Although a monarch hasn't lived here since George 11 packed it in over 200 years ago, Hampton Court Palace continues to ooze regal charm. Located six miles down the Thames from Richmond, the palace housed over 1500 court members at its height. Cardinal Wolsey built it in 1514, showing Henry VIII by his example how to act the part of a splendid and all-powerful ruler. Henry learned the lesson well, confiscating the Court in 1525 when Wolsey fell out of favor, and added new lodgings for each of his numerous wives. To help tourists make sense of the chaotic and schizophrenic arrangement of the palace, it is divided into six "routes" through which visitors may meander. Seeing all six plus the gardens and maze could easily take up the whole day; if you've got less time, the staff at the Information centre, off Clock Court, can help.
Fans of Henry have myriad options for discovering how the king lived, reigned, and ate his way to a 54-inch waist. Henry Vill's State Apartments, including the spectacular Great Hall, allow would-be sycophants a chance to reenact some Tudor brown-nosing. For those curious as to how Henry acquired his massive girth in the days before deep-fat fryers, the Tudor Kitchens provide the answer. Sir Christopher Wren's work can be seen in the opulent King's and Queen's Apartments, built for William III and meticulously restored after a catastrophic fire in 1986. In King's Guard Chamber, almost 3000 guns and weapons remind visitors that the monarch they were about to see was not to be trifled with. The Wolsey Rooms, which housed Cardinal Wolsey before he fell from favor, now house some of the finest treasures of the Royal Collection, including tapestries woven from the Raphael cartoons in the Victoria and Albert Museum , and a roomful of grisaille work originally by Mantegna but poorly repainted in the 18th century.
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