governor's palace

CarolB820

Awesome place to tour and see the history as reenacted. People in period dress show you what the home was really like before the Revolutionary War.

MaggieThomasPam

This is a nice place to visit when visiting the colonial area. It requires an admission ticket and there will be a line if it is busy. I suggest going early in the morning especially if it is hot.The palace is nice, but one of the best parts is often overlooked - the rear gardens and the maze. It is a lovely place to walk around when the weather is beautiful - - spring and fall particularly.

gmaso

The Governor's Palace is a reconstruction based upon historical records rather than an original building. But if you are in Williamsburg, it is a must see, especially if you're a history nut. The docents are knowledgeable and very helpful in answering questions. One of the surprises of the tour was the arms (muskets and swords) in the entry hall but much like European castles, this was to impress you and also the "state's" armory.

donnat619

Take this tour if you visit Colonial Williamsburg, the tour guides are informative, the Mansion is gorgeous, love the paintings, and at Christmas time it is extremely pleasing, we take it every year in Dec. definitely worth the price of admission.

SCDancer_13

The Governor's Palace is a look back at roots of American democracy. The reconstruction is excellent and true to the original building. The guides are excellent and extremely informative. I highly recommend touring the Palace for anyone interested American Colonial History.

itravelalways

I've never seen so many weapon in such decorative fashion. Grand entryway and well maintained. Tour guide was very friendly and informative.

kyteh

Each room is more impressive than the next! We saved the best for last, it seems. The kitchen, grounds, and cellars are self-guided, but we had to wait about 20 minutes for the next tour, which lasted about a half hour.

BillParker

Building was excellent, wonderful inside tour except tour guide was just average, most all others were excellent. Out building/kitchen was excellent stop, allow time.

FrancescaB27

The narrators provide a "wealth" of information about the family who occupied and people they governed. Kids will love this building; and don't forget to take the "trip" down into the cellar. Watch your step and head.

TheTravelingCuRicans

The decor and palace is just stunning. Our guide made us laugh and she was just delightful. The attention to detail can not go unnoticed in here. The entry way with the swords and guns was our personal favorite. It was just breathtaking. I wish I remembered our guide's name because while the palace was stunning, she made the tour.

JasonG765

Wow! What a stunning building. From the time you approach the property you can't help but admire the many architectural features of the building that make it appear so grand and worthy of being called the Governors Palace. The tour was actually a bit shorter than I thought it would be and the interior was not decorated as lavishly as I thought that it might be. But all in all, this is a must see on any trip to Williamsburg...a truly special piece of early Virginian and American history.

yazdragonfly

The Governor's Palace is part of Colonial Williamsburg. If you pay the full entry fee to access all historical buildings in Colonial Williamsburg, you will be able to enter the palace. If you choose not to pay the $70+ entry fee, you can pay approximately $2 per person to ride the bus into the site. You can walk the streets of the village and go into shops and restaurants, but you cannot access the inside of any of the historical buildings. If you are a history buff, it may be worth the cost of the ticket. Just note that there is a lot of walking and there is little to no shade. The area is large and open and many of the sites have live shows or readings that are available to the public. There are many workers that are dressed in colonial garb walking the streets and talking to visitors. It was an enjoyable afternoon.

DandVtravels

We did the tour of the palace and I think it was well worth doing. The guide, Carrie, did a nice job of being informative and yet, didn’t speak over the intellect of the kids in the group, and even engaged them in her presentation. She also answered any questions that weren’t addressed in her talk, so both groups were handled. Standing in this historic place helped me to imagine what it might have been like back in the colonial times, and how most people would never have had a chance to even be in the palace. While the structure is not original, it is patterned after it, so it is as close as you can get to it. They allow cameras inside, so feel free to take photos.As they shuttle through as many groups as possible, the tour keeps moving, which, for some, might be just fine, while others may feel like they are being hurried along. Once you are out of the palace, however, you can spend as much time as you like wandering the gardens.I have seen others mention hearing concerts here or doing a candlelight tour. I would think that would be interesting to do, especially if the music were of the colonial period. Perhaps on the next visit.

marysO2622SZ

I was delighted by this space, and impressed with our tour. A must see to get a proper understanding of Virginias role in our early country history.

louise225

One of the most beautiful buildings in the historic area and well worth the visit. Look up at the fine display of rifles mounted on the ceiling of the entrance hall! Each room is a treat especially the ballroom. Costumed tour guides speak to you in old English as you tour the building. It's not crowded on the tours so enjoy.