Hampton Court Palace is best known as the house of Henry VIII and can be a major tourist destination inside the United Kingdom. It was constructed within the mid 1520s by Thomas Wolsey after he obtained a 99 year lease on the property in 1514. Henry VIII obtained the property from Cardinal Wolsey in the late 1520s and commenced to make several additions to the palace. Not much of the original building remains due to the substantial remodeling and rebuilding by Henry VIII. King Henry enlarged his own living quarters, rebuilt parts of the kitchens, reconstructed the Chapel Royal, replaced much of theGreat 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, along with a vast hunting park.

The palace continued to be utilized by royalty, from Henrys children through to the House of Stuart. In 1689, Sir Christopher Wren demolished components of the Tudor Palace and commenced creating a new structure for King William III and Queen Mary II. In 1760, when George III became king, he made a decision that Hampton Court must no longer be a royal residence. Hampton Court Palace is basically two palaces from diverse eras: a Tudor palace created by Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII, along with a Baroque palace built by William III and Mary II.

There’s much to witness when visiting Hampton Court Palace. One of the most enjoyable things to experience could be the world famous hedge maze. Construction commenced in 1690 as a form of entertainment for William III. It’s now over a half mile of winding paths surrounded by seven foot high hedges covering one-third of an acre. Sixty acres of natures most stunning colors combined with vines, sculptures, and paintings create an idyllic scene.

The Tudor kitchens should not be missed; these kitchens have been built between 1530 and 1737 and were capable of providing meals for 600 people. The chefs within the Hampton Court kitchens cooked a yearly average of 8200 sheep, 2330 deer, 1240 oxen, 1870 pigs, as well as 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 must be on everyones schedule.

Going to Hampton Court Palace is quick and effortless from London. It is located next to the River Thames, southwest of London. It is simply accessible by train, bus, taxi or car. It’s a must-see attraction when traveling to the London region for those who adore history, royalty, architecture, and stunning gardens.

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