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London's Palaces
 
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The monarchy is a constant source of fascination and intrigue for London visitors and residents alike. Ever since William the Conqueror used Westminster Abbey for his coronation in 1066, London has been the royal capital of Great Britain. Successive Kings and Queens have since left their indelible mark throughout the city. From Henry VIII's string of palaces to the party halls and follies of James I, London is a treasure trove of the ornate, the ostentatious and the extraordinary.
  Tower of London
 Tower Hill, EC3N 4AB One thousand year-old prison, palace and place of execution. With over 1000 years of royal history lurking within its highly fortified walls, a trip to the Tower of London is like being involved in one of the most spectacular dramas of all time. Make your way from Traitor's Gate to join Sir Walter Raleigh in the Bloody Tower as he awaits his fate for allegedly plotting against James I. Follow in the unfortunate footsteps of Queen Anne Boleyn as she walks to meet her tragic fate at the scaffold on Tower Green. Join Edward I in the court revelry within the Medieval Tower and admire Henry VIII's armour, weaponry and torture instruments in the White Tower before being dazzled by the array of royal jewels, crowns and diamonds encased in the Jewel and Martin Towers. With its stunning riverside backdrop, the Tower has been used as a prison, palace and place of execution, arsenal, mint and menagerie, since its construction following the Norman Conquest of 1066. After King Henry VIII's break with the Catholic Church it housed religious prisoners including two of Henry VIII's six wives (Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard), both of whom were beheaded on the scaffolds at Tower Green. It is now one of the most famous structures in the world and hosts a range of exhibitions and re-enactments which celebrate and represent some of the most spectacular aspects of its gory and glorious past. Best for: Traitor's Gate, treason and the Bloody Tower, ravens, Beefeaters, ghosts and executions. Also known as: The White House. Did you know? About 150 people still live within the walls of the Tower of London, these are mainly the Yeoman Warders (or 'Beefeaters') and their families. Address: Tower Hill, EC3N 4AB Phone: 0870 756 6060 Timing: Daily 9:00-17:00/18:00 (Sun & Mon 10:00) Pricing: £13.50 (Adults) £10 (Concs) £8.50 (Under 16s) Nearest Station: Tower Hill Tube Tower of London - Information  Hampton Court Palace
East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU Oldest surviving Tudor palace in England. Travel through over 500 years of rich royal history as you explore the winding corridors, lavish State Apartments, expansive Tudor kitchens, immaculate 60 acre riverside gardens and mind-boggling maze that together form Hampton Court - the oldest surviving Tudor palace in England and one of Britain's most glorious estates. From the early 1500s when King Henry VIII's lavish re-decoration and extension transformed Cardinal Wolsey's country seat into a palace more than fit for a king, through to 1996 when ferocious fires ripped through the King's Apartments, Hampton Court has undergone a raft of changes reflected in the palace's varied and stunning mix of Baroque and Tudor architecture. In 1689 King William III commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to rebuild the palace. Lack of money and time prevented the total demolition of the building and Henry VIII's Tudor palace remains to this day - a testimony to the estate's original and most celebrated owner. For 200 years, Hampton Court formed the centre of court life, politics and national history, housing a number of reputable (and disreputable) guests including all of Henry VIII's six wives some of whom, it seems, have never left... Watch out for the ghost of Henry's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, who was charge with adultery and executed, but who is still said to float down the Haunted Gallery towards the door of the Royal Pew to plead with her husband for her life. As you wander around the famous Clock Court keep an eye out for the willowy ghostly form of Jane Seymour gliding over the cobbled courtyard and carrying a lit taper. Henry's third and historically his favourite wife, died after giving birth to his only son, Edward. The palace also houses one of the most important works of the Italian Renaissance - Andrea Mantegna's Triumphs of Caesar. This formidable sequence of nine paintings is on permanent display in the Lower Orangery. No trip to Hampton Court is complete without a visit to the world's oldest and largest vines, a