Historic event review: Salacious Gossip Tours – part of the Secrets of the Bedchamber exhibition 2013
Tour date: 10 May 2013
Duration: approx 2 hours – 7.30pm-9.15/9.30pm
Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU
Hampton Court Palace – map
Review by: Alexa Williamson
Rating: ***** (out of 5)
Let’s start by simply saying, this tour is lots of fun, bawdy and historical! While Hampton Court Palace’s exhibition Secrets of the Bedchambers is a delve into what happened behind closed doors at Hampton Court and how various monarchs and court acted within their bedchambers, the Salacious Gossips Tours (Fris and Suns in Apr, May, July – 2013) are an exciting sideline to this exhibition and a wonderful adventure into Hampton Court Palace and English history as a whole.
Led by a guide in Baroque courtly attire (on the night I attended the tour it was a ‘lady’ in a big, faun-coloured satin court dress named Annabelle), myself and over 30 other people went on a special tour of Hampton Court Palace “after hours”. The tour started, for those who drink alcohol, with a glass of champagne between 7.15-7.30pm and then the tour started on a fine, dusky spring evening, promptly at 7.30pm.
After a couple of stories told to us in the courtyards of Hampton Court Palace, we were then whisked in to the apartments where the Secrets of the Bedchamber exhibition is now housed and as we glided through and viewed the exhibition we were told many historical tales of things that happened within the apartments, with various noble and courtly figures (from the period of Charles II to George II and more), and the bawdyness that they got up to from their lovers to how they had various illegitmate children and affairs. (Various lampoons, poems, letters and more were also read to us.)
The tour was a guided tour of the apartments, looking at various paintings and figures in the exhibition. Annabelle was an excellent guide who was extremely knowledgeable, patient and also excellent at keeping the group focussed. There was much to be learned, appreciated and laughed at. Good value for money – and there is something special about visiting Hampton Court Palace after hours (we were treated very nobly to say the least!). Hampton Court Palace and HRP, keep up the good work with exciting and enticing events! A delight from start to finish!
Further information:
Hampton Court Palace (Historic Royal Palaces – official site)
Hampton Court Palace Ghost Tours review (The London Reviewer)
The Glorius Georges – George I exhibition, 2014, at Hampton Court Palace, review (The London Reviewer)
Historic Royal Palaces (official site)
Hampton Court Palace (Wikipedia)
The London Reviewer 