The scents and sounds of ages past will fill the air at Hampton Court Palace this winter as the great kitchens of King Henry VIII will once again come alive as a Mastercook and his team prepare a series of feasts fit for a king.

Using hand-made, authentic utensils and dressed for their historical roles, a team of practical historians will delight creative cooks and families alike during Hampton Court Palace’s cookery weekends. Visitors can experience the gastronomical timeline of the palace from meat-oriented Tudor dishes to Stuart times, when baking became popular and decorative pies graced the tables of rich and poor. They will also learn about the French influence on the refined, formal tastes of Georgian cookery.

Visitors are also invited to spend a culinary Christmas at the Royal Court, taking place every day from December 27, 2002 to January 2, 2003. Learn what King Henry VIII would have eaten at Christmas and how he spent Christmas Day. Join in foolery, fire-juggling and period games in the courtyard and watch the acrobats and pipers join the court fool to create mischief and mayhem throughout the palace.