5 July 2012

After a rest day, we headed off early in the morning to the Hampton Court Flower Show which is the biggest flower show in the world. It covers many hectares and we walked many kilometres in the four hours we were there.

One of the many spectacular gardens entered in the outdoor garden competition.

It was one of the few fine days with blue skies we have enjoyed in the UK, and no better day for it. We were amused by many of the Poms when the sun comes out. They find some dry grass, lie down on their backs, and go to sleep.

We then moved across to Hampton Court Palace which has not been occupied by the Royal Family since the 18th Century. It was previously occupied by William III and Henry VIII. The history around Henry VIII was fascinating. He was supposedly a very religious man but that didn't stop him from having two of his wives beheaded.

We couldn't resist taking a tour of the extensive palace grounds on a horse drawn carriage, pulled along by these two eighteen and a half hand beauties.

The Palace has fifty full time gardeners on staff and it's easy to see why. This small garden is just a fraction of the sixty hectares surrounding the palace.