Churros Garcia
Hot churros with dipping chocolate, trading on both 4–6 and 11–13 December 2026 weekends.
Countryside Christmas · 2026
Hampton Court Palace at Christmas 2026
The two-weekend fayre brings more than 100 artisan producers into a palace visit.
At a glance
See the official dates
- 2026 dates
- 4–6 and 11–13 December 2026
- Opening times
- 10am–5pm; Palace closes at 4.30pm except 11 December.
- Tickets
- Included in palace admission; pre-booking is required for members and entry without a pre-booked ticket is not guaranteed. The Festive Lounge upgrade does not replace general admission. Ice-rink tickets do not include pa
Our verdict
Go if…
You want artisan food and gift shopping with palace admission included.
Skip if…
You want every Christmas experience included in one admission ticket.
Best day to go
4–6 or 11–13 December: visit the palace before its earlier closing time, then browse the fayre.
Our top tip
Pre-book palace admission, including members’ entry. The Festive Lounge is an upgrade; an ice-rink ticket does not admit you to the palace.
The market and Christmas visit
The two-weekend fayre brings more than 100 artisan producers into a palace visit. Shop and eat around the grounds, then use the included palace access before its earlier closing time. The Festive Lounge is an adults-only upgrade; ice skating has a separate ticket.
Separate market shopping from any house or trail booking. Use the official programme for individual opening days and the visitor information for the part of the estate your ticket covers.
Eat and drink
Food choices from the linked venue information. Photographs show food types; nearby cafés and separately booked meals are labelled.
Chickies Scotch Eggs
Choose from a range of Scotch-egg flavours. Listed for both December weekends.
Amen Jerk BBQ
Find Amen Jerk BBQ among the street-food exhibitors on both December weekends. Check the current menu and allergen advice at the stall.
Rye Chocolates
Sussex-made single-origin chocolates to take home. Listed for both December weekends.
Churros Garcia
Churros and dipping chocolate
A hot, sweet finish with dipping chocolate; the organiser lists this trader on both December 2026 weekends.
Chickies Scotch Eggs
Scotch eggs
A savoury stop with a choice of Scotch-egg flavours, officially listed for both 2026 weekends.
Amen Jerk BBQ
Jerk barbecue
A named food exhibitor for both 2026 weekends. Ask at the stall about the day’s menu and dietary requirements.
Rye Chocolates
Chocolate gifts
Sussex-made, single-origin chocolate for a gift or the journey home; listed for both 2026 weekends.
Bohemian Wrapsody
Filled wraps
The official listing describes internationally inspired wraps with free-range meat and local cheese, on both 2026 weekends.
Cheshire Cheese Company
Cheese for the festive table
A named exhibitor for 11–13 December 2026. Visit on the second weekend if this producer is on your shortlist.
Makers and shopping
Check the organiser’s current exhibitor information before making a shopping shortlist. Individual businesses and short chalet lets can change; a previous-season listing is not a promise of attendance.
Organiser’s trader and visitor updatesOn Instagram
Follow Historic Royal Palaces on Instagram — Hampton Court Palace’s operator.
Account published by the official venue website · checked 24 October 2026.
Map
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The linked list works without the map.
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All mapped places as a linked list
- Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre4–6 and 11–13 December 2026
- The MitreAccommodation to compare
- The White Hart HotelAccommodation to compare
- The Lensbury ResortAccommodation to compare
- The Park Hotel, TeddingtonAccommodation to compare
- DoubleTree by Hilton London Kingston Upon ThamesAccommodation to compare
Where we’d stay
Choose an inn close to your arrival route, or a town base with an easy connection. Check evening transport before booking, especially if you plan to stay for the lights.
Our pick
The Mitre
A riverside hotel opposite Hampton Court Palace, with individually designed bedrooms and restaurants.
Property information
The White Hart Hotel
A Fuller’s pub and hotel in Hampton Wick: a separate base from the palace-side Mitre, with its own restaurant.
