9 of the world’s most famous mazes

For thousands of years, labyrinths have been confusing and entertaining society. After all, this is probably the only scenario in which getting lost for several hours is fun. 

From a sculpted Italian maze to the historic Hampton Court maze, here are nine of the world’s most notoriously complicated, famous mazes.

Possibly one of the most famous mazes of all – and also the oldest in the UK – Hampton Court Maze was planted for William III in the late 17th century. 

It stands in the magnificent grounds of Hampton Court, a red brick Tudor palace known as the seat of Henry VIII and his many wives. 

Containing half a mile of puzzling paths that take you round in circles and to dead ends, the maze has been baffling visitors for over 300 years. 

The occasional hole in the historic hedges, where lost tourists have forced their way through to the centre, is a testament to how tricky this maze really is. 

Eerie sound effects have also been added to heighten the experience and sense of confusion. From the sound of children’s laughter to the rustling of silk skirts echoing throughout the old yew hedges, this is certainly one of the spookiest mazes in the UK.

Longleat holds the title for the longest hedge maze in the world, stretching for nearly 1.7 miles. Here, you’ll find over 16,000 English yew trees, raised bridges and a white observation tower in the middle. 

This enormous labyrinth was built by Greg Bright in 1975 with the backdrop being the stately home of Longleat itself. 

This masterpiece of regal Elizabethan architecture is still owned by the same family that built it in the late 1500s. 

Several additional mazes have also been added to the grounds including the Lunar Labyrinth, the Sun Maze, King Arthur’s Maze and the Love Labyrinth.

Villa Pisani Labyrinth in Italy was designed in 1720 for the Venetian Doge after whom the Villa Pisani was named, with nine concentric rings of medieval circular paths.

It’s a disorienting experience with countless dead ends and intimidatingly tall hedges that make peeking over the top impossible. But be assured that reaching the centre makes it all worthwhile. 

Here, victors are treated to a fantastic view of the 18th-century palazzo, canals and formal gardens. 

Just climb up the double spiral staircase past the statue of the goddess Minerva to the top of the small, central tower.

Frequently described as elaborate, Hawaii’s Pineapple maze also had the Guinness World Record for being the ‘World's Largest Permanent Hedge Maze’ in 2008. This title positions this labyrinth as one of the most famous mazes in the world.

Located on a fruit plantation and designed in the shape of a pineapple, hence the name, this maze covers over three acres. Additionally, two and a half miles of botanical maze are constructed from thousands of native plants. 

With the scent of hibiscus wafting through the air, the sensory delight will help you make your way to the centre as quickly as you can. For the super speedy victors, you’ll get your names displayed on the entrance.

Probably the world’s most high-maintenance maze, Australia's Ashcombe requires trimming several times a year to achieve its manicured appearance. 

Made up of over 1,000 cypress trees, these evergreen hedges are pruned to resemble fluffy clouds, with each trimming session lasting a whole month.

The grounds also house a circular rose maze and the year-round flowering Lavender Labyrinth, containing over 4,000 lavender plants emitting a blissful aroma.

Planted in 2000 by volunteers from the local community, this 2.7-acre maze is a peace symbol in Northern Ireland. It was intended to commemorate the signing of the Good Friday agreement and the end of The Troubles. 

Even though this is one of the world's biggest mazes, this labyrinth has deliberately been designed to be less baffling than most.

The height of the hedges is notably lower than average to encourage interaction and collaboration between visitors completing the maze.

Situated close to the Tisza River, this castle in Hungary was built in the 19th century for Count Gyula Andrássy.

The maze, found on the grounds of Andrássy Castle, offers a unique charm. Built to resemble a squid, sea life enthusiasts who don’t mind getting lost for a bit of fun will love this one.

Want to challenge yourself? Look no further than Richardson Corn Maze in Illinois. This maze actually consists of four different labyrinths, which can be found in a 28-acre field of corn. 

Redesigned with a new theme every single year, this maze is sure to offer a refreshing experience. 

If you still want to be in the midst of nature after you’ve cracked the code and solved the maze, Chicago’s Botanical Gardens is only a one-hour drive from the labyrinth.

The Labirinto della Masone is one of the world’s largest mazes, so buckle up for this adventure. Did we also mention it’s star-shaped? Talk about disorientating.

Opening in the town of Parma in 2015, this maze was constructed using around 200,000 bamboo plants and stretches for about eight hectares. 

Created because of a strong friendship, the story goes that Italian publisher Franco Maria Ricci promised Jorge Luis Borges that he would build the world’s biggest labyrinth. The rest is history.