History Holds Court: The Rest Is History Festival Launches at Hampton Court Palace

Goalhanger today announces The Rest Is History Festival - a two-day, members-only event at Hampton Court Palace on 4 - 5 July 2026 - created in response to surging demand from a community that has outgrown traditional live show formats.

With more than 120,000 paying members worldwide, The Rest Is History - hosted by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook - has grown beyond theatre shows and member meetups, with audiences now seeking more time with the hosts and, crucially, with each other.

Developed in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces, the festival will welcome thousands of members per day to Hampton Court’s Home Park and East Garden for an extended weekend combining live show recordings, guest historians, historical re-enactments and - most importantly - time for the community to come together.

“Our members have been crystal clear about what they want: more time with Tom and Dominic, and more time with fellow The Rest Is History fans,” said Conrad Withey, Chief Commercial Officer at Goalhanger. “Theatre shows are brilliant, but they’re 90 minutes and then everyone heads home without ever meeting the person sitting next to them who travelled three hours to be there. Drinks receptions work well for 100 people, but not for thousands. We needed a format that genuinely delivers what our fast-growing membership is asking for - a proper weekend together to celebrate history, where friendships form and the tribe can gather. Is there a better place for that than Hampton Court Palace?”

Dan Wolfe, Commercial Director at Historic Royal Palaces added: _“‘We’re delighted to host The Rest Is History Festival at Hampton Court Palace, bringing together an exciting meeting of past and present. History podcasts are transforming how people connect with the past and with each other - through shared curiosity and powerful storytelling. Against the backdrop of this extraordinary place, the festival will offer a unique way to discover the past in a spectacular historic setting.”_The festival will centre on a large social area on Hampton Court’s East Lawns, where members can spend the day meeting fellow fans between main stage sessions. Across the weekend, attendees will enjoy five live on-stage The Rest Is History recordings hosted by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, alongside guest historians, live music and entertainment, historical interpreters and re-enactments, plus food, drink and relaxed picnic-style seating across the Palace grounds.

“Hampton Court isn’t just a beautiful venue - it’s where Henry VIII held court and shaped English history” said Tom Holland. “Now it’s history that will be holding court - or should I say our listeners will be? People are always telling us they wish they could spend more time at our live shows, meet other listeners and swap book recommendations. This festival makes that possible.”

“At a theatre show, you see the audience for two hours and then everyone scatters,” added Dominic Sandbrook. “We wanted to create something where Friends of the Show can actually become friends - debating the Tudors over lunch, discovering they live 20 minutes apart, and planning to meet again at the next event. That’s what a real community should feel like.”

Goalhanger and Historic Royal Palaces plan for The Rest Is History Festival to become an annual fixture, growing in ambition alongside the club. Goalhanger is also exploring similar formats for other shows across its portfolio as membership communities continue to grow.

Ticket details will be announced soon, including how members can enter the ballot for access.
Full information on ticket allocation across each Club membership tier is available at: TheRestIsHistory.com