Pond Gardens

The Pond Gardens are a highlight of the Hampton Court Gardens, especially in spring and summer when vibrant displays of tulips and summer planting fill the space.

These gardens were originally fish ponds made for Henry VIII. In the 1690s, Mary II transformed the Tudor pond yards into sunken gardens to display her rare and exotic plant collection.

In the summer, Mary displayed her citrus fruit trees here. In the winter, the plants were sheltered from the weather nearby in innovative heated glass cases made by the Dutch carpenter Hendrick Floris.

In the early 20th century, gardeners created the Dutch-style garden that you see today with its tiered paths, topiary hedges, statues and bedding.

The 18th-century lead statue of Venus in the garden was discovered in 1982 in 'Mrs Grundy's gallery' – a private room in the palace used by a prudish housekeeper to hide paintings and sculptures which she felt were unsuitable for the public!