Reviews of Governor's Palace (Tourist Attraction)

Mania Rosen

What a marvelous thing they have done with this historic site. All of the staff here are well informed in their field of service. Moreso, in fact, than just about any company or establishment I have ever visited. The archeology and research invested in recreating this building in its original specs on its original foundation... breathtaking... Beautiful grounds! Amazing artistry! Captivating scenery! All 5 star worthy!

Phil Prince

It's a beautiful experience for the entire family especially for the history Buffs among them. You can experience everything from a carriage ride to the secrets of the chocolate makers from back in the colonial times at this location, all part of the Colonial Williamsburg experience. Side note if you have little ones see if you can get the blue carriage ride, he makes the experience for the little ones just as fun!

Elizabeth Mullett

Such a unique experience and amazing thing for my kids to learn and see! And for me to learn. So authentic, even down to the meals served and curing pork in the salt house and smoke house! Truly amazing!

Matthew Schwartz

Very beautiful restoration. The foundation has clearly worked very hard to make this mansion look like its former existence. The materials appeared to be appropriate for the era too. It is great to see this amount of work and money spent on history.

michael whyte

Kids actually liked this. Very neat maze in the garden. Was fun to see. Wait was to long folk to go into the actual building though.

Mikki S

Beautiful piece of history! Our guide was knowledgable and funny! We loved it.

Gordon Eisner

Such a great place to take a tour and learn about the start of the American revolution!

Javier Gonzalez

Really enjoy this place love all the molding work

Thomas Disney

The tour was great and the guide was knowledgeable and fun. They did an amazing job of replicating the palace just from a drawing that the governor did at the time.

Daren Croy

An beautiful piece of America's history. Check out the garden maze out back (have to buy an admission ticket).

Jean Nicole

Really great experience. I do wish it was a bit more organized but i love having a personal experience of how people lived during this time frame. My favorite part was witnessing the meat house and the kid activities

Becky Nykamp

Beautiful! Never get tired of seeing it. They played the music for us that would have been played at that time. Loved it!!! The little one liked it so much, she was dancing to it.

Steve Albers

An interesting part of Virgina history with beautiful grounds and the strangest twist on home decoration I've ever seen (the interior walls of the first floor).

Joe West

Very well done. We took the daylight tour as well as the ghost tour by candlelight. Such a great experience. The showing of the house as well as the hosts is spot on. Grounds are clean and well maintained. Totally worth the visit.

Cyndie Wilmouth

The tour could have gone a bit faster...but overall the place was very interesting.

Aimee Kidd

Great place to visit to have fun and (much to the chagrin of the kids) learn something in the process were very lucky to have such a huge part of our countries history basically right in my backyard.. it should definitely be supported.

Errol Huffman

The docent we we're fortunate to follow truly loves her work. She has the heart of a teacher, great humor, and feels really into period and role. What an outstanding mix of Colonial humor and observations to bring the history to life for contemporary tourists

Gary Neat

Great stop on the colonial Williamsburg tour. Great history.

Carol Miller

Loved the tour. I loved all the beautiful furniture and decor. My son liked all the weapons and history.

Steve Burt

The whole Williamsburg experience is very good.

Vanessa Carter

I live here but love to walk back in time. The history here I so important for every American to know. Our tour guide was good and the grounds are beautiful. Anytime of year is a good time to visit.

Lawrence Ng

Fascinating place of history to visit. I'm glad we visited.

Robert Braxton Jr

Very nice area full of history! Very much enjoy my visit!

Tony Brown

History. Good story tellers.

Sean Buckingham

The governors palace was amazing. It helps that they do not shy away from the more negative aspects of our history.

Jennifer Rankin

The maze of bushes is cool.

Vicky ZL

These rooms are gorgeous! The tour was informative and the building is air conditioned.

Paige Kite

Very interesting tour! Thanks to our guide, Janice!

William Freeman

If it's a hot day, make sure to visit the wine feller, very cool

Mike Burdine

Amazing history. Perfectly restored. The entryway withers swords and firearms is incredible.

