Hampton Court Palace

Although the Tudor dynasty only lasted 118 years, it is nonetheless important. You'll walk in the footsteps of Henry VIII and his six wives. Hampton Court, after all, is where Henry wooed and courted Anne Boleyn and where Catherine Howard was accused of adultery & placed under house arrest.

After Henry's reign, Hampton Court was rebuilt during the Glorious Revolution of 1688 by Willian III and Mary II, who wanted their own slice of French palace life. Think Versailles meets English style. The result? A stunning Baroque masterpiece with beautiful ceilings, built by Sir Christopher Wren.

Chapel Royal is so stunning; it could rival the likes of St Paul's Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey. It has been used for worship for nearly 500 years, although Queen Anne refurbished it in the 1700s. The ceiling? A masterpiece of blue and gold, painted by Sir James Thornhill. The intricate oak detailing was carved by Grinling Gibbons.

The Hampton Court Palace is also home to The Maze, Britain’s oldest surviving hedge maze; the Great Vine, the largest grapevine in the world; the Chocolate Kitchen, the only surviving royal chocolate kitchen; the oldest Tudor kitchens; and the first-ever tennis courts. It’s also one of the two palaces where Henry VIII ever lived.