stroll around the glorious formal and informal riverside gardens and a tour around the world-famous trapezoidal maze - part of William III's Wilderness Garden and the oldest surviving hedge maze still in use. A revolutionary audio installation brings the maze alive for visitors. Using fragments of music, snatches of laughter, the seductive rustling of fine silks and snatches of covert conversations the audio installation brings to life an age when the maze symbolised an opportunity for secrecy, subterfuge and seduction. Over a thousand self-generating sounds echo around the labyrinth ensuring no visit is ever the same. Best for: Henry VIII, Tudor and Baroque architecture, mazes, vines and Tudor kitchens. Did you know? Henry VIII's palace kitchens occupied over 50 rooms - an area of 3000sq ft. Over 200 people worked in them, providing two meals a day for over 800 members of the court. Address: East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU Phone: 0870 752 7777 Timing: Daily 10:00-16:30/18:00 Pricing: £11 (Adults) £8 (Concs) £6.80 (Under 16s) Nearest Station: Hampton Court Rail Hampton Court Palace - Information  Kensington Palace (State Apartments)
Kensington Gardens, W8 4PX Birthplace of Queen Victoria and home to Princess Diana. Originally a private country house, public visitors are now warmly welcomed into Kensington Palace - the birthplace of Queen Victoria and home to Princess Diana between 1981 and 1997. Relive the moment in the Victorian Rooms when the young Princess Victoria discovered that she was to become Queen. Admire the family portraits and original furnishings adorning the homely Queen's Apartments. Revel in the grandeur of the King's Apartments, saturated with paintings and works of art from the Royal Collection, and find sanctuary in the calming Cupola Room where Princess Victoria was christened. On permanent display inside the palace is the famed Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection bursting at the seams with outfits from the 18th century to the present day including a range of glamorous dresses worn by HM Queen Elizabeth II and an array of spectacular and unique evening gowns modelled by Diana, Princess of Wales. No tour of the palace is complete without taking a turn around the elegant 18th century Orangery and Sunken Garden designed to host elaborate court entertainments during the reign of Queen Anne. Best for: Princess Diana and Queen Victoria, dresses, family portraits, Orangery and sunken gardens. Did you know? In 1725-6 King George I introduced a number of exotic animals into the gardens of Kensington Palace - including three tigers and two extremely rare civet cats. Address: Kensington Gardens, W8 4PX Phone: 0870 751 5170 Timing: Daily 10:00-17:00/18:00 Pricing: £10.50 (Adults) £8 (Concs) £6.50 (Under 16s) Nearest Station: High Street Kensington Tube Kensington Palace (State Apartments) - Information  Banqueting House
Whitehall, SW1A 2ER The only surviving section of Whitehall Palace. In its heyday the largest royal palace in Europe, this historic venue is the only surviving section of Whitehall Palace and still hosts many royal and social occasions. The palace originally started life in the 14th century as one of the Archbishop of York's homes. A devastating fire in the early 1600s led to the edifice being rebuilt by Inigo Jones - often credited as being the first Englishman to properly understand and apply the rules of classical and renaissance architecture. Due to its isolated position, the Banqueting House survived a second subsequent fire, which razed the rest of the palace to the ground and it eventually became a royal chapel. From Henry VIII to James I, the building echoes with royal connections, the most sinister of which has to be hosting the execution of Charles I during the English Civil War. Charles II marked his restoration to the throne here 20 years later. The building is as architecturally significant as it is historically celebrated, introducing as it did a delicate Italianate Renaissance style unmatched in Jacobean society. It was first building in England to use crown glass in its windows, while the fabulous Ruben's ceiling painting, commissioned by Charles I, is the only Rubens scheme painted by him to remain in its original position. Best for: Inigo Jones design, Rubens and royals, executions and events pageantry. Did you know? Revelry in the Great Hall was banned after the ceiling was decorated with nine paintings by Rubens for fear that candle smoke would ruin the artwork. Address: Whitehall, SW1A 2ER Phone: 0870 751 5178 Timing: Mon to Sat 10:00-17:00 Pricing: £4 (Adults) £3 (Concs) £2.60 (Under 16s) FREE (Under 5s). Price includes audio guide. Nearest Station: Westminster Tube Banqueting House - Information  Eltham Palace
