We arrived with a plan: storm the gardens, grab the goods, and be out in time for tea. But the Magic Garden is a labyrinth of giant golden wyverns, swaying bridges, and talking tree stumps. It’s like someone let a game designer from a fever dream loose in a Tudor courtyard. The clue for the first egg? “Find the beast with seven heads.” That describes half the statues in this place. My five-year-old just pointed at a random hedge and screamed “chocolate!” He was wrong. But his enthusiasm was impressive.
The hunt itself is a “special edition” trail, which means it’s less about actual hunting and more about decoding historical riddles written in hilariously archaic language. One clue read: “Where the King’s jester once did prance, look for a treat that came from France.” We spent twenty minutes watching a mime near the kitchens. The mime was not amused. We finally found the egg hidden in a topiary bush shaped like a jester’s hat. Clever. Annoying, but clever.
The Royal Competition
You know how competitive parents get at these things? It’s a blood sport. I saw a dad in a tweed jacket literally using the palace’s 18th-century map as a shield to block another family from a prime egg spot. Meanwhile, a toddler in a dinosaur costume stumbled into a pile of eggs by accident. He didn’t even want them; he just wanted to eat a rock. The lesson? Chaos is your ally at Hampton Court. Don’t overthink it—just follow the kids who look desperate for sugar.
Review Lindt Gold Bunny Easter Hunt at Hampton Court Palace
And the chocolate! This isn’t your sad, supermarket foil-wrapped coin. We’re talking premium, artisan chocolate eggs wrapped in gold foil with the palace crest stamped on them. We found one the size of my fist hidden inside a replica of King Henry’s crown. I almost cried. Then I saw the price tag on the gift shop version—£12 for a tiny bar—and I actually cried. The hunt is included with entry, so you’re basically stealing £50 worth of chocolate if your kids are any good.