Wendell Nealon

Very picturesque setting as the centerpiece of the town. Simply a beautiful preservat2 of an imp2 historic structure.

danielle krack

So pretty. Great tour with very knowledgeable staff. The kitchen was fun to hear about some of the crazy foods they ate way back then and some food was what we eat today. The house was beautiful and easy to get around in. Not cramped at all. The grounds were amazing! We had a really great time and learned so much from everyone working.

Rebecca Fernandez

Beautiful!! Feel like you've gone back in time

Timothy Getz

Re-enactors very knowledgeable and entertaining. History of building very interesting. Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes whenever you visit Colonial Williamsburg.

Jason Bouchard

Great history and must do.

Casey Lilly

I'm more interested in our history than my wife so if you do this as a family outing make sure everyone in your group is as invested as you are or it'll distract from the appreciation of the efforts of the immersion.

Dustin Porter

The gardens are fantastic and well taken care of. Thank you for preserving this for the future generations.

Tiffany Givens

Huge Palace. Beautiful grounds. Very educational experience. Staff is very knowledgeable. We'd visit again.

Rebecca Fecher

Absolutely stunning place. Inside and out there are many things to see and learn. Go back for subsequent visits and tours. Each guide changes things up. My family has been through multiple times and heard new stories and learned new fun facts each time.

Wes Harris

What a unique heritage area. How often do you get to see with your own eyes the place where the Bill of Rights was written..such a cornerstone for our country. It is so interesting to learn about the roots of Independence and how democracy began in early America.

karungari Gathua

Alot to learn and you get to immerse yourself in history

James Schwartz

A typical informative guided your with a period dressed guide.

Willy _ Wonka935

Make sure you where comfortable cloths suitable for the weather

Jeff Hearrell

Our guide was good. Without a good guide, this is just a building. There's nothing posted about what each room was used for, so do the tour to get the most out of the visit.

Marilou Grimes

No visit to Colonial Williamsburg is complete without seeing the Governor's Palace. Had a great tour guide.

Tiffany J

Very nice but very expressive

Colm Doyle

Super tour. Guides are very knowledgeable.

Vromans Garage SVE

Very awesome place we had to wait quite a while but it was definitely worth the wait once we got in and learned about the history of it and who spent time where as well as what rooms were used for which occasion.

Tracy Beach

It was amazing!!! Got to see a guard. That was in full costume. He gave us a lot of information about the place. The whole place was amazing.

Jeffrey Miller

It feels like an authentic trip to the way back machine. All the buildings along the main Street are well maintained.

Frank Duncan

Amazing tour! The favorite stop for both my wife and I. Fascinating information and background from history shared by guide and just a lovely house and grounds to see. Make this one of your top priorities when visiting Colonial Williamsburg.

Victoria Dorr

Living history. Not to be missed. Learn about life in Colonial America. Loved the gardens and seeing chocolate being made. We attended a palace evening concert. Excellent quality and got to hear the actual 1700 instruments played.

Felicitas Squires

So beautiful. Can't wait to go back

Nicalena Neary

The Governor's Palace is located in Historic Williamsburg VA. The rooms are elegant showing how Governors lived during the colonial period. Tours are available daily. Staff dress in Colonial style and are very knowledgeable. Worth a visit.

Amy Flik

Very knowledgable tour guide!

Mary Clifford

Love this place! And the gardens are beautiful!

Saul A. Mireles

Amazing place to visit very friendly staff

casey davis

Excellent tour. Nice and knowledgeable. A very interesting look at colonial life before the revolution

Michael Wacey

Nice tour and interesting to hear about life in the colonies.

Christy Neckvatal

Another beautiful building to bring you back in history. We attended a reenactment of a trial here at night called cry witch. So fun get there a little early and get the best seats.

Dorothee Oberdhan

We loved the tour. Even the kids liked it because the guide took special care to make the presentation engaging for the young audience.

Nathan Laird

We didn't end up going inside, but there is so much to see and do outside of the building. Our kids loved the maze in the back, so we ended up doing that a couple times.

