Submitted by Megan Zant on the 2014 winter session study abroad program in London, England sponsored by the Department of History…
The past week has been an incredible experience of arriving in London and beginning to experience all that this amazing city has to offer. After arriving in London on Sunday, the 6th, we hit the ground running. We have been fortunate enough to visit Westminster Abbey, Parliament, the Tower of London, and most recently, Hampton Court Palace. Hampton Court was just a train ride out of the Waterloo station, which can be reached by the tube. After our half-hour ride, we were greeted with the beautiful sight of the grounds of Hampton Court. This was a stunning and impressive palace, constructed by Cardinal Wolsey and later occupied by Henry VIII, and William III and Mary II. We were able to walk through the rooms and grounds of this historic palace to learn about its former occupants and what life was like back during the Tudor period. We explored the vast kitchen, wine cellar, and bedrooms that comprise the palace. The most magnificent aspect of Hampton Court, in my opinion, was the Privy Garden. The grounds are surrounded with multiple gardens, including a hedge maze and a fountain garden, which are all maintained today. The Privy Garden contains both a fountain and multiple statues, which is visible from many rooms of the palace. We were only able to visit the gardens for a short time due to the rain, but it made a lasting impression. This is a beautiful place to spend a day and I would love to return in the summer when the gardens are at their full glory!
