An Invitation to England's Royal Houses

Court and Castle - Royal Hampton Court Palace...

A little less than an hour from London by car, the journey to Hampton Court Palace took rather longer when Henry VIII's royal barge made its grand way down the River Thames to his favourite residence.

He lived here with all of his wives in their turn and conducted much of the affairs of the nation from its chambers and gardens. The State Apartments and the glory of the Chapel Royal are simply breathtaking.

The gardens themselves, once the setting for intrigue and the plots of power, now make a tranquil venue for a riverside picnic where the food itself seems enriched with the taste of history. We can of course arrange the picnic for you.

Built on a chalk cliff beside the River Thames some 25 miles West of London, Windsor Castle was founded by William the Conqueror within a few years of his taking the English throne.

The Castle, one of the Royal Palaces and in regular use by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, has been a royal residence for the past 900 years, its strength as a castle offering security a few hours ride from the capital.

Crossing the river to Eton and its famous school, lunch may be taken in any of the exclusive riverside restaurants. Runnymede, where King John grudgingly signed Magna Carta and began the long. long process of removing absolute power from the monarch, will be seen on the return trip to London.