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  • The Rest is History Festival 2026: Hampton Court Palace

The Rest is History Festival 2026: Hampton Court Palace

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The first ever Rest is History Club Festival, exclusively for our members, takes place at Hampton Court Palace on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July 2026.

Two amazing days built especially for the club, in one of England’s great historic palaces.

To get your tickets head to the members area and click on festival.
Become a member

Here’s what your ticket includes:

Six live shows in a day

The full Rest is History live experience, with Tom and Dominic on stage with the country’s leading historians. Eight headline shows across the weekend, with guests we’ve never had on stage together, and an opening and closing talk each day from Tom and Dominic. 

The run of Hampton Court Palace

Henry VIII’s Great Hall, the Tudor kitchens and the baroque state apartments built for William III and Mary II. 60 acres of gardens to wander between shows. The whole estate, yours for the day.

Objects from the palace collection on show

Join the Historic Royal Palaces curators for a festival exclusive. Pieces from the Hampton Court collection not normally on public display will be on show for these two days only. 

Living history all day

Costumed reenactments, period music, baroque dancing, close demonstrations from the curators, and medieval combat across the grounds.

Fine food & drinks with friends of the show

Enjoy food and drink in the palace gardens from a range of vendors. Picnic blankets welcome! And the bit you can’t get anywhere else: a day spent alongside other friends of the show.

Upgrade to a premium experience

Take your festival experience to the next level with our premium tickets which include access to our exclusive, all‑day hospitality experience within a dedicated lounge featuring complimentary food and drink, covered tiered seating for all talks and complimentary parking. 

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On stage:

Saturday 4th July

10:40 - 11:00

Dom & Tom @10x

Tom & Dominic

Introductory talk.

11:00 - 11:45

Ali & Tom @10x

Ali Ansari

In conversation with Tom Holland: Persia and the West

How did Persia go from being a source of intrigue in the western mind across millennia, to becoming the very embodiment of the west’s antithesis? Tom joins Ali Ansari to trace the fascinating relationship between Persia and the West.

12:15 - 13:00

Tracy & Dom@10x

Tracy Borman

In conversation with Dominic Sandbrook: The Secrets of Henry VIII’s Wives
As you explore Hampton Court, what more could you want than to know what really happened behind its closed doors? Dominic is joined by Tracy Borman to explore the secret lives of Henry’s six wives.

13:30 - 14:15

Dan & Tom @10x

Dan Jackson

In conversation with Tom Holland: The Pit of Death
A collapsed mine, hundreds dead, a local community shaken to its core, and direct changes to British law. Tom and Dan Jackson tell the story of one of the great 20th century accidents, the Hartley Colliery Disaster. A rip-roaring story you can only hear at The Rest Is History live.

14:45 - 15:30

Paul & Dom@10x

Paul Rouse

In conversation with Dominic Sandbrook: Could Ireland still be part of the UK?
Looking at how Irish nationalism and the drive to independence was shaped by religion, rebellion, language, and more; Dominic and Paul Rouse discuss the possibility of a past where Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom.

16:00 - 16:50

Mary & Tom@10x

Mary Beard

In conversation with Tom Holland: What makes Romans unique?
The Romans had a taste for violence, an obsession with sex, a love of gladiators, and slavery was embedded in everyday life. Tom and Mary Beard join forces and discuss the Romans and everything that made their society distinct - nothing is off-limits.

17:15 - 18:00

Dom & Tom @10x

Tom & Dominic

Closing Q&A.
Tom and Dominic answer YOUR questions.

Sunday 5th July

10:40 - 11:00

Dom & Tom @10x

Tom & Dominic

Introductory talk.

11:00 - 11:45

Katja & Dom @10x

Katja Hoyer

In conversation with Dominic Sandbrook: Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe
Weimar is a town made famous through Germany’s flawed initial foray into democracy. Dominic is joined by Katja Hoyer as they look closely at the lives of the town's inhabitants and how they were shaped by this tumultuous period.

12:15 - 13:00

Helen & Tom@10x

Helen Castor

In conversation with Tom Holland: Elizabeth I: England’s Greatest Monarch
Elizabeth defeated the Spanish Armada, brought an end to the religious turbulence that beset the nation, and oversaw a cultural golden age. Tom and Helen Castor discuss the reign of Elizabeth I and whether she deserves to be known as England’s greatest monarch?

13:30 - 14:15

Adam & Dom @10x-1

Adam Smith

In conversation with Dominic Sandbrook: The Story of America Through Three Presidents
What is the true story of America? Join Dominic and Adam Smith as they discuss the history of America and the ideals that have shaped it, through the lens of three, perhaps surprising, presidents…

14:45 - 15:30

William & Tom@10x

William Dalrymple

In conversation with Tom Holland: The Golden Road from India to Rome
Were these ancient civilisations closer than we’ve been led to believe? Tom is joined by William Dalrymple to discuss the links between India and Ancient Rome.

16:00 - 16:45

Ian & Dom @10x

Ian Hislop

In conversation with Dominic Sandbrook: The History of Satire
Does satire influence politics or is it just for entertainment? Is it a challenge to authority or does it just reflect the status quo? And are we now living in an age beyond it? Dominic is joined by Ian Hislop to look at the history of satire.

17:15 - 18:00

Dom & Tom @10x

Tom & Dominic

Closing talk - top friends of the show.
Tom and Dominic decide once and for all who are the top friends of the show.

Ticket Prices:

(Available to club members only) 

  • One Day Standard Ticket £150
  • Weekend Standard Ticket £270
  • One Day Premium Ticket* £550
  • Weekend Premium Ticket £990
  • One Day Parking £12
Become a member

*Price includes one day standard ticket and parking plus VIP upgraded experience

Download brochure

FAQs

Food and Drink

From delicious food, hot drinks and bars there is a variety on offer, including picnic hampers that can be pre-ordered to collect on the day.

Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options are available.

Please note all Food and Drink vendors are cashless.

We encourage all visitors to bring with them a reusable bottle as there will be a free water refill station on-site.

VIP Experience

Parking

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