Our visit to Hampton Court and Kew Gardens was intended to be leisurely and, with a day allocated to each palace, we stopped at nearby Kingston upon Thames for two nights at the Antoinette Hotel.
The choice of hotel was good. Included in their special offer was a huge room with a balcony, a three-course evening meal, a full English breakfast, boat tickets and entrance to Hampton Court. For two people staying two nights, the cost was £180.
Leaving the hotel in the morning, we took a walk along the Thames to our pick-up point and boarded one of the Turk Launches which took us to Hampton Court.
The year 2009 marked 500 years since Henry VIII’s accession to the throne. Visiting Hampton Court tells you a great deal about the King, his wives and his association with the palace.
Surprisingly, this grand palace has not been occupied by the Royal Family since the 18th century. It has, however, been a favourite residence of more than one of Britain’s great monarchs.
Hampton Court was not originally intended to be a palace. It was the home of Cardinal Wolsey, who was favoured by the King before his fall from grace. Once passed to Henry VIII, the residence was significantly expanded and enlarged.
William III later provided further expansion, introducing a Baroque architectural style to the existing Tudor buildings. These two distinctive styles blend surprisingly well and complement each other.
Hampton Court is one of Britain’s great historic buildings and a major tourist attraction. Visitors are impressed by its majestic history, beautiful gardens and the luxurious interior of the palace.
The King’s Guard Chamber walls contain muskets, swords and daggers displayed in decorative patterns. A video explains how these historic weapons are carefully maintained in pristine condition.
Set aside a full day to explore this magnificent palace and its gardens properly. Visitors can pick up an audio guide and immerse themselves in the lives of Britain’s great Kings and Queens in this nostalgic and historic setting.
For more photographs of Hampton Court click here.
You can also view the photos on YouTube.
For the full selection of London photographs from 2009 click here.
Further information can be found at www.hrp.org.uk.
Antoinette Hotel
Beaufort Road, Kingston upon Thames
KT1 2TQ
Tel: 0844 567 8955
Turk Launches
Town End Pier, 68 High Street
Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 1HN
Tel: 020 8546 2434
Hampton Court Palace
East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU
Tel: 0844 482 7777
Leave a Reply