The ultimate Royal palaces tour with Suzannah Lipscomb
Exclusive for MoS readers: Join the TV historian on a unique adventure
FROM coronations to beheadings, the story of the Monarchy in our nation’s capital features some of history’s most captivating figures, as well as its most grisly tales. This fascinating tour follows the grand arc of the Royals in and around London – the lives, loves, marriages and betrayals – from the time of William the Conqueror onwards.
You will take superb, expertly guided trips to the great palaces by the Thames, including Windsor Castle, where you will enjoy a private tour of the State Apartments and a champagne reception. There will also be tours of Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and Banqueting Hall, as well as the state rooms at Buckingham Palace.
Readers will be joined on this exclusive trip by an expert on the Tudors – historian and broadcaster Dr Suzannah Lipscomb.
She will give a private talk, attend a question-and-answer session and accompany readers on a private tour of the Tower of London.
She says: ‘I am a great believer in telling historical tales where they happened.
‘The veil between the past and the present feels very thin when you are following in the very footsteps of Henry VIII at Hampton Court, or standing on the spot where Anne Boleyn met her end.
‘I hope you can join me on this special Royal tour, especially at the Tower of London, where so many extraordinary moments in British history have taken place.’
REASONS TO BOOK Meet Suzannah Lipscomb
A BRILLIANT, thought-provoking speaker who specialises in Tudor history, Dr Lipscomb will give insights into the forces that shaped the most dramatic stories of the Royals. Suzannah will give an exclusive private talk with Q&A on the eve of your visit to the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace.
Great castles and palaces
THE walls may not be able to talk but you will hear some of the astonishing true tales of the Monarchy in the most important Royal houses across the city: Hampton Court Palace, where Henry VIII held sway; Westminster Abbey, which has witnessed the coronation of every Monarch since William the Conqueror; Banqueting Hall, the last remaining part of the Whitehall Palace; and, of course, Buckingham Palace, the official Royal residence in London since Queen Victoria’s accession to the Throne.
Another highlight of your trip will be Windsor Castle, a Royal stronghold since just after the Norman Conquest, where you will journey through 1,000 years of Royal history on a private tour of the State Apartments at a time when the castle is otherwise closed to the public, plus enjoy a champagne reception.
You will also make a special visit to the Tower of London, the mighty fortress, prison and Royal palace alongside the Thames.
Accompanied by Suzannah, you will discover some of the secrets of the Tower, which has been at the heart of Royal history for centuries and is, of course, the permanent home of the Crown Jewels.
Atmospheric hotel
STAY at The Talbot, an atmospheric former coaching inn in the Surrey village of Ripley, which thrived as a staging post between London and Portsmouth in the 16th Century. The hotel has many period features from its 500-year history and was also reputedly used as a hitching post by Lord Nelson. It is said his love affair with Lady Hamilton blossomed here.