| on Court Palace has been home to Henry VIII and | | | | a Baroque palace built by William III and Mary II. |
| other members of the royal family. It is the setting for | | | | Hampton Court Palace is set on extensive grounds |
| formal gardens, beautiful works of art, and centuries of | | | | with 60 acres of fabulous gardens, spectacular vistas, |
| history. Fans of English history have an opportunity to | | | | and the oldest surviving hedge maze in the world. |
| see how royalty once lived, view magestic rooms | | | | Over the years it has been furnished with exquisite |
| from the sixteenth and seventeenth ceenturies, and | | | | paintings, beautiful furniture, and stunning tapestries. |
| stroll through beautifully restored gardens. It is a | | | | Many of these famous works of art are part of the |
| must-see attraction in the London area. | | | | Royal Collection. |
| Hampton Court Palace is best known as the home of | | | | There is much to see when visiting Hampton Court |
| Henry VIII and is a major tourist destination in the United | | | | Palace. One of the most enjoyable things to |
| Kingdom. It was built in the mid 1520s by Thomas | | | | experience is the world famous hedge maze. |
| Wolsey after he acquired a 99 year lease on the | | | | Construction of the maze began in 1690 as a form of |
| property in 1514. Henry VIII acquired the property from | | | | entertainment for William III. It is now over a half mile of |
| Cardinal Wolsey in the late 1520s and began to make | | | | winding paths surrounded by seven foot high hedges |
| numerous additions to the palace. Not much of the | | | | covering one-third of an acre. After finding the way |
| original building remains due to the extensive | | | | out of the maze, the gorgeous gardens should be |
| remodeling and rebuilding by Henry VIII. King Henry | | | | viewed. Sixty acres of nature’s most gorgeous |
| enlarged his own living quarters, rebuilt parts of the | | | | colors mixed with vines, sculptures, and paintings |
| kitchens, rebuilt the Chapel Royal, replaced much of | | | | create a idyllic scene. |
| the Great Hall, and added tennis courts to the grounds. | | | | The Tudor kitchens should not be missed; these |
| By the time he finished the remodeling around 1540, | | | | kitchens were built between 1530 and 1737 and were |
| there were tennis courts, bowling alleys, beautiful | | | | capable of providing meals for 600 people. The chefs |
| gardens, huge dining halls, and a vast hunting park. It | | | | in the Hampton Court kitchens cooked a yearly |
| was the most modern structure in all of England. | | | | average of 8200 sheep, 2330 deer, 1240 oxen, 1870 |
| The palace continued to be used by royalty, from | | | | pigs, and other assorted animals. All this food was |
| Henry’s children through the House of Stuart. In | | | | washed down with an annual consumption of 600,000 |
| 1689, Sir Christopher Wren demolished parts of the | | | | gallons of beer. The Royal Chapel, with its ornate |
| Tudor Palace and began building a new structure for | | | | ceiling should also be on everyone’s agenda. |
| King William III and Queen Mary II. In 1760, when George | | | | For those wishing to attend services, there is a |
| III became king, he decided that Hampton Court should | | | | Chaplain and a full time choir. |
| no longer be a royal residence. In 1838, Queen Victoria | | | | Getting to Hampton Court Palace is quick and easy |
| opened the apartments and the gardens to the public | | | | from London. It is located next to the River Thames, |
| free of charge. With that decision, Hampton Court | | | | southwest of London. It is easily accessible by train, |
| became a tourist destination. Hampton Court Palace is | | | | bus, taxi or car. It is a must-see attraction when visiting |
| basically two palaces from different eras: a Tudor | | | | the London area for those who love history, royalty, |
| palace created by Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII, and | | | | architecture, and beautiful gardens. |