Monarch's London: Windsor Castle & Hampton Court Palace

Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and the oldest in continuous occupation. Together with Buckingham Palace in London and Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, it is one of the principal official residences of the British monarch. Windsor Castle is located in the Berkshire town of Windsor, in the Thames Valley to the west of London. Queen Elizabeth II spends many weekends of the year at Windsor Castle, using it for both state and private entertaining. Windsor Castle dates back to the time of William the Conqueror. Most of the kings and queens of England have had a direct influence on the construction and evolution of Windsor Castle, which has been their garrison, fortress, home, official palace, and sometimes prison. The castle's history and that of the British monarchy are inextricably linked. Chronologically the history of the castle can be traced through the reigns of the monarchs who have occupied it. When the country has been at peace Windsor Castle has been expanded by the additions of large and grand apartments; when the country has been at war the castle has been more heavily fortified. This pattern has continued to the present day. Queen Eilzabeth II decided in 1952 to make Windsor her principal week-end retreat. The private apartments which had not been properly occupied since the era of Queen Mary were renovated and further modernised, and the Queen, Prince Philip and their two children took up residence. This arrangement has continued to the present day.

Today In Windsor Castle;

* We will explore this oldest and the largest inhabited castle in the world,
* We will learn how a Windsor Castle was transformed into an ostentatious palace,
* We will see how Monarchs added their own style and ambition to the different elegant rooms,
* We will hear how this palace of romance to restore royal fortunes of the King who lost his head,

Lunch break in one of Windsor's best English Pubs. If you think that fish & chips is the only national dish in English culinary, this is a big mistake. Follow us to find out the goodness of the Tudor recipe and taste.

Hampton Court Palace is a former royal palace in South West London. The palace is located to the south-west of Charing Cross and upstream of central London on the River Thames. It is currently open to the public as a major tourist attraction. The Hampton Court Palace Home Park is also the site of the annual Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. The Knights Hospitaller had operated a farm on the site since 1236. In 1505, the Lord Chamberlain, Sir Giles Daubeney, leased the property and used it to entertain Henry VII. Thomas Wolsey, then Archbishop of York and Chief Minister to the King, took over the lease in 1514 and rebuilt the 14th-century manor house over the next seven years (1515–1521) to form the nucleus of the present Hampton Court Palace. Hampton Court Palace was appropriated by Wolsey's master, Henry VIII, in about 1525, although the Cardinal continued to live there until 1529. Henry added the Great Hall - which was the last medieval Great Hall built for the English monarchy - and the Royal Tennis Court, which was built and is still in use for the game of real tennis, not the present-day version of the game. In 1604, Hampton Court Palace was the site of King James I of England's meeting with representatives of the English Puritans, known as the Hampton Court Conference; while agreement with the Puritans was not reached, the meeting led to James's commissioning of the King James Version of the Bible.

Today in Hampton Court Palace;

* We will explore Henry the VIII's 500-year-old English Royal residence full of stories and scandals,
* We will learn the secrets of the British Royals,
* We will be impressed with the flamboyant lifestyle of the Tudor's,
* We will listen to the story of the kings and queens who created this magnificent palace,

Explore the lives of the greatest characters in British royal history that have graced these walls living out hidden stories of love and relationships eroded by power and jealousy!

Explore two jewels of the crown in English heritage today with us!