Blogs from Richmond, Greater London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Originally built in 1514, Hampton Court is one of the last remaining buildings used by english king Henry VIII. I visited the court back in August last year, and absaloutly loved it. The difference i felt with this palace in comparison to other Palaces/Courts in London or surronding area was that it was much more visitor friendly. In most places I visited on my trip things such as photography was banned inside buildings and the places were very strict and structered, however Hampton Court seemed to take a different suit. They encouraged you to take photos, to get up close and personal with paintings and the rooms and the also put on various plays during the day to help take you back into the vibrant court of Henry VIII. All this promoted such a fun atmosphere. ... read more

One thing I have never done in England is walk the Thames Path, which runs from its source in the Cotwolds, through Oxfordshire, into London and past Greenwich to the Thames Barrier. There are lots of signs to keep you on the path as it sometimes winds away from the river. There are also lots of cozy pubs along the way. I didn't have time to walk the whole thing (it's 180 miles) so yesterday I focused on the area around Southwark, which took me past the London Eye, the Tate Modern and the Houses of Parliament. Today I decided to escape the throngs of tourists in the city center and walk the area between Kew and Richmond. This is quite a lovely area of the Thames, despite still being in the city. Kew is famous ... read more

Be vewy, vewy, quiet...we're hunting deer... On the day of our not so frequent but meant to be monthly date, we decided to head to Richmond Park to not only get some fresh air but to also try out Paul's shiny new camera tripod. The photos that follow are the product of our efforts...... read more

Ham House and garden is an unusual complete survival of the 17th century that impressed in its day and continues to do so today. The house was built in 1610, and resided in by the aristocratic family, such as William Murray, Lord and Lady Lauderdale, 5th-9th Earl of Dysart between the 17th century and the 1940s. The wealthy Lauderdale family employed the famous architects such as William Bruce or William Samuel, and they designed sumptuous interior and furniture with intricate decorations and carvings in the Reception, Drawing Room, Staircase, Dining Room, and Gallery, in line with Lord Lauderdale’s status, i.e. a member of minister for the Charles 2nd. These architects also designed rare and precious tapestries and furniture for the house, and they are displayed in the showrooms today. Those 17th century artwork and furniture convey ... read more