Meet your guide at Richmond's Hampton Court Palace, approximately a 30-minute train ride from central London. The palace is best known as the former residence of King Henry VIII, one of the best-known British monarchs.
Leave the admission area with your guide, and start your palace tour. Pose for photos in front of the palace’s iconic red-bricked front, and head through the arched entranceway, which is flanked by elegant columns and towers.
Follow your guide as you learn about the highlights of Hampton Court Palace. Admire Anne Boleyn’s Gate, a Tudor gatehouse, and gaze up at the Clock Court’s Astronomical Clock. Wander around the Tudor Quarters and Great Hall to see the impressive hammer-beam roof and the tapestries that cloak the walls.
Ogle the art from the Royal Collection inside the Cumberland Art Gallery, and see acclaimed artwork by the likes of Canaletto, Caravaggio, Holbein and Rembrandt. Then, check out the opulence of the Chapel Royal — a site that was decadently decorated for the christening of Edward VI. As you stand beneath the gold-and-blue ceiling, wander to the royal pew to admire a replica of the crown worn by King Henry VIII himself.
Stop for refreshments at an on-site cafe before you view the Triumphs of Caesar. The collection of Andrea Mantegna paintings are said to make up some of the world’s most significant Italian paintings of the Renaissance period.
After 3.5 hours, make the most of some free time to explore independently. Maybe rest and enjoy lunch, or take an amble through the garden and grounds.
