This Easter at Hampton Court Palace come face to face with the mighty King Henry VIII, experience the sights and smells of a right Royal Tudor feast being prepared by our cooks in the historic kitchens and marvel at some of the world’s most magnificent Italian Renaissance paintings.

Live Tudor Cookery in Hampton Court Palace Kitchens

What foods tickled the Tudors’ taste buds? What sights rumbled a Tudor tummy?! Step into Hampton Court’s famous Tudor kitchens and discover the answers during this ten-day live cookery extravaganza. 500 years ago feasts for thousands of people at court were prepared in the palace’s kitchens. Our food archaeologists will experiment with 16th Century recipes, ingredients, utensils and traditional cooking methods, preparing a typical meal, and giving visitors an exclusive and fascinating look at the historic kitchens up-and-running as they would have been used when King Henry VIII lived at the palace.

Henry VIII’s First Visit

Henry VIII is paying his first visit to Hampton Court Palace, however, he is distracted by a secret…The King is considering divorcing his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, having met a young vivacious beauty by the name of Anne Boleyn. During your visit his secret will be revealed and you must take sides in the ensuing conflict! Meet all the characters in this historic drama: King Henry, Queen Katherine and Cardinal Wolsey, as well as supporters of Henry’s new love interest Anne. Hear their stories, and decide for yourself where your loyalties lie. Then take your place, and prepare for a final clash at the end of the day! This fun costumed event promises to bring this historic soap opera to life.

Andrea Mantegna’s The Triumphs of Caesar 

The represented Lower Orangery Gallery and The Triumphs of Caesar, regarded as Italian Renaissance artist Andrea Mantegna’s finest works, are open again to the public following a project to reinterpret and re-light these important, historic works of art. The series of nine paintings constitutes the largest area of Renaissance painting in a single pageant outside Italy. The paintings depict Julius Caesar on a triumphal chariot returning from his successful campaigns, in a procession of Roman soldiers, standard-bearers, musicians and the spoils of war including an assortment of booty from arms, intricate sculpture and gold vasesto exotic animals and captives.

Enjoy Hampton Court Palace and much more with a Historic Royal Palaces Membership!
This Easter buy a membership to Historic Royal Palaces and enjoy unlimited free visits to Hampton Court Palace throughout the year, as well as free access to the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace* plus a range of other fantastic benefits and special offers . Membership gives unlimited free visits to all of our palaces for one year, which means that every school holiday is catered for and you won’t miss any of our exciting programme of events - all for just £73 for the whole family. See www.hrp.org.uk or call 0870 751 5174 for more details.

(* free entrance to Kew Palace only – an separate admission ticket to Kew Gardens must be purchased for admission to the palace)