Walk in the steps of Henry VIII, entering iconic landmarks where ambition, betrayal, and transformation helped write some of history's most well-known stories.
Henry VIII is one of England’s most iconic monarchs, and it’s easy to see why. From his six marriages to his dramatic break with Rome and his role as father to Elizabeth I, his life was filled with power, scandal, and transformation. His story has fascinated audiences for centuries, inspiring countless retellings – from Philippa Gregory’s novel The Other Boleyn Girl to Showtime’s The Tudors and the BBC’s Wolf Hall. Simply put, we can’t get enough of Henry VIII.
One of the best ways to understand his reign is to walk the very places that shaped it. Three sites in particular – Greenwich, Hampton Court Palace, and the Tower of London – together chart Henry’s journey from spirited prince, to commanding king, to ruthless ruler.
Greenwich
Henry VIII’s story begins at Greenwich Palace, also known as the Palace of Placentia, where he was born in 1491 to Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. As a young prince, Henry spent much of his childhood here, and even after becoming king he continued to favor Greenwich, drawn especially by its proximity to the Thames and his love of ships and the navy.
Over the years, he expanded the palace into a true royal residence, adding stables, armouries, a grand banquet hall, and even a courtyard for jousting. The surrounding park became his hunting ground, home to deer that allegedly still roam there today.
Greenwich was also the setting of key milestones in Henry’s personal life. He married Catherine of Aragon and later Anne of Cleves at the palace, and both of his daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, were born there. Elizabeth I would go on to spend much of her own reign in Greenwich, ensuring the site remained central to the Tudor story.
Although the original palace fell into disrepair during the Wars of the Roses and was eventually demolished, traces of it remain. Visitors today can see its foundations beneath the Old Royal Naval College and even under the floor of the Painted Hall. On our Greenwich History Tour, you’ll uncover the site’s past as both a royal residence and a hub of England’s naval power.
Hampton Court Palace
If Greenwich represents Henry’s youthful energy and love of pageantry, Hampton Court Palace embodies the height of his royal power. Originally built by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the palace was famously gifted to Henry by the Cardinal in an attempt to regain his position in the eyes of the King. Unfortunately for Wolsey, he continued to fall from favor and died the next year.
Henry quickly made Hampton Court one of his primary residences, expanding it into a sprawling complex that reflected both his wealth and his ambition. It was here that Henry hosted dazzling banquets, elaborate masques, and raucous tournaments. The kitchens, some of the largest in Tudor England, fed hundreds of courtiers daily – a physical display of his ability to provide and impress.
Hampton Court also witnessed Henry’s complicated personal life. Jane Seymour gave birth here to his only male heir, Edward VI, and Catherine Howard was arrested within its walls before her tragic end. The palace also became a stage for religious change, as Henry’s break with Rome and the beginnings of the Church of England played out across its chapels and chambers.
Today, Hampton Court stands as one of the most complete Tudor palaces in England, with Henry’s Great Hall, Tudor kitchens, and gardens still drawing visitors. On our Hampton Court Palace Tour, you can step directly into the spaces where Henry ruled, feasted, and redefined monarchy itself.
Tower of London
Traveling along the Thames, we reach the Tower of London and the darker side of Henry’s reign. Though the fortress had been a royal palace for centuries, by Henry’s time it was already more infamous as a prison – and under his rule, its reputation only deepened.
Two of Henry’s queens, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, met their fates here, being executed within the Tower’s walls after falling from the king’s favor. Other notable figures, from Thomas More to Thomas Cromwell, also passed through its gates on their way to imprisonment or execution. For Henry, the Tower was both a symbol and a tool: a reminder that absolute power demanded absolute obedience.
Walking its grounds today, it’s easy to imagine the fear and uncertainty that must have hung over those who awaited judgment in its cells. But the Tower also reflects the complexity of Henry’s reign; a combination of royal pageantry, political intrigue, and human tragedy intertwined. You can learn more about the Tower’s long history as a stage for monarchs’ ruthless struggle for power on our Tower of London Tour.
Henry VIII’s story is forever etched across London. From his birthplace in Greenwich to the opulence of Hampton Court Palace to the prisons of the Tower of London, each site reveals a distinct side of the king: the spirited prince, the commanding monarch, the ruthless ruler. Together they create a vivid portrait of one of England’s most captivating and transformative figures.
When you want to travel back in time and walk side by side with one of London's most iconic royal figures, Context’s expert-led London tours will help you explore the same paths and uncover the history, drama, and intrigue of Henry VIII’s England.
