Unspecified/General

Hampton Court Palace, set beside the River Thames to the southwest of London, is one of only two surviving palaces of the many owned by King Henry the Eighth and a magnificent showcase of both Tudor and later Baroque architecture. The palace was begun in the early sixteenth century by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the powerful chief minister, who created a residence so splendid that it aroused the envy of the king, to whom Wolsey eventually surrendered it as his own fortunes declined. Henry then enlarged it lavishly, adding the great hall with its hammerbeam roof, the kitchens that could feed a court of hundreds and the astronomical clock that still turns above an inner courtyard. More than a century later, the joint monarchs William and Mary commissioned the architect Christopher Wren to rebuild much of the palace in the fashionable Baroque style, intending to rival the great palaces of the continent, with the result that the building today presents two contrasting characters side by side. Visitors can explore the Tudor kitchens, the chapel, the state apartments of successive monarchs and the haunted gallery associated with one of Henry's ill-fated queens, before wandering the extensive formal gardens, which include the famous maze and a great vine of remarkable age. Costumed guides and seasonal events bring the history vividly to life. Tickets can be booked online in advance, the palace is easily reached by rail and river boat, and its blend of royal drama, architecture and gardens draws visitors throughout the year across every season of the calendar. The palace has been the setting for momentous events in English history, including a conference on the translation of the Bible and the entertainments of successive royal courts, and its long association with the monarchy ended only when later sovereigns preferred other residences and the apartments were given over to grace-and-favour residents. Its preservation has allowed the contrasting Tudor and Baroque sections to survive together, offering visitors a rare opportunity to trace changing royal tastes across two centuries within a single building. The riverside setting, the great gardens and the famous maze add to the appeal of a day out, and a programme of festivals, food events and seasonal illuminations keeps the calendar busy, ensuring that the palace remains one of the most rewarding historic attractions within easy reach of the capital.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: Hampton Court Road, London, United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 20 3166 6000

Website: https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/

Opening Date: 01/01/1515