The Astrological Clock at Hampton Court.
Once you get off the train, you have to walk across a bridge over the Thames to get to the palace. You get your first view of the palace from this bridge. I was a little disappointed at first. While distinctive in appearance, it doesn't look that big. However, that impression is deceptive. Once you get inside the first gate, you realize Hampton Court is a very large complex. The buildings alone encompass six acres. The grounds are over 75 acres.
It's not a cheap place to visit. The adult price is £9.25. The student price is £7. The glossy official guide book is another £3.95. But, it's worth it. The palace is a fascinating mixture of Tudor style and Georgian sensibilities. In addition to the splendors of the palace, the staff tries enhance the experience of touring the structure. There are seven possible tours of the grounds and the house. Each of the house tours has either (or both) a free guided tour conducted by costumed guides or a free audio tour. I experienced both and thought the guided tour was better. The audio tour I took of the Georgian rooms was more interested in reenacting court gossip than telling one anything about the rooms. The guided tour of Henry VIII's State Apartments was much more informative about the purpose of the rooms, when they had been built, and what had been changed in them. Of course, one can wonder around the complex without the benefit of a tour. However, since they are included in the price of admission, one should take advantage of them. Just realize that these tours take about 45 minutes. So, watch the time or else you won't get to see the entire palace.
A lot of the enjoyment of Hampton Court comes from its magnificent gardens. One could lose themselves in the astonishing variety of plants and flowers that grow at the palace. I mean that literally. They have a hedge maze that has been know to confuse more than one tourist. I'm confused enough, so I didn't go to the maze. However, I did tour the other gardens and snuck into the real tennis court, which also dates from Henry VIII's time. If you don't want to tour the house (although I can't understand why anyone wouldn't), the gardens alone could fill up an afternoon's activities.
Is Hampton Court worth the train ride out of London? Yes. I would still
visit a few things in London before I went out to Hampton Court (Westminster
Abbey and the British Museum come to mind first). However, it's worth one's
time to dedicate a day to see this incredible structure.
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