H

enry VIII liked this place so much that even though he had it built for Cardinal Wolsey, he moved in here himself. Guess you can do that sort of thing when you’re King of England.

Take a boat trip here on the River Thames from central London, and you’ll quickly see why Henry had a soft spot for the place.

It’s awash with splendid Tudor and Baroque architecture, which will have you reaching for the camera, while inside you can explore the king’s living quarters, the kitchens – and the Great Hall where William Shakespeare’s company once performed.

Better than that, though, you can watch Tudor cookery demonstrations in the original palace kitchens, take part in workshops with the Embroiderers' Guild and Royal School of Needlework – or even follow the Ghost Trail where you’ll get to find out about some of the palace’s spectral residents who are said to still roam the old corridors. Who knows, maybe you’ll bump into one?

Of course, the other thing you should do while you’re here is check out the Grand Maze, and take a stroll around the 60 acres of formal gardens, which are home to the annual Flower Show every summer. That is assuming, of course, that you can find your way back out of the maze…