In 1514, Thomas Wolsey, Archbishop of York began building a magnificent palace on the north bank of the River Thames, 11 miles north of London, but not  much of his original building remains due to the remodeling by Henry VIII and later kings. 

Henry VIII “received” the palace from Wolsey in 1520, although the Archbishop retained apartments there.  Most of the Tudor parts we  see today were built by Henry.  He enlarged his own apartments, parts of the kitchens, the Chapel Royal, replaced most of the Great Hall and added tennis courts. Henry also laid out the overall plan for the gardens at Hampton Court, the basic structure of which is still seen today.

Historically, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I all stayed at Hampton Court at times during their reigns.  In 1537, Jane Seymour gave birth to Edward VI at Hampton court, dying two weeks later.  Henry VIII spent three of his honeymoons at Hampton Court, as did his daughter Mary I.  It was at Hampton Court that Henry VIII was told of the infidelity of Kathryn Howard  and he later married his sixth wife, Katherine Parr at the palace.

Another interesting fact about the palace is that the Hampton Court Conference occurred there in 1604.  During the conference, the King James Version of The Holy Bible was commissioned and finally completed in 1611.  The Holy Bible remains one of the greatest landmarks in the English tongue.  Although produced in England for English churches, it played a unique role in the historical development of America.

There are two trains every hour departing from London Waterloo Station, for the 30 minute trip to Hampton Court.   When you arrive, walk across the bridge and you’re at Hampton Court in less than 10 minutes.