Day One
The Tower of London has seen the beginnings, and many endings, of a great deal of monarchs. Traditionally the king or queen to be spent a night in the royal chambers of the Tower before processing to Westminster Abbey for their coronation. Henry VIII and Queen Katherine of Aragon were two of many other rulers to begin their reigns here.
But as is famously known, Henry VIII had a habit of getting rid of queens fairly quickly. Anne Boleyn is an excellent example. She got Henry to divorce Queen Katherine, was made queen in her place with a fabulous coronation ceremony, and then quickly fell from favor when she failed to produce a male heir. She met her end at the same Tower that housed her right before she was crowned. Anne is buried at the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula ("St. Peter in chains"), which is located on the Tower grounds.When you go, try to picture Anne at her highest and lowest points, all spent right where you stand.
From the Tower I would take a boat trip down the Thames to Westminster Abbey, where Henry and his children Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth were all crowned. One other Tudor was crowned here as well, the nine-day queen Jane Grey, who was planted on the throne as a coup to keep the Catholic Mary I from rising to power and persecuting the Protestants. But it was not to be borne. The citizens revolted and Jane was removed quickly from office to meet her end on that same infamous Tower green. Many famous people have made their final resting place at the Abbey, including Edward VI (Henry VIII's son), Mary Queen of Scots (after she was re-interred), and Mary's son, King James I and VI of Scotland and England, who ruled after Elizabeth I.
Day Two
Let's begin where we left off yesterday and pay a visit to Westminster Palace, known today as the House of Lords and the House of Commons of Parliament. Back in Henry VIII's day it was also where Parliament was convened, but when James I came to power it turned back into a royal residence for a time.
After that I would go visit the National Portrait Gallery, which is a free museum that houses the portraits of a rich collection of notable people throughout history. Visit the Tudor room for a glimpse of the famous monarchs and consorts from the era.
Whitehall is next on the list. This beautiful palace was original a residence of Cardinal Wolsey, Henry VIII's closest advisor before he fell foul of Anne Boleyn. When Henry broke with the catholic church in order to get a divorce, Wolsey was forcibly removed from the office and his houses were confiscated. Henry preferred living here to Westminster Palace, and celebrated the marriages of two wives, Anne and her successor, Jame Seymour. This was also where Henry met his end, dying in bed after suffering from a long-endured wound. Unfortunately, there was a big fire in 1698 and the Banqueting House is the only integral building of the complex now standing, although it has been somewhat modified. Various other parts of the old palace still exist, often incorporated into new buildings in the Whitehall government complex.
If you are visiting between April and early October, consider attending a play at the newly rebuilt Shakespeare’s Globe in Southwark. This theater has been lovingly reconstructed from Shakespeare's original design, and is a delightful place to hear some plays that Elizabeth I herself may have enjoyed.
Day Three
Time for a little branching out from the city of London. Hampton Court (11 miles south of London) was another residence that was built by and taken from Cardinal Wolsey by Henry VIII. The gardens are considered magnificent and are certainly worth a stroll as well. This palace was the birthplace of King Edward VI and, unfortunately, the death place of Henry's third wife, Jane Seymour, who fell to complications in childbirth. Henry insisted that he be buried next to Jane, his "true wife", when he died.
A few kilometers from Hampton is Richmond Palace, on the south, or Surrey, bank of the River Thames. Again due to fire there are only a few surviving structures- the Wardrobe, the Trumpeters' House, and the Gate House. This palace was given to Henry's fourth wife Anne of Cleves as a residence post-divorce, and was also the place where the Virgin Queen Elizabeth I died.
The next stop on the tour is Windsor Castle which is in the English county of Berkshire. Henry VIII and Jane Seymour are both buried at Windsor's St. George’s Chapel.By the way, it is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.
Day Four
If you haven't yet gotten enough of Tudor history (who could?), I recommend a pilgrimage to the north of London to Hatfield, which is in Hertfordshire. This country house is where Elizabeth I grew up, and also where she was declared queen after Mary I's death. Later, this house was given to chief minister Robert Cecil (son of Elizabeth's chief advisor) in James I reign.
105 km north of Hatfield is Peterborough Abbey in Cambridgeshire, where the despairing original wife of Henry VIII, Katherine of Aragon, was laid to rest after a long battle with cancer and heartbreak. She never backed down from her belief that she was the one true queen, and never granted a divorce. where is buried and Mary Stuart was until being reinterred.
A jump for Peterborough is the ruins of the once great Fotheringhay Castle in Oundle, Northamptonshire. This location is made famous by the trial and execution of Mary Queen of Scots by her cousin, Elizabeth I. Elizabeth later denied that she had given any such order to behead her own cousin, though. Mary was buried at Peterborough for a time, but reinterred at Westminster when her son James I came to power.
So there you have it. A four day thorough journey into the heart of what is one of the most famous (or infamous depending upon who you ask) moments in British history. Shoot me an email and we can work together to create your very own step back in time. Contact me to get started!
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