Property information
The Lensbury Resort
A riverside resort in Teddington with rooms and suites and leisure facilities. Plan your onward journey to Hampton Court; this is a separate Teddington base.
Property information
The Park Hotel, Teddington
A Victorian pub and hotel near Teddington station, with rooms in several categories. Choose it for a pub supper and a Teddington stay; plan onward travel to the palace.
Property informationDoubleTree by Hilton London Kingston Upon Thames
A Kingston town-centre hotel on Skerne Road with Hawkers Bar and Brasserie and a fitness centre. Allow an onward journey to Hampton Court rather than assuming a palace-side stay.
Property informationWe may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. Check the final price, cancellation terms and essential room facilities directly.
How accommodation links workA perfect day
- At opening
Start with the palace approach
Bring the pre-booked palace admission that includes the Festive Fayre.
- First circuit
Take in the producers
Browse the artisan food and gift stalls before choosing where to stop.
- Afternoon
Balance palace and fayre
Allow for the earlier Palace closing time; check the exception for 11 December on the official page.
- An optional extra
Keep the rink separate
Ice skating is separately ticketed and does not replace palace/Fayre admission.
Practical information
Tickets and booking
Included in palace admission; pre-booking is required for members and entry without a pre-booked ticket is not guaranteed. The Festive Lounge upgrade does not replace general admission. Ice-rink tickets do not include palace admission.
Getting there and back
Hampton Court station is across the bridge from the palace, with trains from London Waterloo. Enter through Trophy Gate on the A308. On-site paid parking is limited, first come first served, and cannot be reserved.
Accessibility
Hampton Court station is step free. HRP lists 10 Blue Badge bays on site, with charges applying, and further accessible facilities on its accessibility page. Historic surfaces and access routes should be checked for your needs.
On the day
Use the specific event’s arrival instructions and bring the ticket or parking confirmation it requires. Check weather, footwear and any bag restrictions. Ask the food operator about allergens and the property about facilities essential to your group.
Questions before you go
When is the 2026 event?
4–6 and 11–13 December 2026
How do tickets work?
Included in palace admission; pre-booking is required for members and entry without a pre-booked ticket is not guaranteed. The Festive Lounge upgrade does not replace general admission. Ice-rink tickets do not include palace admission.
What should I check for accessibility?
Hampton Court station is step free. HRP lists 10 Blue Badge bays on site, with charges applying, and further accessible facilities on its accessibility page. Historic surfaces and access routes should be checked for your needs.
Official links
- Official 2026 event and booking
- Official event/visit source
- Official event/visit source
- Official event/visit source
- The Mitre official accommodation
- The White Hart Hotel official accommodation
- The Lensbury Resort official accommodation
- The Park Hotel, Teddington official accommodation
- DoubleTree by Hilton London Kingston Upon Thames official accommodation
- Churros Garcia official 2026 exhibitor page
- Chickies Scotch Eggs official 2026 exhibitor page
- Amen Jerk BBQ official 2026 exhibitor page
- Rye Chocolates official 2026 exhibitor page
Add a city market visit
London Christmas guideCheck the city’s trading dates separately before combining the two visits.
Make it a weekend: Hampton Court Palace and Hampton Court village
Plan prepared 24 October 2026; choose a published event date.
Day 1: the Christmas visit
Make Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre the main outing. Choose the market, house or trail session from the venue’s dated programme, leaving time for arrival and a pause before an evening booking. Use the existing tickets and travel sections for the entrance and transport arrangements. Separate activities may need separate reservations.
Venue event programme · checked 24 October 2026
Day 1 evening: stay nearby
The Mitre · The White Hart Hotel · The Lensbury Resort · The Park Hotel, Teddington · DoubleTree by Hilton London Kingston Upon Thames
Compare the full hotel list and mapped locations
Day 2: Hampton Court village
Leave the following morning for Hampton Court village before the journey home. Choose the town stop around your return route and the time available rather than adding another timed event by default. Confirm the opening hours of any place you want to enter; this plan does not add a new admission or transport-time claim.