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Hampton Court Palace -

Hampton Court Palace is located in Richmond upon Thames, around 19 km (12 mi) upstream from central London on the River Thames.

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A palace fit for a king -

The original Tudor Hampton Court Palace was begun for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in the early 16th century, a favorite of King Henry VIII (1491–1547). By 1529, however, the King had set his eyes on the building for himself.

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The Great Hall -

Sitting at the very heart of the Tudor Palace, the Great Hall was designed to impress and to proclaim King Henry VIII's power and magnificence.

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Medieval monarchy -

Built between 1532 and 1535, the Great Hall is the last medieval great hall built for the English monarchy. It's noted for its decorative, hammer-beam roof.

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Great Hall tapestry -

On the walls of the Great Hall hang a series of tapestries depicting scenes from the life of Abraham from the Book of Genesis.

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Astronomical clock -

The Hampton Court astronomical clock dates back to 1540, and adorns Anne Boleyn's Gate. Still functioning, the clock shows the time of day, the phases of the moon, the month, the quarter of the year, the date, and the sun and star sign. It also indicates high water at London Bridge.

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The King's Staircase -

The balustrade to Sir Christopher Wren's magnificent King's Staircase was designed and made by the Huguenot ironsmith Jean Tijou. The Italian artist Antonio Verrio is responsible for painting the walls of the staircase.

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Trompe l'oeil triumph -

Wren's Grand Staircase dates from 1690 and is surrounded by Verrio's illusionistic paintings and trompe l'oeil colonnade.

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The Great Kitchens -

The palace kitchens were built on the orders of King Henry VIII. They were easily capable of feeding his court of around 1,000 people. The luxury of the court was fresh meat, and courtiers were served a menu of dishes containing around 5,000 calories a day!

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Wine storage -

Pictured: wine storage in the kitchen basement. In Henry VIII's time, Claret or Bordeaux was usually referred to as "Gascon wine." It arrived young and in barrels. Claret, confusingly, was what the Tudors called rosé.

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Chocolate kitchen -

The chocolate kitchen was a small but specialized series of rooms used by royally-appointed chocolate makers to prepare this sweet and expensive delicacy for kings and queens.

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Luxury toilet facilities -

King William III (1650–1702) and his wife, Mary II (1662–1694), transformed the palace during their tenure, a period known as the House of Stewart. The makeover included the introduction of luxury close stools, an early type of portable toilet.

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The Fountain Court -

The Fountain Court was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the architect responsible for the late 17th-century St Paul's Cathedral in London.

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The Royal Collection -

The palace houses many works of art and furnishings from the Royal Collection. The single most important work is the Italian Renaissance painter Mantegna's 'Triumphs of Caesar,' a series of nine large paintings housed in the Lower Orangery. This photograph shows the Picture Bearers, the first canvas in the series.

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1,000 rooms -

During King Henry VIII's reign, Hampton Court Palace numbered over 1,000 rooms. It required a staff of 500 to service them all.

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Royal bedchamber -

Pictured is the opulent royal bedchamber. Entering the monarch's private apartments was like gaining access to another world.

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Grinling Gibbons (1648–1721) -

English sculptor and wood carver Grinling Gibbons is responsible for the fine wood carvings found in the apartments of King William III. His work can also be admired in the palace chapel, where the alter features garlands carved from oak. 

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Decorative Tudor brick chimneys -

The palatial architecture features beautiful examples of decorative Tudor brick chimneys.

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Main gatehouse ceiling -

The palace ceilings are highlights in their own right.

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Hampton Court Maze -

A well-known curiosity of the palace's grounds is Hampton Court Maze. It was planted in the 1690s and visitors have been getting lost in it ever since.

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Sunken gardens -

Pictured: one of the Palace's sunken gardens. Created for Henry VIII as pond yards and transformed by Mary II into sunken gardens, they remain a highlight of the palace grounds. In the background is William III's Banqueting House of 1700.

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Palace gardens -

The palace's formal gardens and park are Grade I listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

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Privy Garden -

The Privy Garden has existed since the time of King Henry VIII, but today's version is a restoration of King William III's baroque design from 1702. 

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The Great Vine -

Characterizing the gardens is the Great Vine, one of the largest vine decorations in the world.

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The Orangery -

This long, graceful room was originally designed as a private greenhouse for King William III. The space features marble sculptures, wood paneling, and classic checkerboard floor tiles.

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West front moat -

The moat surrounding Hampton Court Place is usually dry. But on occasion it fills with enough rain water to lend the palace a somewhat defensive, castle-like appearance.

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King's Beasts -

Ten statues of heraldic animals, called the King's Beasts, top the parapets on each side of the bridge over the moat leading to the great gatehouse. Pictured is the Royal Dragon.

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Great Watching Chamber -

A breathtaking display of stained glass greets visitors to the Great Watching Chamber.

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Tijou Screen -

Jean Tijou's most notable work at the palace is the semi-circular screen composed of 12 wrought iron panels, which now bears his name, and can be seen, where it was installed in 1701, at the river end of the Privy Garden. Pictured is one of the panels.

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The palace at night -

Visit the palace after dark and you're greeted with a beautiful illuminated facade.

See also: Fascinating facts about Kensington Palace and its royal residents.

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