The South East of England

Hampton Court Palace was built by Cardinal Wolsey in the early 1500's. It was the largest building in the country at the time, and was offered to Henry VIII in order to try and get the cardinal back in favour. Influences of the renaissance can be seen throughout, yet it is still in general a large rambling medieval palace, built around a series of courtyards. The gardens go down to the River Thames.

The Tower of London is one of the unforgettable sites in London. The tower sums up everything about medieval architecture in one place. The white tower at the heart of the fortress was built by William I and II in order to control London, with the walls being added later. Nowadays it is home to the crown jewels exhibition, recently refurbished, amongst many other exhibits of medieval weaponry and armour The Tower of London is on the tidal Thames but easily accessible by public transport from the Grand Union canal.

The Royal Botanical gardens at Kew, date from the Victorian times, and contains more than 100,000 species of plant. There are several large glasshouses, typical of Victorian architecture. The Evolution glasshouse contains an exhibition about the history of plant life. Kew is worth a visit by anyone interested in horticultural history, plants, or simply gardening. Key is on the side of the River Thames.

Oxford City and University is among the finest in England, and is also one of the most interesting to explore. The many colleges and quadrangles around the city and surrounding areas, as well as the many museums and galleries make for a great day out. Easily accessible from both the North Oxford Canal and River Thames.

Return to the main page