The Royal Apartments are divided into six thematic walking tours. There's not a lot of information in any of the rooms, but guided tours, each lasting 45 minutes, are available at no extra charge for Henry VIII's and the King's apartments; all are led by period-costumed historians, who do a fine job of bringing the place to life. If your energy is lacking - and Hampton Court is huge - the most rewarding sections are: Henry VIII's State Apartments , which feature the glorious double hammerbeamed Great Hall; the King's Apartments (remodelled by William III); and the vast Tudor Kitchens . The last two are also served by audio tours.

Tickets to the Royal Apartments cover entry to the rest of the sites in the grounds. Those who don't wish to visit the apartments are free to wander around the gardens, but will have to pay extra to visit the curious Royal Tennis Courts (50p), the palace's famously tricky hedge Maze (£2.30), and the South Gardens (£2.10), where you can view Andrea Mantegna's colourful, heroic canvases, The Triumphs of Caesar, housed in the Lower Orangery, and the celebrated Great Vine , whose grapes are sold at the palace each year in September.

Mid-March to mid-Oct Mon 10.15am-6pm, Tues-Sun 9.30am-6pm; mid-Oct to mid-March closes 4.30pm; £10.50; www.hrp.org.uk. Hampton Court train station, from Waterloo.

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