The Royal Apartments are diided 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 aailable at no extra charge for Henry III'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 III's State Apartments, which feature the glorious double hammerbeamed Great Hall; the King's Apartments (remodelled by William III); and the ast Tudor Kitchens . The last two are also sered 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 isit the apartments are free to wander around the gardens, but will have to pay extra to isit 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 canases, The Triumphs of Caesar, housed in the Lower Orangery, and the celebrated Great ine, 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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