Optional Excursions:
ROYAL PASSES

Five extraordinary palaces.….900 years of incredible stories

Tours are available daily

Highlights:

• Allows fast track entry to three royal palaces without the need to wait in line
• Admission to the the World Heritage site, the Tower of London, home to the priceless Crown Jewels
• Admission to Kensington Palace, London’s most fashionable palace that includes the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection
• Admission to the idyllic Hampton Court Palace on the outskirts of London – Henry VIII’s favourite ‘pleasure’ palace

The Tour:

THE TOWER OF LONDON
The ancient stones reverberate with dark secrets, priceless jewels glint in fortified vaults and pampered ravens strut the grounds. The Tower of London, founded by William the Conqueror in 1066-7, is one of the world’s most famous fortresses and a World Heritage Site.  It is Britain’s most visited historic site. Despite a grim reputation for a place of torture and death, there are so many more stories to be told about the Tower.  This powerful and enduring symbol of the Norman Conquest has been enjoyed as a royal palace, served as an armoury  and for a few years in the 1830s even housed a zoo! An intriguing cast of characters have played their part: including the dastardly jewel-thief Colonel Blood, three tragic Queens of England; Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey and maverick zoo keeper Albert Cops.

HAMPTON COURT PALACE
The flamboyant Henry VIII is most associated with this majestic palace, which he extended and developed in grand style after acquiring it from Cardinal Wolsey in the 1520s. He lavished money on fabulous tapestries and paintings, housed and fed a huge court and pursued a succession of wives, political power and domination over Rome. The Tudor Buildings which remain are among the most important in existence, but the elegance and romance of the palace owes much to the elegant Baroque buildings commissioned by William and Mary at the end of the 17^th century. The palace is set in 60 acres of gardens, which include the recently restored Kings Privy Garden and Lower Orangery Garden.  The famous maze and the oldest vine in the world, the Great Vine are fascinating elements to the awe-inspiring estate.

KENSINGTON PALACE
The feminine influence of generations of royal women has shaped this stylish palace and elegant gardens. The birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria, the palace first became a royal residence for William and Mary in 1689. Mary much preferred her new, Kensington home, which was enlarged by Sir Christopher Wren. The famous Orangery was built in 1704 by Queen Anne, and George II’s wife, Queen Caroline, another keen gardener, added further improvements. Today, the palace houses a stunning permanent display of fashionable and formal dresses, the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, which includes dresses worn by Diana, Princess of Wales and temporary exhibitions of court dress.