Discover London’s Lost Palace

Last updated: 25 June 2023

The Lost Palace was a unique interactive tour commissioned by Historic Royal Palaces which ran over the summer of 2017 (initially 2016 as a pilot) and is no longer available. However, if you’d like to continue to learn about the Palace of Whitehall and what would have been one of the most glorious and important royal palaces in all of Europe then continue reading this article. 

If you’re looking for other things to do in London then we suggest checking out our Things to Do in London for Couples post, our Iconic London Landmarks post, and our London page.

When you think of London you probably imagine many iconic buildings such as Elizabeth Tower & Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, London Eye, and Westminster Abbey. However, what if I told you that located in the heart of downtown London once stood the largest and grandest palace in all of Europe?

A palace with a complex history – once owned by King Henry VIII, completed by his daughter Queen Elizabeth I, and was even the bloody scene of the execution of King Charles I!

Intrigued? I thought so…

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Welcome to The Lost Palace, a unique experiential guided tour from Historic Royal Palaces, where you can explore the the remains of what was once the most impressive palace in Europe. Using a combination of audio theatre, interactive technology, live performance, and various street installations, you’ll be able to experience what the grand Palace of Whitehall was like in all its 1500 room glory!

The Lost Palace delivers a historical experience which is completely different to anything being offered today.

The (Brief) History Lesson

Ok, so if you’re a regular reader of Roaming Required then you know that I love my history which is why I was so excited to explore The Lost Palace. However, before I go into what the tour was like, I thought you’d appreciate a little (and just a little, I promise) historical background.

• The Lost Palace refers to the Palace of Whitehall, once the largest and grandest palace in all of Europe.
• King Henry VIII acquired York Place, the former residence of Cardinal Wolsey in 1530, and renamed it the Palace of Whitehall (whilst organising renovations fit for a King).  
• Interesting to note that Cardinal Wolsey was a trusted advisor to King Henry VIII for many years until the whole annulment issue resulted in the Cardinal’s arrest and subsequent stripping of office and property.
• King Henry VIII died during the palace improvements but were completed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
• King Charles I was executed for treason on the site of Whitehall Palace, at the entryway of the grand Banqueting House. Visitors will see a sculpture and plaque commemorating the royal execution.
• There were two fires which took place in the palace. The first occurred in 1691 which destroyed the oldest and mostly densely populated part of the palace. The second fire  just 7 years later, destroyed the majority of the palace.
• It was on the direct orders of William III that great efforts were undertaken to save the Banqueting House, which is why it still stands proudly today.
• The Banqueting House was designed by Inigo Jones and completed in 1622. It was a design that was unlike anything else in London at that time

The Lost Palace Tour

Getting Started

The first thing you need to know about The Lost Palace tour is that it starts promptly on time, and you’ll discover the reasons why during your tour, so it’s important that once you arrive at the Banqueting House that you head inside and get your tickets sorted. The tour runs on a schedule which means there isn’t an option to stop, rewind, replay the audio guide so make sure you pay attention.

Your Key to the Past

Once you collect your tickets and headphones from the main reception desk, you’ll be also be provided the most important tool for your tour – a wooden pyramid-shaped scanner. This is more than just a fashion accessory, you can consider it your key to unlocking the past.

During your tour, you’ll be able to use the wooden scanner to unlock hidden messages, listen in on secret conversations, and at one special point during the tour – feel the beating heart of King Charles I as he approaches his final fate.

The Tour Hotspots

The Past Comes Alive

You’ll start your tour in the undercroft of the Banqueting House where the lights dim and the 395 years of history comes alive. Using your senses where you’ll need to look with your ears as the headphones utilise surround sound to bring the past to life.

The tour takes you outside, past the gated courtyard, and into the streets where you’ll get the opportunity to bring hidden parts of Whitehall Palace to life and listen it its secrets. On the tour you will venture along Horse Guards, down to Victoria Embankment, through the Gardens, past Downing Street and back along Whitehall.

