Now that I owned up to my love of King Arthur lore, I have to add that when I went to England years ago, I did not expect to be as enchanted as I was.
London was my first foreign visit. My best friend in the world, Christine, had gone in high school with her school. I never went on those trips. My family couldn’t afford it. So I listened to my friend and wished one day to go. So when I had a full time job, post college, where I made some money and could afford a few things, I made travel important.
I packed my bags and my first place to fly off to wasn’t the other end of my own country, but England. I wanted to live the history I read about so much.
History was always one of my favorite subjects. It’s why I teach it now, though it’s American in my class.
In London, I saw where so many stories were born. In the pic above, is Hampton Court. This was the home of Henry VIII. One of his wives is rumored to still haunt the place. In the Tower of London, another of his wives haunts there. When I mentioned I was from Boston, the Beefeaters locked me in the Tower for a moment claiming I owed money on some tea in the harbor.
It was so much fun. I wish I could write history straight, but my voice is too modern. I don’t want to write how limiting being a woman is and because I’m a girl, I want to relate to the female characters. How do I relate in real life to a girl who was probably married off at age 14 and then died at 30 while in her short life, she wasn’t allowed to speak?
This is part of the reason I reset my world when I retold a King Arthur story and I set it in the future, thinking that history is sometimes circular. So if you can, please click and vote for my novel? If I win, you get your copy for free.
https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/3TPHGCQWRZ7HH
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Beefeaters at the Tower of London react to an American visitor from Boston?
When a visitor mentioned being from Boston, the Beefeaters at the Tower of London playfully locked her in the Tower, jokingly claiming she owed money for tea thrown in Boston Harbor — a humorous nod to the Boston Tea Party. It was a lighthearted, memorable interaction that highlighted the Tower’s entertaining guided experience.
What is Hampton Court Palace known for historically?
Hampton Court Palace was the home of King Henry VIII and is steeped in royal history. It is famously rumored to be haunted by one of Henry VIII’s wives. The Tower of London is similarly said to be haunted by another of his wives, making both sites popular destinations for history and ghost enthusiasts.
Is it better to visit Hampton Court or the Tower of London if you’re interested in Henry VIII history?
Both Hampton Court and the Tower of London offer rich Henry VIII history and are worth visiting. Hampton Court was his primary residence, while the Tower of London served as a place of imprisonment and execution for some of his wives. Each site offers distinct experiences, and both are rumored to be haunted by Henry’s former queens.
