During the Tudor reign, Hampton Court Palace was the most magnificent castle in the country. Between 1515 to about 1521, Cardinal Wolsey, the Archbishop of York, bought a medieval manor and transformed it into a beautiful palace. However, by 1529, Henry VIII was in possession of it and began a decade-long transformation and remodeling. During William and Mary’s reign, parts of the palace was torn down and rebuilt again between 1689-94.

However, many of the Tudor aspects to the palace can still be seen today. The Tudor kitchens, Royal Chapel, Great Hall and the tennis courts were all rebuilt or enlarged by Henry. He also laid the overall structure to the Hampton Court Gardens.

Significant Tudor events that happened at Hampton:

• Both Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I lived there during their reign
• Jane Seymour gave birth to Edward VI in 1537
• Edward VI was baptized at the Royal Chapel
• Henry VIII spent three honeymoons there
• Mary I spent her honeymoon with Philip I there as well
• Henry VIII was told of the infidelity of Katherine Howard there; some say her ghost still is still there, at the Haunted Gallery
• Henry VIII married his sixth wife, Katherine Parr at HolyDay, which adjoins the Royal Chapel