Hampton Court Palace
Regarded as the palace of Henry VIII, Hampton Court's origins actually started in the 15th century as a building owned by the Order of St John of Jerusalem, a catholic military order.
In the 16th century it was leased to the Archbishop of York, Thomas Wolsey, a 'jewel in the crown' of Henry VIII.
Like most new home owners, the archbishop spent a huge amount of pounds, groats, shillings, testoons, crowns and angels, over seven years creating the palace we can visit today. Testimony to the skill and workmanship of the craftspeople.
In the 17th century, the country was under the rule of William III and Mary II. They employed Christopher Wren, architect of St Paul's cathedral, to redesign Hampton Court in a baroque style (domes, colourful painted scenes etc). Fortunately, Mr Wren decided against demolishing the original buildings and left them virtually untouched. He added the fountain court instead. Good plan, Chris.
Moving on today, the palace is a plethora of experiences for the visitor. You have the palace itself and all its features plus superb grounds and gardens, fountains, a real tennis court and a shire horse pulled cart ride.
A little pricey to get in, £30 peak time for an adult (2024) but well worth it for a great day out in London. Then, when your feet have had enough, why not find a local pub where you can have an artisan craft beer for £8 that tastes like cat pee.
