The availability of the Old Palace is dependent upon any hospitality events that may be taking place.
Because these events are currently quite popular, all of these dates are subject to change and therefore you can only book Old Palace tour tickets on the day from our Stable Yard kiosk.
We update this webpage with the upcoming dates approximately 2 weeks before the date.
If tours are available, they run on the hour and tickets are available from the ticket kiosk.
The next available dates for Old Palace Tours are:
(Updated: 22/09/2024)
September
22nd
25th
26th
27th
28th
October
5th
6th
19th
20th
The Old Palace is one of the foremost examples of medieval brickwork in the country. The remaining wing contains the Banqueting Hall, with most of its original roof timbers. Many of them are peppered with gunshot, apparently because sparrows flew in and were shot at when the building was later used as stables!
Henry VIII acquired the Palace from the Bishop of Ely in 1538 and used it as a nursery for his three children. It is with Elizabeth that the Palace is most closely associated. She had a happy childhood here, sharing in her brother Edward’s education. Circumstances changed for Elizabeth when Queen Mary came to the throne in 1553, for Mary feared that her enemies might plot to place her protestant sister on the throne. Effectively Elizabeth was kept under house arrest at Hatfield.
In 1558 Elizabeth was sitting under an oak tree in the Park when she learnt of her succession to the throne. One of her first acts was to call her trusted advisers, including William Cecil, later Lord Burghley, together for her first Council of State which was held in the Banqueting Hall of the Palace.
In 1607 King James I exchanged the Palace at Hatfield for Theobalds, the home of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury. Robert Cecil demolished three-quarters of the original building. The remaining wing survived as the stables for Hatfield House for the next three centuries, until it was restored by the 4th Marquess in 1915.
The Old Palace is available for hire throughout the year as a venue for corporate and private parties, marriage ceremonies, wedding receptions, banquets and other events. Therefore it is not always possible to view the inside of the Old Palace. On days when it is not in use then the viewing bay (which is free to view from the Stable Yard side) and the Upper Solar (which is accessible through the Garden – Garden ticket required) will be open. Tours of the Old Palace are often also available on the days when it is not in use. Tickets are £7 per person and can be booked from the Stable Yard Ticket Kiosk.
If you have a particular interest in the Old Palace and so that you are not disappointed when you arrive please email us on visitors@hatfield-house.co.uk so we can check if the Palace is free on the day you are visiting.