Mihir Patel

Great times but it was 100°F + that wknd

Kevin Monaghan

Excellent and very informative tour by a lovely and funny tour guide ( even if she was from New York)!

Alissa Roberts

Beautiful house. Informative tour

Michelle Yang

Beautiful garden, nice restored building

Jeston Perryman

Beautiful place, with surprises around every corner.

Debbie Perry

Coolest place. Lots of information from the tour guide. Really enjoyed this!

Royal

Nothing shabby about this residence! Spectacularly rebuilt to its original quiet magnificence, the building and grounds were the British governor's home during the colonial period. It's a must see on any Colonial Williamsburg visit. The great lawn out front with it's many historic trees serves as a gathering place during large events like Grand Illumination and Independence Day fireworks. The palace itself sets well back from Duke of Gloucester St due to the expansive lawn. One of the many amazing details about this place is the armory housed in the entry foyer, presumably for quick defense of the palace and surrounds in the event of insurrection or attack by outsiders.

Bee Scott

Fantastic experience, and the guide was very informative about the palace. Beautiful building and grounds, well kept and lovely to see original pieces

Dave Penney

Nice place to visit and see some fantastic craftsmanship.

Rosie Finnigan

If we could give it 6 stars, we would. The tour guide was amazing!

Donna Peele

Loved it. Our tour guide (Dara) was great. She was very knowledgeable and made our tour awesome.

Basil Frasure

Chamber music was very nice! Especially liked harpsichord

Donna Wittmann

Really enjoyed visiting and seeing this place.

Kalli Reintjes

There is so much to see here! Start with the tour then go explore the other areas on your own. There is a maze in the back that we had fun with. This is a beautiful look at the history of our country. The kitchen was also fun to see and ask questions about. You can easily spend over an hour here.

Dawn Monk

Enjoyed this tour! Very informative and loved the gardens also!

Beth Glauber

Fine tour guide and learning to live like the rich!

Lisa Turner

Our guide was wonderful, so full of knowledge If you love history it is a must see

Sheila Mathis

Boring....run and don't look back

Joe Hertzler

One of a kind building that you need to see.

Lou Gardiner-Parks

Tour is nice but the gardens are the real attraction.

Tom Donnelly

Very interesting tour, the tour guide is excellent and more than willing to answer any questions that you may have. Definitely worth visiting

Rick Adkins

Outstanding condition of the palace and with very knowledgeable people that take you through the tour. There are also beautiful gardens surrounding the palace that are worth seeing.

Andrew Scott

Excellent visit. Tour is well worth your time.

Tim Carre

Excellent reproduction. They went the distance getting the place and property back together.

April Kudiak

The older couple we were with one was in a wheel chair and they accommodated her. They loved it and I loved the gardens it was straight out of a historical romance novel which was interesting to me.

Cheryl Wentz

Very impressive building is the showcase of Colonial Williamsburg. Rebuilt on original foundation. Surrouning gardens are well worth a visit also.

Daniel Barachkov

Restored and maintained impecably! Worth the time to see and experience history

Paul H

Really neat look into colonial history. Like other colonial Williamsburg sites, the staff were very knowledgeable and helpful

Mike Priddy

The layout here is fantastic. You can walk to anywhere on the grounds in a matter of minutes.

Diane Thompson

My family & I had a wonderful tour of the Palace. Very interesting and informative.

Roy Van overbeek

Awesome tour with a great history lesson. The weapons on the wall and all the stories they tell about what happened there are amazing.

John McElreath

Interesting part of history. Don't miss the maze.

Hal Berens

Great tour. Must see.

Steven Carlson

Really neat! The tour was great!

Dani

Amazing gardens! Great presentation and historical information given on the tour as well!

mark miller

Bueatiful house amazing style and architecture

Dawn Real

Incredible guides. Lots of history. History teachers dream.

Bryan Mulvaney

Wonderful place to visit our history!

