SWCP Day 66: London

/ alliwanders

An early morning train meant I arrived at Waterloo Station in London at 10am. I dropped my bag at the Luggage Storage office and did a quick jog to catch the next train for Hampton Court. I’ve wanted to visit HC for years, especially after watching so many Tudor documentaries and the Wolf Hall miniseries, and it did not disappoint

Clock Court
Tudor kitchens
Henry’s Great Hall he built for Anne Boleyn
Great Watching Chamber – courtiers would wait here for Henry to appear from his private chambers, hoping to catch his attention
Henry VIII, his son, and Jane Seymour (a bit of a fantasy as Jane died 2 weeks after Edward VI was born and Henry was now married to Katharine Parr but Jane was his favorite wife so she got painted in instead!)

What I didn’t realize is that it’s a palace of two parts. There’s the Tudor side dating back to the 1500’s, then the Stuart/Georgian side created when William & Mary came over in 1689 and their architect, Sir Christopher Wren, tore down half the place to build a baroque palace.

Fountain Court
The Privy Chamber
The Great Bed Chamber
King’s Staircase
Public Dining Room (meaning special courtiers could come in and watch the King eat)
The Privy Garden = the king’s private garden
And at the entrance, a lovely modern wildflower garden

And that was my visit. Train back to Waterloo, Tube to Paddington Station, then a few blocks to the studio apartment I’ve got for 4 nights. After 2+ months on the road I’m very happy being able to eat in! In my room and within 5 minutes I turn on the TV, cause that’s what you do, and what comes on….?!