The Banqueting House Courtyard

The nondescript dark wooden boards on the courtyard gates would otherwise be easily forgotten if it wasn’t for a group of people standing with their scanners placed on them to activate the stories and spring to life with voices from a bygone era.

The Great Hall

Surely I can’t be the only one who wishes that he had the opportunity to audition for William Shakespeare, right? Oh good, I knew I wasn’t alone. Now you’ll have the chance!

During your exploration of the area where Whitehall Palace once stood, you’ll come across a large black arch. Living in London prepares you for a lot of strange things left in the middle of the streets but this one wooden frame was a little different, it was a doorway to the past.

Lifting the wooden scanner to the archway and letting it run across its uneven surface resulted in voices springing to life in our ears; the voices of William Shakespeare and the most notable Shakespearean actor of his time, Richard Burbage. Through our headphones, we’re each encouraged to audition for The Bard as we each portray our best King Lear. Loudly and proudly on the streets of Whitehall, despite some strange looks from bystanders, ten aspiring thespians each assert;

“Blow winds and crack your cheeks. Rage and blow”

Remember, it’s all about the confidence so practice your lines and enunciate! Pass the audition and you can quickly move on.  

Did You Say Cockfighting?

What’s the sign of a great tour? The moment you turn to the other people in your tour and “I did not know that!”. Well, that’s exactly what I did when I learned that beneath the Downing Street kitchen was where King Henry VIII had his prized cockfighting pit!

“it’s a noble sport but a bloody one” – commentary from audio guide

The audio guide certainly brought to life the barbaric (and archaic) sport and whilst it’s not my kind of thing, it was absolutely fascinating learning about it!

The Demise of King Charles I

Today King Charles I is known more for this death than anything he achieved during his lifetime (plus he was pretty unpopular too) because he holds the dubious achievement of being the ONLY British monarch in history to be executed during his reign.

It was King Charles I involvement in the English Civil War which eventually would lead to his capture, trial, conviction, and execution for treason on 30 January 1649.

During the tour, you will be able to stand in the Banqueting House courtyard and look up at the sculpture and plaque of King Charles I and listen to sounds of what the day of execution must have been like.

It may be 368 years since the execution took place but there was something humbling standing in the exact location where King Charles I met his grisly demise…

Ruben’s Ceiling

One of my favourite parts of The Lost Palace tour was how it ended, with a viewing of the stunning Ruben’s Ceiling inside the Banqueting House. As you walk through the entrance to Banqueting House and take the staircase to the first floor, you will be enter a large banqueting room (that’s not a coincidence…) and if you cast your eyes upward, you will be treated to a visual masterpiece. Stunning doesn’t even begin to describe what Sir Peter Paul Rubens created.

There are three main paintings on the ceiling – The Union of Crowns, The Apotheosis of James I, and The Peaceful Reign of James I. King Charles I commissioned the paintings around 1630 to honour his father’s life, wise government, and the divine right of kings. The completed paintings were installed in in the ceiling of Banqueting House in 1636.

If you’re interested in seeing the masterpiece from a different perspective, Banqueting House has mirrors set within tables where visitors can appreciate the magnificent work of art.

We both spent extra time at the end of the tour simply wandering through the large open space, staring up at the Ruben’s ceiling while lying down on the available bean bags (yes, you read that right. Beanbags)  

Final Thoughts

It doesn’t matter if you live in London or if you’re just visiting for a few days, we’d recommend taking some time to discover the history of the Palace of Whitehall. A visit to Banqueting House is well worth your time but it’s only when you understand its connection to Whitehall Palace and its incredible history, that history really comes alive.

Like it? PIN it for later

The Lost Palace tour runs until 5 September 2017 during the day for family tickets (£12 / £6) and adult lates every Tuesday to Friday (£15). Remember that the tickets are time allocated and can be booked online.

Disclaimer

We partnered with Historic Royal Palaces and received complimentary tickets to The Lost Palace tour however we were not financially compensated for our review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are solely our own.