
Henry VIII - Hampton Court
From £220
Summary
Spend a relaxing day visiting Henry VIII’s palace of pleasure – the extraordinary Hampton Court. Originally built for Cardinal Wolsey, the palace passed to Henry VIII in 1529 and he embarked on an ambitious building programme to create a stunning palace - one that would go on to rival Versailles when it was built over 100 years later. We’ll examine the architecture, and visit the kitchens and State Apartments to look at the nature of his court and how the palace functioned.
We’ll trace the stories of Henry’s last four wives through their associations with the palace: where Jane Seymour gave birth to the long-awaited heir, the Council Chamber where the marriage treaty to Anne of Cleves was signed, the Chapel where Henry learnt of Katherine Howard’s infidelity, and the place where Henry married his last queen, Kateryn Parr.
About Suzannah Lipscomb
Dr Suzannah Lipscomb is a historian, author, broadcaster and award-winning academic, based at New College of the Humanities.
Her latest book, The King is Dead: The Last Will and Testament of Henry VIII, is published by Head of Zeus. Suzannah's other books include 1536: The Year that Changed Henry VIII (Lion Hudson, 2009) and A Visitor’s Companion to Tudor England (Ebury, 2012).
Her television work includes writing and presenting the two-part 'Witch Hunt: A Century of Murder' for Channel 5; the four-part 'Hidden Killers' series including 'Hidden Killers of the Tudor Home' and 'Hidden Killers of the Victorian Home' for BBC4, and her two-series 'Henry and Anne: The Lovers Who Changed History' for Channel Five.
Please note: We are not allowed to use our whisper headset devices at the Palace
Tour highlights:
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Meet your Experts
Professor Suzannah Lipscomb
Andante Guide Lecturer
Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is an award-winning historian, author, and broadcaster. She is Professor Emerita of History at the University of Roehampton, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a columnist for History Today.

Tour dates & prices
Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Guided by | Price | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 March 2023 | AXHC230324 | 24 March 2023 (Friday) | Professor Suzannah Lipscomb | £220 (ex. flights) |
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7 July 2023 | AXHC230707 | 7 July 2023 (Friday) | Professor Suzannah Lipscomb | £220 (ex. flights) |
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22 September 2023 | AXHC230922 | 22 September 2023 (Friday) | Professor Suzannah Lipscomb | £220 (ex. flights) |
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