The Rest is History Festival 2026: Hampton Court Palace

There will be a range of vendors selling delicious food and drinks, with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options are available. Please note all vendors are cashless.

You're also welcome to bring your own picnic, and enjoy it on the palace lawns. Please note that you are not permitted to bring any alcoholic drinks with you, but these can be purchased on site.  

We encourage you bring a reusable bottle as there will be a free water refill station on-site. 

You can also pre-order a picnic hamper, packed with delicious savoury and sweet treats. To do so, go to the ticket link and simply add the hampers you need. 

Parking can be booked at the checkout stage, for £12, when purchasing your tickets. Otherwise you can park for £15 on the day (card only).  

By car: Use postcode KT8 9AU and follow AA signs to the festival car park, off the A308 Hampton Court Road. Please allow adequate time for your journey, and be aware of ULEZ charges in this area.

Public transport: The nearest station is Hampton Court. From there it is a 10 min walk to the festival site.

Parking: Add parking to your booking now for £12, or pay £15 on the day (card only). You can add parking via the original ticket link. 

If you are planning on getting there by public transport, the nearest station is Hampton Court followed by a short 10 min walk to the festival site.

 

This is an outdoor summer festival and a bring-your-own seating event: picnic blankets, camping and folding chairs, cushions and throws. If you can’t bring your own, chairs can be purchased for collection on the day via the original ticket link. The chairs will be yours to keep. Please order ahead of time as there will be limited availability to purchase on the day.

Our festival is designed to be informal and welcoming, so feel free to set up your own little picnic area, soak up the atmosphere, and enjoy the day at your own pace.

Clothing: Casual, but please check the weather forecast before you come and dress accordingly. Adverse weather: If it’s raining, the festival will still go ahead. Only in extreme conditions, and where a question of health and safety is involved, would the festival be cancelled and all tickets refunded. We ask that you keep an eye on the weather and bring appropriate wet weather gear if needed. Equally, if the weather is extremely warm, please bring sun hats, suncream and water bottles. There will be a cloakroom, please follow signs on site.

ID: Bring a valid form of ID with you, as it may be required when purchasing alcoholic beverages from the bars.

Bag searches & size limits: Bag searches will be conducted on arrival. Alcohol and any other banned items will be confiscated. For the full list of banned items, please consult our website FAQs. 

Prohibited items:

• Alcohol
• Knives and other sharp objects (that could be used as a weapon, such as scissors, corkscrews etc)
• Firearms and other weapons 
• Fireworks, flares and smoke canisters
• Large flags/banners
• Rattles, klaxons, or air horns 
• Illegal substances
• Spray paint
• Drones
• Any other items which we consider to be unsafe or pose a risk to public safety and/or security

For the full schedules, please click here.

Book signings: after each talk, our guest historians will be signing books. Books will be available to purchase, and you are welcome to bring your own copies from home. Signings will take place in a marquee by the retail tent - please follow signs on the day. 

There will be the option to submit questions during the talks.

All tickets are digital. Please ensure you have your QR code downloaded to your phone before arriving. The last entry to the site is 5:30pm. Tickets can be bought on the day. You may leave and re-enter throughout the day.

Your guest does not have to be the same person for both days (if you purchased a weekend ticket).

Please note this is an over 16s event. Dogs are not allowed on site with the exception of assistance dogs.

Tickets are non-refundable, except if you purchased the TicketPlan protection. If that's the case, and if you’d like to apply for a refund, please use our customer service portal. For more information on whether you quality for a refund with your TicketPlan protection, please click here.

Accessible toilets are located throughout the Palace and on the main festival site. They will be by the other toilet units - please find them on the map. The Palace is fully accessible; upon entry please head through Trophy gate and follow signs towards East Gardens, where tickets will be checked.

There is an accessibility viewing deck in Home Park for the main stage for wheelchair users. Please locate a steward if you need further assistance on the day.

Make your day at the festival even more enjoyable with an exclusive hospitality experience. Take in the atmosphere of the beautiful East Front Garden of the palace with refreshments and space to relax and socialise. Get access to an exclusive lounge where you can enjoy an all-day food offer alongside a bar serving tea, coffee, wine, beer and soft drinks. And enjoy covered tiered seating and complimentary parking. 

VIP ticket holders: Please head through Trophy gate and follow signs towards East Front Gardens. Your tickets will be checked here before you’re allowed entry into the festival site.