Discover...Hampton Court Palace

One of two Royal palaces I can guide you in - the other being Windsor Castle. Hampton Court Palace simply takes your breath away the first time you set eyes on its magnificent Tudor frontage. Once the home of Cardinal Wolsey in 1514, it became the property of King Henry VIII around 1528/9.

Visitor entrance to Hampton Court Palace

Be amazed by the surviving Tudor kitchens, during the summer there are often demonstrations taking place in them, and gaze in awe at the Great Hall with its vast roof. As you walk through the Tudor gateway you enter into Base Court then through the Anne Boleyn Gateway into Clock Court where you can gaze up at the Astronomical Clock by Nicholas Oursian.

Base Court

Astronomical Clock

Wander the Haunted Corridor, on the look out for the screaming ghost of Henry's adulterous 5th wife, Catherine Howard, who is said to haunt here and enjoy the impressive Chapel Royal, still in use today for services, and where King Henry VIII married his last wife, Catherine Parr.

The Palace then changes its appearance and becomes a 17th and 18th Century splendour, created by Sir Christopher Wren. The whole Tudor Palace was earmarked for demolishing during this period, however the death of King William III's wife, Queen Mary, in 1694, saw the work stop and the complete destruction of the Tudor Palace never happened. Luckily for us!!

You can enjoy a pleasant day strolling the King's and Queen's Apartments, looking at the beautiful frescos by Antonio Verrio and the ironwork of Jean Tijou. There are wonderfully preserved 16th Century tapestries to admire and some of Grinling Gibbon's finest carvings.

Sir Christopher Wren's South front of Hampton Court Palace

Outside you can enjoy the acres of Gardens, carefully tended and bursting with colour, and explore the Hampton Court Maze. Visit the Great Vine and see one of the world's oldest black Hamburg grape vines, allegedly planted by the landscape architect Lancelot "Capability" Brown in 1768. One cannot miss in the Lower Orangery the famous and important works by Andrea Mantegna - "The Triumphs of Caesar".

So whether you want to spend a day enjoying the beautiful gardens and relax with a coffee in the Tiltyard cafe or explore all the delights the Tudor and 18th Century Palace has to offer, Discover South East England can make your day an unforgettable one.

For more information and prices, please contact me: Catherine Pitt at discoversoutheastengland@gmail.com

[Note - all Photographs copywrite of Discover South East England]