Palace reopens right on Kew

For ten years the grand doors of London's Kew Palace have been closed to the public while the interior is restored, but now spring is here it is time to turn the key on Kew.

Come April 27th 2006, visitors to London will again be able to walk around the former home of King George III, with some never-before-seen areas now accessible.

Historic Royal Palaces has been hard at work to restore the palace to the state it would have been in 1804 when the king lived there, so the public will be able to get a real taste of 19th century regal England.

On the second floor, the palace will be open to the public for the first time, giving them the first glimpse of the bedrooms of Princesses Augusta and Amelia.

While some of the palace has been shut for restoration, these bedrooms have been untouched for virtually 200 years.

The immaculate Kew Gardens have been there to enjoy for more than 50 years, and will be blooming by the time the palace reopens. The cottage that adjoins the palace can also still be enjoyed, where the public can take tours around what the royal family used to use as a summer house.

It is not just Kew Palace that has had a lick of paint and some TLC applied to it, as another historic regal residence that has been restored to its former glory is at the Tower of London.

On April 6th 2006, the Medieval palace at the Tower will be fully restored, allowing visitors to get a feel for what it might have been like when the likes of Henry III and Edward I slept, dined and held court there.

For more information on Kew Palace and the Tower of London visit www.hrp.org.uk. XXX