of the event is staged on open ground and care must be taken.
We therefore advise that you check the weather forecast for the day of your visit, consider the nature of the event and the effects of any inclement weather on surface conditions, and wear suitable clothing and footwear. In extreme weather conditions, access may be restricted in the interest of safety.
Random bag searches are in operation.
Festival guides
The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Show Guide includes the complete exhibitor listings, Show highlights and a fully illustrated guide to the Show Gardens and features. The Show Guide also contains a detailed map of the showground.Show Guides are available to order in advance and delivered to you before the show. For international visitors Show Guides can be pre-ordered for collection at the Show, or alternatively, you can buy a Guide on arrival for £10.
A lighter footprint
We encourage all visitors to bring with them a reusable cup, bottle and bag. There are free water refill stations around the site.
All our food serveware is made of compostable material
Any leftover plants from the Festival will be rehomed or reused by local communities or future projects
Animals
Well-behaved pet dogs (one per booking) are permitted at this Festival including Accesibility dogs. Dogs must be kept on leads at all times and will not be allowed into any of the indoor café areas. Please fully consider the welfare of your pet, and whether the festival environment is suitable, before deciding to bring them, particularly in hot weather.
Please note: Dogs are not allowed through the Palace grounds (to Ditton gate). Visitors driving to the festival should head for the Black Car Park at Long Water Gate, or if walking from Hampton Court Station, follow signs to Paddock Gate to access Long Water Gate or get the Shuttle from Hampton Court Station.
Quiet Zone
There will be a Quiet Zone located on Longwater South (see Festival Map on site). This is a space to have a quiet moment away from the crowds.
Children
Each paying adult can bring two children aged under 16 free of charge (no ticket required).
There is a range of activities to keep children entertained at the festival.
Baby changing and feeding
There are baby changing and feeding facilities at the festival.ATMs and bank facilities
The Ticket Office is cashless. All vendors take card payments, and there is a cashpoint at the Festival. A small charge applies for this service.
RHS Gardening Advice
The RHS Gardening Advice stand, located in the Floral Marquee, is staffed by our team of experts.
At the RHS we are committed to protecting plant health and ask that visitors bring photographs of their plant problems to our shows rather than live plant material. This applies when visiting the RHS Gardening Advice stands or exhibitors.
Shop and drop and Plant Porters
We have a Shop and Drop facility where you will be able to leave your purchases for collection at the end of your visit. This is a free service run by the charity Perennial. Donations are gratefully received.
Plant Porters are able to transport your purchases from the Shop & Drop closer to your car using wheelbarrows. Porters are unable to travel as far as Green Car Park (as it is located over the footbridge).
Lost property
Located at Visitor Information near the Long Water Gate. Unclaimed items are kept for one month and plants for 24 hours, before being donated to local charities.
Please contact us at [email protected] for further information.
Picnic/seating areas
There are numerous seating areas around the Showground, including picnic benches and deckchairs. These are marked on the Festival Maps around the Showground.Music and entertainment
You can enjoy a variety of talks and entertainment at the bandstands and stages around the Showground. Timetables will also be in the Festival guide and on the festival signs nearby.
Accessibility
Accessibility at the festival
Sharing our passion for gardening is a key charitable aim and we want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to enjoy our inspirational Flower Festivals. This guide will help you plan your day. Please also speak to our friendly Visitor Information staff and Stewards at the Festival for any further help and advice.
See accessibility information for our RHS Shows.
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.