Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace located on the River Thames, 12 miles from Central London in the borough of Richmond upon Thames. In the early 16th century, construction of the palace was begun by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. However, it was not long after this that Henry VIII became attracted to the palace and brought all of his six wives here. William III and Mary II appointed Sir Christopher Wren to construct a new baroque design in 1689 when they took to the throne. Following this, kings & princes from Georgian times resided here. However, aristocrats occupied the palace and moved in in 1737 after the royals left. The palace was opened to members of the public by Queen Victoria in 1838 and is still a huge visitor attractions today with millions of visitors drawn to the palace to explore all it has to offer. Highlights of the tour include The Great Kitchens, The Playhouse & Prison, the Royal Art Collections and the Hampton Court Gardens with the Great Fountain Garden, the Huge Grape Vine and The Maze. The palace was used as a film location for various films including ‘A Man for All Seasons’, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ and Disney’s Cinderella.