The National Portrait Gallery was founded in 1856 to house
the portraits of famous men and women from British history and now contains the
largest collection of that type in the world. Of particular interest are the
Holbein portraits of such figures from the Tudor era as Henry VIII, Elizabeth
I, and Lady Jane Grey.
The nearest underground stations are Charing
Cross, Leicester Square,
and Embankment.
Hampton Court
Hampton Court
was the residence of Cardinal Wolsey, who gave it to King Henry VIII at the
King’s request. It was a royal residence for nearly two hundred years. During
the 17th Century, Hampton Court
was expanded and renovated by Christopher Wren for King William III. Hampton
Court is filled with history, having been the
scene of many events from the lives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. A visitor
can see the royal apartments of Henry VIII and William III, as well as the
gardens, the maze, and the royal tennis court (Henry VIII was quite a player
during his youth), among other attractions.
Southwest Trains runs a service between Waterloo Station and
Hampton court with a stop two
minutes walk from the Palace.
Churchill Museum
and Cabinet War Rooms
During the darkest days of World War II, when London
was being regularly bombed by the Germans, Prime Minister Winston Churchill conducted
the war effort from a fortified, underground bunker known as the Cabinet War Rooms.
The Cabinet War Room has been restored to what they looked like during the war
years and represent a fascinating look at history. The Churchill
Museum is located on the premises.
The Cabinet War Rooms are located closest to the Westminster
and St. James Park underground stations. Bus routes 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 77a, 88,
109, 159, 184, and 211 will also get you there.