Old Friends and Palaces (Hampton Court)

Saturday saw us meeting up with my old friend (and Sarah's new friend) Nikki Baggaley, who had been on exchange and stayed at New College during my time there (shockingly, that was 5 1/2 years ago - feels like no time at all). She was just about to move north to Aberdeen, so it was our last chance to see her for a while (before we end up in Scotland, at least)

Hampton Court Palace viewed from the bridge from the rail station (everything you can see behind Nikki and Sarah is part of the palace complex)

We met her at Waterloo and travelled together south and west of the city to Hampton Court Palace, which was originally the residence of Henry VIII. As well as a fantastic and opulent palace (complete with tapestries and paintings from Henry's time) there were beautiful gardens to explore, complete with the oldest living maze in the world.

Team huddle at the centre of the maze

The 'clock court' - wonder why it's called that?

For me one of the highlights was the musical tour. In King Henry's day there were apparently 90 musicians of various types on duty at the palace (Henry himself being quite a musician and composer) and Saturday's tour of Henry's apartments was led by four musicians, each of them skilled in several of the instruments of the day. Not only did we get to hear stories from history, but we listened to medieval music appropriate to each of the sections of the palace - from dance music in the feasting hall to the delicate lute outside Henry's private chambers.

Our musical guides - playing the fife and drums

The gardens were beautiful, and I imagine would be even more brightly coloured as spring progresses (and the weather becomes brighter). It was a stark contrast with some of the other royal residences we have visited - while they were castles, built for defence, this was a palace, built with spleandour and pleasure in mind.

One of many manicured gardens around the palace

A field of daffodils between the palace and the maze