Hampton Court Palace is about 12 miles south west of London and contains some of the best Tudor architecture in Britain.
It was originally built for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, (starting in 1514), who was a close friend of King Henry VIII, but in 1529 Wolsey fell from favour and the palace was taken over by King Henry VIII, who then enlarged it. William III’s later embarked on a massive rebuilding and expansion project intended to rival Versailles which continued for over 70 years.
Hampton Court Palace has not been inhabited by the British Royal Family since the 18th century, and is now open to the public, and is a major tourist attraction. It is cared for by an independent charity, Historic Royal Palaces.
Along with St. James’s Palace, it is one of only two surviving palaces that were owned by Henry VIII.
The palace’s Home Park is the site of the annual Hampton Court Palace Festival and Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
Hampton Court Palace is one of those places that seems to cry out to be photographed. It does provide a number of challenges in terms of its sheer size, and the crowds of people who descend on it each day. Th interior and court areas provide a lot of interest but can be quite dark and narrow which makes them difficult to photograph. The exterior views and gardens provide the more iconic and scenic photographs, which vary based on the time of day and season.
The river bank and Bushy Park also provide additional photographic venues.
London Photo Areas and Routes 