London from the Thames
The Tudor Palace is no more, having become derelict by the time of Charles II,(1660-1685), who demolished it. But the Palace lives on in its beautiful Stuart successor, the Queen's House and the splendid Royal Naval Hospital fronting the Thames, and the Royal Observatory. Building was begun by Inigo Jones for his patron James I, (1603-1625) enlarged and embellished by Sir Christopher Wren for Charles II, and completed for William III, (1689-1702) as the Royal Naval Hospital. This hospice for Navy veterans was similar to that of King Charles II's Royal Chelsea Hospital, home of the Chelsea Pensioner, (another of Sir Christopher Wren's architectural gems of Royal London worthy of your visit). The Palace was later transformed into a Naval college before being reopened as Britain's Royal Maritime Museum in 1937 by King George VI and his Consort Queen Elizabeth, now the Queen Mother; their first royal engagement after their coronation following the abdication of Edward VIII.
I strongly recommend the river journey down to the Tower of London and then onward to Greenwich. The river journey itself is unforgettable - and a pleasant relaxed way of seeing a historic slice of London from the comfort of a seat. London sidewalks are hard on the feet, and after just two days of escorting my Lady around London I quickly learnt to appreciate and cherish tourist jaunts that could be accomplished from a sitting position!
The journey upriver from Westminster to Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII's Tudor jewel, is also an admirable chug, passing Chelsea embankment and its colourful moored boathouses, the Bishop of London's Fulham Palace, the decorative waterside houses of Chiswick, the Royal Botanic Gardens and their hidden Royal Palace and Cottage at Kew. Allow yourself a day for either jaunt. A visit to Hampton Court should not be rushed, and needs all of a day to enjoy the river journey there and back, and a leisurely tour of the Palace and gardens.
There are a number of interesting events taking place at Hampton Court during the millenium year. One that particularly appeals to me is the July celebrations of the restoration of William III's Privy Garden, one of the most important restoration projects in gardening history. There are special tours showing how the garden was returned to its original stunning appearance of 1702 and teaching us about garden archaeology and 18th-century garden design.
Add zest to this jaunt by packing
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