Pass to visit the Historical Royal Palaces of London
See London through the eyes of Britain’s most famous monarchs. This choice of three different passes – The Central London Pass, Three Palace Pass, and Four Palace Pass – allows you to devise your own bespoke palace programme.
An unmissable expression of the majesty and martial power of the monarchy, the Tower of London has been the site of the Crown Jewels since the 13th century as well as the place of highest profile imprisonment. Just as Henry VIII used it to interrogate his enemies, so he established Hampton Court for his friend, the Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, in the early 16th century; that is, until the cardinal’s fall from grace returned the palace to the crown. Its majestic gardens, maze, and royal tennis court make Hampton Court a fitting, albeit more “intimate”, rival to the French royal palace at Versailles. By contrast, the palace at Whitehall was built to be the “biggest in Christendom”. Despite burning down 300 years ago, what remains is a treasure trove of art including works by Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael and Holbein, as well as Rubens’ painted ceiling of the Banqueting House, a celebration of King Charles I prior to the latter’s execution. Complete your royal experience in the heart of London with a wander round Kensington Palace, the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as well as a home to members of the royal family since the 17th century.