Royals

Home to Buckingham Palace, the official residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, London is steeped in royal tradition. Full of palaces, ceremonies, royal walks and gardens, London is proud to display the pomp of our thousand year old monarchy. Read on for our essential visitor's guide.

Hampton Court Palace
Although Henry V111?s palace is a fair old journey out of central London it should be a priority on your ?things to see? list. Why? Because the palace and its 60-acres of gardens are stunningly beautiful; the architecture is a masterpiece in its own right; it?s haunted with the ghost of Catherine Howard; and the overall experience offers an imaginative insight into Tudor and Stuart times. And finally, you can get there on a scenic boat trip from Westminster pier (LINK to Riverboat in Getting Around section)). Built in 1514, HenryVIII moved into the palace in 1529, adding the salient vaulted Chapel Royal ceiling. In the past 500 years other Royals have added splendours to the palace ? there?s Sir Christopher Wren?s Renaissance-style State Apartments and of course the world famous maze. Visit the kitchens and you?ll find period-dressed cooks making 16th-century dishes! You must go to believe it! Allow a day for the visit.
Admission:£11, £8.25 concessions, £33 family (5 people)
Where: East Molesey, Surrey, 020 8781 9500, www.hrp.org.uk
Train: Hampton Court
Boat: Westminster to Hampton Court pier
Open: Apr-Oct, Mon-Sun 10am-6pm; Nov-Mar Mon-Sun 10am-4.30pm

Kensington Palace and Gardens
Originally the Palace was the birthplace to Queen Victoria in 1819, more recently it was Princess Diana?s (the Princess of Wales) home. Its main highlights are its State Departments, Princess Diana?s evening dresses and its park surroundings. Although the gardens have merged with Hyde Park, they are distinctly regal. The garden?s Orangery is a stately old building made out of beautiful white stone where you can relax over a cup of tea and some mouth-wateringly good home-made carrot cake. You can keep the children entertained at Princess Diana?s Memorial Playground and there?s a giant round pond with ducks and geese to pester. For a bit of art you can saunter down to the Serpentine. (LINK TO GALLERIES SECTION)
Admission: Gardens free, palace £10
Where: Kensington Palace (in the park), W8, 020 7937 9561, www.hrp.org.uk
Tube: High Street Kensington, Queensway or Hyde Park Corner for a nice stroll through the parks
Open: Gardens daily dusk until dawn; palace is open daily 10am-5pm

Buckingham Palace and St James?s Park
Buck House as it?s called by Londoners was built in 1703, now it?s home to Britain?s current Queen Elizabeth and her family. If you pay to go inside you can see the Royal Christening rooms where both Prince Charles and his celebrity son Prince William were baptised. For art aficionados, there's an excellent collection of paintings including Rembrandt, Rubens as well as more modern works by Monet and Lucien Freud. A summer bonus is the 19 State Rooms are annually opened around August for 8weeks normally. Unfortunately (for those who aren't going in), the building is far more charming from the 42-acre garden behind the house. However, even just walking up the Mall to the regal golden gates and watching the 'Changing of the Guard' in the forecourt is great fun. If you're short of time you can watch the forecourt ritual for free at 11.30am and if you miss that the Foot Guards in their red tunics and bear skins are a joy to watch.
Admission: £11.50 (you can get a good view of it from outside the gates for free)
Where: Buckingham Palace, SW1, 020 7321 2233, www.royalresidences.com
Tube: Green Park, St James?s Park, Victoria
Open: Times vary according to rooms and seasons, please call.

The Royal Parks
Created in 1433, Greenwich (LINK TO TOP10 HIGHLIGHTS) is the oldest Royal Park. There have been deer in the Park since the 15th Century and descendants of these are now enclosed in 'The Wilderness'. Don't miss the Royal Observatory in the centre of the park. St James's Park & The Green Park lying to the East of Buckingham Palace, were acquired by King Henry VIII at the same time as Hyde Park. St James's Park reflects the English picturesque style of landscaping which was prominent in the 19th Century. Other Royal Parks include Primrose Hill, The Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, The Green Park, Brompton Cemetery, Bushy Park, Richmond Park.
Admission: Free
Where: http://www.royalparks.gov.uk/
Open: Daily

Royal Albert Hall (LINK TO LIVE MUSIC SECTION)
An atmospheric venue for going to see opera, ballet or live music, the Hall was conceived by Albert, the Prince Consort, (Queen Victoria's husband) as the centrepiece of the proposed development of a range of national institutions - cultural, scientific and academic in 1851. Based on the Roman amphi-theatres - the Hall is elliptical and not round. By the 1960s it saw the first Beatles, Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan concert. Now you can see spectacular shows such as Bolshoi Ballet, the Kirov Opera or even Sir Paul McCartney. It holds 5,500 seats, so if you've got the time you should splash out and spend an evening here. From the outside you can enjoy the magnificent frieze that encircles the building and the near by golden Albert monument and Hyde Park!
Admission: Tickets vary according to the event
Where: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7, 020 7589 8212, http://www.royalalberthall.com/
Tube: South Kensington
Open: Box office, daily 9am-9pm

Windsor Castle
A royal premise for over 900 years since William the Conqueror, the castle is the largest occupied fortress in the world. Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones got married here and 10 Royals are buried here including Henry VIII, the Queen Mother and Prince Margaret. The parkland known as 'the Long Walk' surrounding the castle makes an impressive stroll, whilst the 14th century St George's chapel will satisfy Gothic architecture fans. Windsor is a place worth going to see itself if you've only experienced London - it's a smallish town with cobbled streets and traditional tea-rooms selling scones and jam!
Admission: £11.50
Where: Windsor, Berkshire, 020 7321 2233, http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page557.asp
Train: From Waterloo/Paddington to Windsor
Open: 10am-5pm daily