HRP and Open House London

Historic Royal Palaces takes part in Open House London weekend this September with free special tours at Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace and free entry to the Banqueting House Whitehall.

Join a tour to see up close the conservation work on the White Tower

Press release

Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity that cares for five of the greatest palaces ever built, is delighted to be taking part in Open House London 2008 over the weekend of 20/21 September, especially because for the first time access will include the Tower of London. Full details are below:

20 and 21 September
Tower of London
For the first time at the Tower a site and building scaffold will be open to the public to view the conservation work currently under way on the 1,000 year old White Tower, providing a very up-close and personal viewing of this historic building. Masons, architects and surveyors will give escorted scaffold tours to pre-booked groups all weekend. For more information visit www.openhouse.org.uk

20 and 21 September
Hampton Court Palace
Explore areas not usually open to the public at Hampton Court Palace including the Barrack Block, the earliest purpose built barracks still standing in Britain dating from 1689. Tours will be running all weekend, just turn up on the day. For more information visit www.openhouse.org.uk

20 September only
Banqueting House, Whitehall
Banqueting House, the last complete building that remains of Whitehall Palace and home to an opulent Rubens painted ceiling, will be open to the public for free with refreshments available to purchase. For more information visit www.openhouse.org.uk

Further information

Notes to editors
For further information visit www.openhouse.org.uk or contact the Historic Royal Palaces Press Office
Tel: 020 3166 6166 E-mail: press@hrp.org.uk

Generic Historic Royal Palaces images can also be viewed and downloaded immediately and for free by registering on the website hrp.newsteam.co.uk

The palaces are open everyday, except 24th – 26th December

Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity that looks after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace. We help everyone explore the story of how monarchs and people have shaped society, in some of the greatest palaces ever built. We receive no funding from the Government or the Crown, so we depend on the support of our visitors, members, donors, volunteers and sponsors. These palaces are owned by The Queen on behalf of the nation, and we manage them for the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. We believe in four principles. Guardianship: giving these palaces a future as long and valuable as their past. Discovery: encouraging people to make links with their own lives and today’s world. Showmanship: doing everything with panache. Independence: having our own point of view and finding new ways to do our work.
Registered charity number 1068852