I went to Hampton Court Palace.
It was originally built for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a favourite of King Henry VIII, circa 1514; in 1529, as Wolsey fell from favour, the palace was passed to the King, who enlarged it. He adapted it, and his wedding service to Catherine Parr actually took place there.
It was later adapted and extended during the rule of William & Mary.
Apart from the Palace itself and its gardens, other points of interest for visitors include the celebrated maze, the historic real tennis court and the huge grape vine, claimed to be the largest in the world.
I had been there first when I was a young teen, then again when Annemarie visited (when I was 18) and then the last time in 1986, when friends were over from France. I remembered getting lost in the maze, seeing the tennis court and one painted ceiling. So I was definitely due a re-visit ... and can say I thoroughly enjoyed the day trip.
Jedward is a very scary sight to be met with! They were there filming a documentary ... that in itself seemed wrong!
There were also some staff who were dressed as Queen Elizabeth I and a few courtiers who were doing an ongoing drama to talk about the people of history, for the many school groups who were there.
And so to the tour, proper .... There will be a couple of entries (I warn you now!)
This is a reproduction "water" fountain ... in King Henry's day it dispensed wine!!
Tudor chimneys - showing the money involved in keeping the building heated.
The Palace is on the edge of the River Thames.
The official website