Hampton Court Palace Halloween: The Ghosts and What's On

Hampton Court Palace Halloween runs from 24 October to 1 November 2026. It comes with a normal palace ticket, with no separate Halloween ticket.

The ghost stories behind it are old, and Historic Royal Palaces tells them with a few caveats. This page sets out which legend belongs to which part of the palace, then the practical details.

Hampton Court Palace Halloween: What's On

In 2026, atmospheric projections, eerie sound effects and spells change the look of the palace. Costumed ghosts from its history appear in the haunted corridors, in full make-up.

Storytelling runs in the King's Guard Chamber at 11.30, 12.15, 1pm, 1.45, 2.30 and 3.15. The 2026 story is called The Return of Boo in Wren's Revenge.

Outside, an autumn trail through the Wilderness has pumpkins and scarecrows, and the café sells Halloween-themed treats.

The palace warns that the programme includes darkness, loud noises, flashing lights and occasional jump scares. That matters if you are bringing young children.

The Haunted Gallery and Catherine Howard

The Haunted Gallery belongs to Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's fifth queen. She was arrested at Hampton Court and beheaded in 1542, on charges of adultery and treason.

The legend says she runs along the gallery screaming for mercy, again and again, as on the day of her arrest. It calls her the Screaming Queen.

Who Is the Grey Lady of Hampton Court Palace?

She is Sybil Penn, who served four Tudor monarchs and was wet nurse to Edward VI. She died of smallpox in 1562, after nursing Elizabeth I.

A grey figure is said to walk the State Apartments, Clock Court and the grace-and-favour apartments, with the sound of a spinning wheel nearby. The sightings began only after her tomb was disturbed in 1829, during church renovations.

Which Other Ghosts Are Said to Haunt Hampton Court?

Jane Seymour is the pale figure carrying a lighted taper on the Silverstick Stairs. She is said to appear on the anniversary of Prince Edward's birth in October 1537. She died days after giving birth to Henry VIII's son.

Two unidentified skeletons belong to the Fountain Court cloister. Bones found there in 1871 were said to cause knocking and banging until they were properly buried. They may be Civil War victims, buried in a hurry before Wren's baroque construction.

The youngest story dates from 2003, when a figure appeared on security footage opening a fire door three days running. No one has come forward to explain it.

Are the Hampton Court Ghost Stories True?

Historic Royal Palaces is candid about it. Many of the Victorian ghost stories were retold for enjoyable chills, and some of the early ghost photographs were faked with double exposures. Sybil Penn's sightings follow the opening of her grave, and the skeletons' identity is guesswork.

That does not spoil the visit. The rooms and the history are real, and they are why the legends attach to them.

Is Halloween at Hampton Court Palace Included in the Ticket?

Yes, the programme is included with palace admission. Until 27 November 2026, off-peak weekday tickets are £30 for adults, £15 for children aged 5 to 15 and £24.30 for seniors. Peak weekend and bank holiday tickets are £33, £16.50 and £26.30. Children under 5 are free.

Members enter free without pre-booking.

More Halloween in London

For tentacles in a Victorian market, see Leadenhall Market Halloween. For darker museums and exhibitions, try October in London for People Who Find Ghost Tours Boring. The same gardens hold a tulip festival in spring, which I covered in Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival.

Visiting Hampton Court Palace: Practical Notes

📍 Where: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU.

⏰ Opening: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5.30pm, with last admission at 4.30pm, from the week of 5 October 2026. The opening-times page lists Monday and Tuesday as closed, so check it for half-term days.

📅 Open days: The Halloween programme runs from 24 October to 1 November 2026.

🎫 Admission: Included with a palace ticket, priced as above.

🚇 Getting there: Hampton Court station is across the bridge from the palace, on the line from London Waterloo.

🚗 Parking: Limited on-site parking, with card payment only.

☕ Food: The Tiltyard Café is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, with hot food from 11.30am to 3pm.

_______________________

Did you enjoy this article? If you'd like to contribute to the running costs of WithinLondon, click the button below:

All photos were taken by Ina/WithinLondon, unless stated otherwise.