Akka TV

It has almost 500 guns and swords. If u want see real sword u can go there. More over they arranged in pretty way

Judy Shaw Stewart

It was empty but very hot outside. Fortunately the buildings had 21st century aircon!

Maureen Healy

Historic Williamsburg should not be missed! This is a wonderful educational experience and encourages thoughtful reflection on our founding.

tdog phillips

Great experience for my 2018 DC school trip. Fantastic activities for all of us 8-9th graders. The best part, to me, was simply the design if the Governor's Palace. Very aesthetically pleasing and a beautiful paint job. The volunteers & employees were very patient and were happy to answer all of our questions regarding the history of the beautiful building. Will love to go back and see it again when my sister has her chance to go in 8th grade!

Elizabeth Esposito

Gardens were lovely and liked the hedge maze.

Franklin Stahl

Too bias toward Governor's wife. Guide was too talkative and hurried to leave for the day.

K D

The architecture was incredible.. Really enjoyed the self guided tour. If you go earlier in the day you can enjoy with a guided tour.

Deborah Patrick

Enjoyed seeing how they used to make chocolate. It was made in colder months because it melts. Good food to send with soldiers because it provides energy has had good shelf light. Not many Virginians could afford this treat very often. It was a delicacy.

Michael Burmeister

The Taurus quick. You can spend a lot more time here learning about different aspects of the building in the history that's associated with it.

Mason H.

The Palace was gorgeous, a really pretty exterior and interior, and has lots of history within its walls.

Helenmark Murray

This has been a well put together historical presentation for all to visit. My wife Helen and I have traveled over this past week to various locations taking in our surroundings. This final trip has become more than memorable. Helen wanted to sightsee and seek the beauty in humanity. I was reluctant at first. On our journey across the country, we have met some folks that to say the least are more than caring and humble. Complete strangers accompanied with nothing more than open arms welcomed us to conversation, hospitality and an open heart. This is not our first time traveling however this is our first time of this nature. Before our departure, Helen jokingly said to me "what can we do to make a difference" simply I replied, "love and gratitude" The most blessed are those who are loved. A feeling of no other. When your significant other looks at you with an open heart or reaches for your hand or even excitedly shares their day with you, that's not to be taken for granted. That is the whole meaning of being blessed. Watching my wife smile over this past week while spreading her love and then some, has touched me emotionally. With a few weeks until our arrival back home, I am anything but reluctant. The feeling that has overcome me cant compute to words.To all the folks that we have met, to all the places we have been, I want to show my appreciation by doing the exact same as my wife Helen with her gratitude she included me on. It's now my turn. Everyone has made an impact which in my heart and eyes is more than deserving. You all have made this trip and our lives humble. Mark and Helen Murray Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Melissa Dwyer

Touring this palace is awesome! We went on a Saturday and it was crowded at visitors center but it didn't feel crowded once we were at the palace. Waited 20 minutes for a tour started but it was wonderful!! The tour guide was very good and answered all our questions and really knew a lot!

D Joseph

Cool building. Nice facsimile. So glad for the AC since it was 91 degrees outside. Our tour guide was pretty snarky and rude so that kind of detracted from our visit.

Richard Musal

Love the maze in the garden. Really impressive.

Ed O'Dwyer

A great American experience! Every American should visit at least once in their life! Be sure to visit Thomas Jefferson and learn about one of our greatest founding fathers.

Lawrence Beauchamp

What better way to spend the day than to explore colonial Williamsburg Governor's Palace. The staff that is on hand are very knowledgeable and extremely friendly. Had a great time with the whole family. Can't wait to come back and explore so much more about our history.

Gabriel Gonzalez

Soldiers march was excellent. The soldiers marched around the governors quarters and onto the main street, where then they had a 20min presentation in an open field.

Brent Beadle

Very informative tour with professional guides as you walk through the reconstruction of the Governor's "Palace." During peak hours, tours run on a first come basis and last approximately 15 minutes. Two tours are stacked at once, so depending on when you arrive, it could be a 30-minute wait.

Bill Spade

Great place to live in. Wish I had it.

