Hampton Court Palace, Gardens and Maze

A tale of two histories, Hampton Court Palace was originally designed by Cardinal Wolsey, a favourite of Henry VIII’s, before being developed by the King himself. Expanding on the Tudor splendour, Sir Christopher Wren added a touch of Baroque grandeur for William III and Mary II in the 17^th century.

Opulence and beauty greets you in every room as you stroll through this historic palace. See if you can find the entwined initials of Henry VIII and his ill-fated second Queen Anne Boleyn in the Great Hall, or spot Catherine Howard’s terrified ghost running along the Haunted Gallery to plead her innocence to Henry.

Sneak in to the vast kitchens where extravagant Tudor meals such as roasted swan and poached dolphin, and wander through the Chapel Royal, developed in to its current beauty in 1710 by Christopher Wren for Queen Anne. Continue in the Baroque period by walking through the beautiful and theatrically designed State Apartments.

When you’ve marvelled at the masterpieces of artists Holbein, Van Dyke and Caravaggio, head out in to the 60 acres of stunning formal garden and see if you can escape the oldest surviving maze in the world.