Hampton Court Palace has been home to Henry VIII and other members of the royal family. It is the setting for formal gardens, beautiful works of art, and centuries of history. Fans of English history have an opportunity to see how royalty once lived, view magestic rooms from the sixteenth and seventeenth ceenturies, and stroll through beautifully restored gardens. It is a must-see attraction in the London area.

Hampton Court Palace is best known as the home of Henry VIII and is a major tourist destination in the United Kingdom. It was built in the mid 1520s by Thomas Wolsey after he acquired a 99 year lease on the property in 1514. Henry VIII acquired the property from Cardinal Wolsey in the late 1520s and began to make numerous additions to the palace. Not much of the original building remains due to the extensive remodeling and rebuilding by Henry VIII. King Henry enlarged his own living quarters, rebuilt parts of the kitchens, rebuilt the Chapel Royal, replaced much of the Great Hall, and added tennis courts to the grounds. By the time he finished the remodeling around 1540, there were tennis courts, bowling alleys, beautiful gardens, huge dining halls, and a vast hunting park. It was the most modern structure in all of England.

The palace continued to be used by royalty, from Henry’s children through the House of Stuart. In 1689, Sir Christopher Wren demolished parts of the Tudor Palace and began building a new structure for King William III and Queen Mary II. In 1760, when George III became king, he decided that Hampton Court should no longer be a royal residence. In 1838, Queen Victoria opened the apartments and the gardens to the public free of charge. With that decision, Hampton Court became a tourist destination. Hampton Court Palace is basically two palaces from different eras: a Tudor palace created by Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII, and a Baroque palace built by William III and Mary II.

Hampton Court Palace is set on extensive grounds with 60 acres of fabulous gardens, spectacular vistas, and the oldest surviving hedge maze in the world. Over the years it has been furnished with exquisite paintings, beautiful furniture, and stunning tapestries. Many of these famous works of art are part of the Royal Collection.

There is much to see when visiting Hampton Court Palace. One of the most enjoyable things to experience is the world famous hedge maze. Construction of the maze began in 1690 as a form of entertainment for William III. It is now over a half mile of winding paths surrounded by seven foot high hedges covering one-third of an acre. After finding the way out of the maze, the gorgeous gardens should be viewed. Sixty acres of nature’s most gorgeous colors mixed with vines, sculptures, and paintings create a idyllic scene.

The Tudor kitchens should not be missed; these kitchens were built between 1530 and 1737 and were capable of providing meals for 600 people. The chefs in the Hampton Court kitchens cooked a yearly average of 8200 sheep, 2330 deer, 1240 oxen, 1870 pigs, and other assorted animals. All this food was washed down with an annual consumption of 600,000 gallons of beer. The Royal Chapel, with its ornate ceiling should also be on everyone’s agenda. For those wishing to attend services, there is a Chaplain and a full time choir.

Getting to Hampton Court Palace is quick and easy from London. It is located next to the River Thames, southwest of London. It is easily accessible by train, bus, taxi or car. It is a must-see attraction when visiting the London area for those who love history, royalty, architecture, and beautiful gardens.

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Category: Travel
Keywords: history, castles, forts, days out, hampton court palace, Henry VIII