Hampton Court Palace

Recently we went to see Hampton Court Palace, inspired after watching the movie 'The other Boleyn girl" to see the home of King Henry VIII, which was built by Cardinal Wolsey for his own residence, before the took over.

The Palace was about 45 minute local bus ride to get to, and spanning six acres of land, nestled next to the river Thames. As a historical Palace, it is opened to tourists, like us, to wonder the palace grounds, work our way thru their 'World famous' Maze, the first in England, and see the beautifull and immaculate English garden.

Inside the Castle, we explored King Henry's Apartment, seeing the many rooms he had, the Queens Apartment, and the huge Tudor kitchen where food came from to provide for the whole Castle.
We had a guided tour of the Castle by a lady wearing the traditional costumes, in 25+ degree heat, and the histroy lesson was well worth following the crowd. It was amazing to have a glimps into the life of a King who has shaped and changed England in terms of religion, views on marriage and divorce. It was King Henry's decision to split with the Catholic Church, so he can obtain a divorce from his Queen, to marry Anne Boleyn, hence the beginning of the Church of England.