It was one of the happiest days of my life when I found The Tudors on Netflix. Okay, I also own it on DVD, but there’s something really satisfying about spending a few hours lazing on the sofa, remote control in hand isn’t there? Anyway, I’ve been binge watching it all over again over the last few days and enjoying it excessively – mainly because I’d forgotten how funny it is (there’s some impressive side eye action, especially from Charles Brandon) but also because it’s perfect for this time of year. They love a bit of snow in The Tudors and all those court entertainments and rich red dresses and glittering gold decorations make it look like every day is Christmas day at Henry’s court.
With this in mind, I was especially excited to head to Hampton Court Palace, where much of the action in The Tudors is set and which is now, in my mind at least, CHRISTMAS CENTRAL, on Thursday night for a sneak preview of the amazing new Light up the Palace installation in the palace gardens, which have delighted many thousands of residents and visitors over the years. It was admittedly a bit of a hike to get there from Bristol, where I am based, but definitely well worth a bit of extra effort as we had a superb time – although, who could possibly fail to be pleased by an evening spent wandering around the lovely grounds of Hampton Court, followed by a spot of ice skating next to the iconic red brick entrance to the Tudor palace? No one, that’s who. NO ONE.
Our evening’s entertainment started off with a walk through the gardens, aided by a special glow in the dark map, which guided us to the special illuminations. We all loved going around the famous maze, made extra spooky at night by the addition of rope lights and what was, to my ears any way, spectral noises. I was, I’ll admit, slightly worried that we might end up lost and having to camp out there all night but it was all fine in the end as we found the center in record time.
After this we walked through the atmospheric wilderness porthole and then took a turn around the gardens, where golden glowing fairy lights guided our feet through a fairyland of lit up trees. I always love visiting the Hampton Court gardens anyway, but it’s always much more special and atmospheric to see places after dark isn’t it? I suppose it’s because you are sharing historical buildings with all of their other visitors during the day but when they are emptier at night, it means that you can feel much closer to their original inhabitants who lived a much more exclusive existence. Certainly, I really felt like we were part of a seventeenth or eighteenth century court entertainment as we wandered along darkened paths and heard the distant laughter of other visitors. It was all rather magical.
The highlight for me was the fountain in front of the main façade, which had been lit up for the occasion, with multi coloured lily lights floating in the water. However, for everyone else, it was the ‘create your own light show’ installation, which was like the coolest DDR (remember them?) game ever. Basically you have to jump up and down on the coloured pads to make notes, which also correspond to different coloured illuminations on the palace façade. It was extremely beautiful and kept the boys entranced for AGES and no wonder! It’s not often you get to light up a palace just by jumping around.
We had a break after this for mulled wine, hot chocolate and Christmas cake from a van placed next to the palace, before heading over to the ice rink for a spot of skating. The lovely Historic Royal Palaces press team had reserved spaces for us all and although I was a bit dubious, having never ice skated before (I have dyspraxia, which means that my balance and coordination are pretty terrible), the boys were raring to don skates and get out on the ice. Despite my unwillingness to potentially humiliate myself in front of total strangers, I couldn’t possibly pass up the opportunity to skate about in front of the palace so I duly handed over my much loved Doc Martens and strapped on a pair of skates.
It could all have gone so wrong but in the end was a whole heap of fun and I’m pleased to say that by the end of my first ever hour on ice skates, I had only fallen over twice and was getting to be pretty nifty, even if I do say so myself. I was even taking corners with a relative degree of elegant panache. The boys loved it too and I think we’ll definitely all be doing some more ice skating before the end of winter.
We thoroughly enjoyed our lovely festive evening at the Hampton Court Palace and I’d reckon that even the Grinch himself couldn’t fail to be charmed by a trip there to see the lights, drink mulled wine and then scoot around on the ice rink.
Thank you so much to the Historic Royal Palaces team for inviting us along to share the fun and for all the amazing events that they have hosted this year. The Historic Royal Palaces is an independent charity that looks after some of the most amazing buildings in the country, including Hampton Court, the Tower of London and Kensington Palace. Annual membership costs from £36 (for one adult, bought online) and makes a superb Christmas present for any history buffs in your life (or yourself!).
Light up the Palace is happening until the 23rd of December and the skating rink is there until the 4th of January. There’s also some special costumed Tudor Christmas events happening too over December, where the palace is taken back to the winter of 1546, as well as carol singing in the wonderful Tudor courtyard and evocative musical concerts.
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