Kew Gardens and Sending Regards to Henry VIII

Kew Gardens

The day is cold and sunny. Zoe, John and I head out for a walk around Kew Gardens. The palace that George III and Queen Charlotte had lived in is closed but we are able to go through some of the green houses including the Palm House and the Temperate House.

A small gallery of the flaura and fauna artist, Marianne North is small but delightful.  She was a real pioneer in her time. In the mid 1800s she travelled around the world by herself to many hard to reach places.  She was independently wealthy and donated all her paintings and the gallery to display them to Kew Gardens.

PCR Test

Upon leaving the gardens, John and I go into Kew to get the PCR test for Covid required by the Canadian government for us to be able to fly back to Canada. It costs £90 each (about $170 CAD each)…ouch.

Hampton Court Palace

With that unpleasant procedure done, we catch a bus to Hampton Court Palace.

Until now, I have only been to Hampton Court in the summer. On this cold winter day, I can see why they refer to palaces as cold and drafty.

We follow the audio guides for a tour through the Tudor kitchens. Now onto my favourite, a tour through Henry VIII’s apartments and the hall haunted by Catherine Howard, one of Henry’s executed wives. I love Tudor history.

We also tour through the Baroque apartments of William III who tore down a lot of the Tudor Palace and the Georgian apartments which are all lovely.

We end our tour by walking through the gardens at sunset and are now on the bus heading to Richmond to pick up a few groceries before heading back to Kew.

I’m making a special birthday supper for Zoe tonight.