London Panoramic Tour This guided tour begins with a drive to some of the most famous sites in London. See Parliament Square and the 12 statues of famous statesmen including Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill. Pass by Trafalgar Square, home to Nelson’s Column, which honours Admiral Nelson in his victory in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Then, it’s on to Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner and Kensington before heading to Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace. Hampton Court Palace You will be welcomed to the magnificent Hampton Court Palace by one of the expert Palace Hosts who will introduce you to Henry VIII’s riverside residence and set you on your way to explore the spectacular State Apartments, Tudor Kitchens and glorious gardens. A royal palace in the borough of Richmond upon Thames, Hampton Court Palace was built in 1515 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, favourite advisor to King Henry VIII. Once the most powerful man in the English court, second only to the King, Cardinal Wolsey fell out of favour with Henry after he failed to negotiate an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon so he could marry his latest obsession, Anne Boleyn. After Wolsey’s death in 1530, Henry VIII took charge of Hampton Court, turning it in to a hotel, a theatre and a huge private playground, using it to demonstrate his enormous wealth. When William III and Mary II (1689 – 1702) took the throne in 1689, they commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to build an elegant new Baroque Palace. Queen Victoria opened the palace to the public in 1838, and it has remained one of England’s most beloved historic attractions. Wander through the vast kitchens where cooks would have worked day and night to bring Henry his poached dolphin and roasted swan, and head out to the beautiful gardens and see if you can escape the oldest surviving maze in the world. Windsor Castle The preferred weekend residence of our current King Charles III, Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Also a favorite castle of Henry VIII, the place is now his tomb along with Queen Victoria, the Queen Mother and many more royals. Wander through the stunning State Apartments and take a look at St George’s Chapel, where Harry and Meghan married. Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House is a must-see, with hot and cold running water, electricity and tiny items made by 1,500 of the finest craftspeople of the 20th century. Keep an eye out for rare works of art on the walls from geniuses like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.