Court Yard, off Court Road, SE9 5QE Medieval palace with Art Deco extension. Restored by English Heritage, this fantastic house offers visitors the chance to indulge in the opulence of 1930s Britain whilst at the same time experiencing the solidity and symbolism of medieval London. Eltham Palace began to evolve during the 15th century when Edward IV commissioned the Great Hall, which survives today as a testament to the craftsmanship of the period. It boasts the third largest hammer beam roof in the country and hosted many royal occasions, including Christmas festivities for Henry VIII who grew up at Eltham Palace. Henry VIII was the last monarch to spend significant time at the palace before it fell into disrepair. Many of the buildings were demolished and the site was used as a farm. In the 1930s a wealthy couple acquired the site, on the understanding that they would repair and maintain the medieval Great Hall. They added a stunning 1930s house, equipped to meet their every need, which boasted unique interior design and furnishings, coupled with the latest technology. This Art Deco masterpiece evokes the style and glamour of the 30s and is complimented by lush landscaped gardens, including a moated area, the remains of Henry VIII's hunting park, and a sunken rose garden. Visitors can enjoy the fascinating blend of medieval and modern design in the Great Hall and the 1930s house, explore the gardens and moated area, and have tea in the 1930s kitchens. Best for: Art Deco design, medieval architecture, Henry VIII, hunting parks and hammer beam roofs. Did you know? The Great Hall, once the scene of lavish feasts, was used as a barn after the Civil War. Address: Court Yard, off Court Road, SE9 5QE Phone: 020 8294 2548 Timing: Sun to Wed 10:00-16:00/17:00 Pricing: £7.30 (Adults) £5.50 (Concs) £3.70 (Children) Nearest Station: North Greenwich Tube / DLR Eltham Palace - Information  Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace Road, SW1A 1AA Official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. England's most famous royal palace, and the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II, opens the doors of its State Rooms to the public every summer. Originally acquired by King George III for his wife Queen Charlotte, Buckingham Palace was increasingly known as the 'Queen's House' and 14 of George III's children were born there. On his accession to the throne, George IV decided to convert the house into a palace and employed John Nash to help him extend the building. Queen Victoria was the first sovereign to live in Buckingham Palace (from 1837). The State Rooms are now still used by the Royal Family to receive and entertain guests on State and ceremonial occasions. Visitors can admire some of the more unusual gifts received by the current Queen, including drawings by Salvador Dali, an embroidered silk scarf from Nelson Mandela and a grove of maple trees. Decorated in lavish fashion, the rooms include paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto, Vermeer and Poussin, sculpture by Canova, exquisite examples of Sevres porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. The Ball Supper Room, the setting for a host of sparkling events in the history of the palace, 29 acre gardens and annual exhibitions are all also available to visitors. Best for: Rembrandt, Rubens and Rooms of State, House of Windsor, ceremony and history, Nash architecture and design. Did you know? Queen Victoria ordered the removal of Marble Arch from the palace to its present position near Hyde Park in order to make way for more bedrooms. Address: Buckingham Palace Road, SW1A 1AA Phone: 020 7766 7300 Timing: Jul to Sep: Daily 9:45-18:00 Pricing: £14 (Adults) £12.50 (Concs) £8 (Under 17s) FREE (Under 5s) Nearest Station: Hyde Park Corner Tube Buckingham Palace - Information  Windsor Castle
Windsor and Maidenhead, SL4 1NJ Modernday Royal Residence William the Conqueror chose to build a castle at Windsor more than 900 years ago to defend the western approach to the capital. As one of the Queen's official residences Windsor Castle still plays a formal role in State and official occasions. Visitors can marvel at St George's Chapel, which was founded by Edward IV back in 1475 and is one of the best examples of gothic architecture in the country. Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones were married there in June 1999. It is also the burial site for 10 sovereigns. Equally stunning is St George's Hall, which has been completely restored following a fire in 1992 and is still used by the Queen for state banquets and receptions. The State Apartments are also open to the public and are lavishly furnished with paintings by Rubens, Holbein and Rembrandt, sculpture and tapestries. In the Drawings Gallery, visitors have an opportunity to see artwork from the Royal Library and Queen Mary's Dolls' House will delight everyone with its perfect rooms and furnishings in miniature. Built on a scale of 1:12 the dolls' house was crafted in the 1920s. Frogmore House A mile south of Windsor Castle lies Frogmore House, one of Queen Victoria's favourite retreats. Originally acquired by Henry VIII in the sixteenth-century, the estate of Frogmore now forms part of Home Park in Windsor. The current house was originally built between 1680-1684 but was extended when George III bought it for his wife Queen Charlotte in 1792. Charlotte used Frogmore as a country retreat and held receptions and masques in the gardens. Following the death of her beloved Albert, Queen Victoria chose a site here for his mausoleum (tomb) just days after his death (1861) but it was not completed for another 10 years. Queen Victoria insisted that the interior of the mausoleum was decorated in the style of Raphael, whom Prince Albert considered the greatest artist of all time, and she held a regular ceremony there on the anniversary of his death (14th Dec) until her own death in January 1901 when her body was placed next to his. Address: Windsor Castle, Windsor and Maidenhead, SL4 1NJ Phone: 020 7766 7304 Pricing: £7.50-£13.50 Nearest Station: Windsor Rail Book tickets Windsor Castle - Information  Palace of Westminster
The Houses of Parliament Parliament Square, Westminster, St Margaret Street, SW1A 0AA Home of politics. Now more commonly known as the Houses of Parliament, the Palace of Westminster began life as a royal residence in 1042 under Edward the Confessor. The major structure to survive various fires, Westminster Hall, was built between 1087-1100 and is one of the largest medieval halls in Europe with an unsupported hammerbeam roof. During the fourteenth-century the hall housed shops and stalls selling wigs, pens and other legal equipment and the courts of law met there. Thomas More, Charles I and those accused of trying to blow up parliament (1605) were all tried in Westminster Hall. Following a fire in 1512, Henry VIII decided to abandon the palace and from this moment onwards it became home to the two seats of parliament - the Commons and the Lords. However, it was to suffer from another disastrous fire in 1834 and everything was lost except Westminster Hall and the Jewel Tower. A competition was launched to redevelop the whole site. Sir Charles Barry was responsible for the mock gothic building that has become such a familiar landmark today; including the Clock Tower that houses Big Ben, the bell that chimes on the hour, and is home to the largest clock face in the country. Members of the public can watch debates when Parliament is in session. You don't need tickets in advance, but may have to queue. For the chance to watch Prime Minister's Question Time, you will need to obtain tickets in advance from a member of parliament (British citizen) or from your consulate or High Commission. For more information call the Public Information Office on 020 7219 4272. Address: Parliament Square, Westminster, St Margaret Street, SW1A 0AA Phone: 020 7219 5353 Pricing: Visitor's Gallery free. Tours: £7 (Adults), £5 (Concs), £22 (Family, Free (Under 5s) Nearest Station: Westminster Tube Houses of Parliament - Information The Jewel Tower Abingdon Street, SW1P 3JY 14th century royal tower. Across the road from the imposing Houses of Westminster, this simple, three-storey, 14th century tower often gets overlooked on the tourist trail. One of only two buildings forming part of the Palace of Westminster to survive the fire of 1834, the Jewel Tower boasts a stunning, untouched 14th century ribbed vault that more than warrants the trip across the road from the main Westminster parliament buildings. Built in 1365, the tower was used by King Edward III to store his treasures and wardrobe - remains of the original moat and medieval quay designed to secure the building can still be seen today. Items on display now include the Speaker's robes from the collection of the Houses of Parliament and an interactive touch-screen computer providing a virtual reality tour of both Houses of Parliament. Best for: 14th century vaulted ceiling, medieval remains and ruins. Also known as: King's Privy Wardrobe Did you know? From 1869 to 1938 the Jewel Tower served as a weights and measures office. Address: Abingdon Street, SW1P 3JY Phone: 020 7222 2219 Timing: Daily 10:00-16:00/17:00 Pricing: £2.70 (Adults), £2.00 (Concessions), £1.40 (Children) Nearest Station: Westminster Tube Jewel Tower - Information
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