A Palace Renovation Fit for a King
King Henry VIII’s state apartments at Hampton Court Palace, considered among the finest Tudor rooms in existence, have been reopened to visitors after a major renovation project.
The rooms are filled with priceless treasures of the period and look just as they did when Henry and his court were in residence.
The state apartments include the Great Hall, which contains 10 tapestries depicting the life of Abraham and probably woven in the 1500s, and the Haunted Gallery, where legend has it that Catherine Howard’s headless ghost ran screaming after her execution.
Hampton Court, set amid extensive gardens in southwest London, was a favorite royal residence for two centuries. Today, costumed guides lead tours of the state apartments and courtiers in period dress perform theme presentations of Tudor life and manners.
From Dec. 27 to Jan. 4, special exhibits will show how the court celebrated Christmas. The kitchens will prepare authentic dishes, which visitors may sample, and musicians and jesters will perform. Admission is 6.50 (about $10). Tel: 011-44-81-977-8441.
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