The maze was designed by George London and Henry Wise, who were the royal gardeners for William III.
The original hedges were made of hornbeam, but were later replaced with yew due to its hardiness.
In its early history, the maze was criticized by travel writers for being confusing and frustrating to navigate.
The maze is famous for being featured in Jerome K. Jerome's classic 1889 novel, 'Three Men in a Boat'.
The design uses a 'multicursal' layout, meaning it features dead ends and branching paths rather than a single simple route.
It is situated within the 60 acres of formal gardens that make up the wider Hampton Court Palace estate.
The Hampton Court Maze is Britain’s oldest surviving hedge maze, commissioned by William III in 1700. It covers approximately one-third of an acre and features a trapezoidal design that defies standard rectangular geometry. The maze utilizes yew trees planted originally as part of the formal gardens. It is located within the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, a former royal residence. Visitors navigate a series of paths designed to confound direction and depth perception. The current layout is approximately 800 yards long from the entrance to the center. It remains a managed historical site overseen by Historic Royal Palaces. The maze has undergone multiple restorative plantings to maintain its historical integrity.
From the elevated viewing point or the palace windows overlooking the gardens to capture the geometric patterns of the hedges.
Walk with purpose and keep one hand trailing along the hedge to maintain orientation.
Visit during the shoulder season to avoid large school groups and families that create congestion in the narrow paths.
Check the palace website for potential temporary closures due to severe weather or gardening maintenance.
Do not attempt the maze during peak weekend afternoons if you are sensitive to crowds, as the narrow paths can become a bottleneck.
May close occasionally for essential horticultural maintenance; subject to weather-dependent path conditions.
Do not climb on, prune, or attempt to cut through the hedges; stay strictly on the designated gravel paths.
