Traditional Tudor fun will be on offer with a range of entertaining activities and events for kids to enjoy at King Henry VIII’s former pleasure palace, Hampton Court.
Children of England
What would life have been like if you were the children of mighty King Henry VIII? How did life differ for Prince Edward and Lady Elizabeth compared to other children in Tudor times? What lessons did they learn and who were their friends, teachers and servants? Learn all the answers to these and many more questions this half term at Hampton Court’s Children of England event. Step into their shoes to discover lessons in astronomy, philosophy and Classics. When not in class, lively Tudor music demonstrations will keep you entertained. Girls will also have the chance to practice their dancing and curtsies while the boys can try their hand at Tudor sports!
The Big Draw – Palace portraits
Join us for this national event and discover Hampton Court Palace through art. This event invites everyone to examine the past, present and the future through drawing. Experimenting with pencils, crayons, charcoal, sand and many more artistic mediums you can try your hand at a range of free fun activities: create your own Tudor portrait and learn the secrets of the Old Masters. Open to all ages - no drawing experience necessary!
(The Big Draw also runs 13-14 October as well)
Young Henry VIII exhibition
Everyone knows the image of the older, fat Henry, notorious for wars and wives, but as a young man, Henry was one of the most desirable men in Europe. Discover the true story behind first 20 years of King Henry VIII’s reign in our new permanent exhibition in the Tudor Wolsey Rooms. The display gives visitors insight into the rich and sometimes overlooked period of his reign when Katharine of Aragon was the King’s only wife and Cardinal Wolsey was his most trusted royal adviser. The triumphs and tragedies of two decades are innovatively explored using historic Tudor paintings, alongside audio visual displays and interactive touchscreen technology in an exhibition that will surprise and fascinate visitors of all ages.
Also this October…
Tudor Cookery
6 - 7 October
What foods tickled the Tudors’ taste buds? What sights rumbled a Tudor tummy?! What smells filled a Tudor kitchen? Find out in Hampton Court Palace’s re-presented Tudor Kitchens, the largest remaining kitchens of their kind in Europe. On the first weekend in October our resident food archaeologists experiment in the represented kitchens with Tudor recipes, ingredients, utensils and traditional cooking methods, preparing a typical royal feast, providing visitors with 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.
