Tudor life reenacted

This item appears on page 76 of the May 2011 issue.

Hampton Court Palace, several miles southwest of London, was the home of many monarchs, most notably Henry VIII. Costumed actors there reenact the Tudor world of his time daily, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., gossiping in the Base Court, meeting the king in the Great Watching Chamber, etc.

On the first Saturday and Sunday of each month, there is an exhibition of Tudor cooking in the palace kitchens. The Tiltyard café then serves up some of the food, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (main dishes from £6.50 and desserts from £2.50).

The book “The Taste of the Fire,” with recipes of the Tudor period adapted for contemporary times, costs £4.99 at the museum shop or at www.historicroyalpalaces.com. Videos with recipes are at www.tudorcookery.com.

Palace and gardens open 9-5 Mon.-Fri. and 10-5 weekends. £15.95 (near $26) adult, £13.20 senir. Hampton Court Palace (phone, in UK, 0844 482 7777 or, outside the UK, +44 [0] 20 3166 6000).