Hampton Court Palace, an afternoon near London

This is one of the suggested on-your-own-time activities for London. It's actually two palaces, the one in the picture above is the one that was inhabited most notably by Henry VIII. It takes about 40 minutes from London, the train runs from Waterloo Station, and it's a short walk (just across the Thames river) from the train station. The grounds are very impressive, as are the castles' interiors, and the feeling of Henry VIII's onetime presence here is formidable.The front gate, not pictured, is where I took the picture on our website of the oxlike gargoyle holding the shield of the Tudor rose. A few comments about the grounds: they are extensive, there is a rose garden (that really smells like a rose garden) and a maze (the maze has an additional entrance fee). There is also a horse drawn tram ride that I don't recommend because the route is about one mile, in a little circle. It's not meant to show you the grounds, only to get you off of your feet for about 10 minutes. The horses ARE beautiful!


The photo above would be "the back yard." There are gum drop shaped yew trees as you can see in the park-like formal garden. They are old and fairly remarkable for the distinctive character they give the place. There are perennial borders (the longest one in England, we were told), and some annual and large formal beds geometricrically laid out in front of the 17th century castle. It makes for a good picnic spot so pack a sandwich and a drink in you bag, and a mat to sit on?  Well, there are benches, too, but not too many.

The other palace, commissioned by King William III (r 1689-1702) for himself and the queen,  Mary II, was built by Sir Chrisopher Wren. It faces the river Thames, and amazingly, you can't even see this facade (below) from the entrance on the broad avenue leading up to Henry VIII's palace.

BTW, There is a significant discount (ca $3.00+) when you buy your ticket on the Web. The link is here.

Glad you found us message, from John

I have high hopes that we'll see a bit of socializing here.  The topic is our upcoming England Shakespeare and English garden tour. But of course, we can talk about whatever we want. I could talk about travel, or England all day and night long. I'd bore you.  Still, it amazes me that travel has become such a big part of my life. I've worked in fairly conventional jobs for most of it, including (not so conventional)  a decade abroad as a teacher. I have come to think of  "travel" as the emblem of change in one's life. The stereotyped gypsy fortune teller of our parents' and grandparents' generations used to predict "you are going to go on a long journey," and "I think you will not be alone," or even, "you will meet a tall dark stranger." As for me, I never hesitate, and I know one more appropriate cliche: "the greatest journey begins with a single step," and that really always does make it easy for me to start.  (and come to think of it, what would we humans do without this whole travel metaphor to explain our lives to ourselves!) So let's start.

Traveling is what it is.  It can be tough enough to bring you to tears on occasion, but also ultimately joyous, that is,  if you stick with it and don't give up. It seems that for about half the people I meet, the idea of travel is somehow central to their dream. At worst, a journey can be boring, get dangerous, or bring intense moments of frustration,  At best it can be life-changing, legendarily so (but not necessarily like in the movies, e.g. Eat, Pray, Love). Here's a cliche expression for you, "travel is my muse," but it could also be one's supreme catharsis. (I think I like that better!) There is magic first of all in choosing a destination. Suddenly you're starting preparation, your mind may race with the possibilties, or perhaps you're returning to a beloved place with beloved people.  Budgets notwithstanding; we live like the royalty of old except that we have choices they may never have dreamed of! You may be choosing England, either now for our current Shakespeare/English Gardens tour, or in the past.  Whoever you are, welcome to this blog; please feel free to contribute something.

One thing we may do here is begin to think about ourselves as "anglophiles." For example, let's discuss tea and scones! or the Royal Family. Not now, I mean later when the blog gets going. I'm looking forward to offering everyone some knowledge and encouragement about visiting England, and especially for the May 2011 tour.  Readers in turn, can take this blog in various directions as they wish. I'm game.
I'm hoping people who just drop by this blog become our tour participants and use this blog space to find community with their tourmates. Simple. The tour is limited to 20 participants and that may mean that we can have a little of everybody, a friend, or some friends for everyone here! It might be for some of us that we'll remember the people we were with, rather more than the places we've visited. That's not a bad thing! England is there for us in any case, I love it, so if you coming with us, here is the place  to get and keep people informed and thereby help everyone enjoy this trip to the fullest.

Another of the blog's goals? that it give you the opportunity at least "to think about it," if you are someone who has not yet decided about the tour. You can take some weeks or even months, have your ideas bounced around by me and some others here.  Build confidence!

John