Lucille Garner

Lots of history all in one place. Peyton Randolph house is amazing for so long ago

Brandon Childers

The Governor's Palace is beautiful. I would also like to commend the local law enforcement agency for all of their hard work.

Kenneth Oneil

Took the tour, learned a lot about the history of it.

Heather Hancock

Interesting, just not sure it's a place for kids.

John Bemis

Great tour guide. It is well worth the approximate 30 minutes to go through the house. Especially the impressive entrance hall full of weapons. The house was in good condition and was well air conditioned so it was a welcome escape from a hot humid day.

Dominick Hankle

Great tour and excellent place to start your Williamsburg adventure.

Jackie MacKay

Our guide was very informative.

Craig Frank

Great understanding the running of the home.

Annie - Shawn Woodall

Great tour and learning experience.

Dave Lang

An incredible experience! A must see if you are in Williamsburg!

Aloha Tamale

Nice tour and a good historical place.

Andi DuVal-Vaughan

Took the school kids on a field trip. Great guides and staff.

Karen C

Beautiful building and gardens. Very nice docents.

Steven Magadance

Beautiful reconstruction on the site of the original structure. Provides a good sense of the opulent lifestyle of the upper echelon colonial residents.

Juanita Sabochick

We started our tour of Colonial Williamsburg here. Beautiful building and grounds. Gives one a great history overview to set the tone for the rest of the colony.

maxwell posival

This is a great place to learn about the past history of Williamsburg.

Amanda Earnest

Beautiful and stunning! I so wish I had bought tickets so I could tour the inside.

Lewis Wasserman

Another meticulously restored building at CW. Viewable only by tour, it’s worth a small wait. At the time, the Palace was the pinnacle of opulence, and a showcase of the might of the King’s representative in the colonies. Ask a question or two — the guides always know a lot more than what they say on the tour.

Heart

Great tour. Beautiful historic structure. Well kept inside and outside. Plenty to see. Interesting history .

Chuck Friesema

Very ornate place for an English governor during the colonial times.

Diana Bloxham

Very nice building and very nice presentation.

Lois Moyer

Great place to visit in Williamsburg with a pass. Beautiful evening concerts and summer fireworks in the area.

Lori Runion

Somethings you couldn't go into. To much walking.it was ok.maybe more guided tours and pick up places to do so.

Micky r

Williamsburg was overpriced but the tour guide for this attraction was very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Chris Zerhusen

The Governer's palace has great tours to tell you this history of Williamsburg and the original establishment. It is a great place to bring your family, especially kids that are studying American history in school.

Ev Janish

One of the better tours at Colonial Williamsburg.

Janelle Bristol

Another beautiful building. Not an original. Found out about some updates they did just because historical accuracy wasn't there. Great to know they are keeping up with these things.

janice H

Historically perfect.Impressive mounted weapons in main foyer. lavish decor.respect +++

Kayla Ball

Beautiful place and the history is really interesting. Definitely worth the visit to see this place alone. Lots of things to look at. Lots of information.

John Carroll

This place was gorgeous! Loved our tour guide!

the players

These guy was so funny if you go there I would recommend you go on one of the tours

Brent Van Camp

So cool and the tour was very interesting, informative, and entertaining.

Trish Coop

The palace is very interesting. Our guide was a little on the top. She wants to change history. The grounds were beautiful. A must see while I'm Williamsburg.

Sarah Frank

A beautiful piece of history, well maintained.

Greg Bergstrom

Wonderful place loads of History a lot of walking restaurants around little pricey military and Veteran discounts the tours are worth the wait

Matt D

Such a great piece of history, the tour guides really bring the past alive.

corey goodwin

Excellent history lesson. I would suggest getting a guided tour. It’s free (so why not). Our guide was absolutely amazing, she was passionate about her work and she knew answers to question! I wish I got her name to praise her! But it was an amazing experience!

Lana Hawkins

Gotta check out the really fun hedge maze in the far back corner!

Bill Tauriello

Tour guides were.extremely thorough, took time to explain the history and prominence of the palace and its.7 different residents.