Hampton Court Palace pened its doors to the public with free admission over the weekend.
Visitors braved the heavy downpour to celebrate the historic architecture of Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, during the Open House London weekend.
The organisation’s annual September event showcases the capital’s best buildings, spaces and neighbourhoods.
Hampton Court Palace was one of over 700 buildings that opened its doors to the public, offering free entry to Apartment 39 on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September.
Visitors were invited to join two 45 minutes tours of Apartment 39 and the grassed area opposite the building to explore the impact of Hampton Court Palace on the local area.
Apartment 39 was originally commissioned by King Henry VIII between 1535-1536 as lodgings and a public latrine.
The building includes one of the earliest examples of plumbing in the palace.
It houses an original 19th century bathroom, complete with ornate toilet pan and a basin without a plughole, which was drained by lifting the washbasin up and tipping out into a drainage hole underneath.
Siobhan Smyth, 22, from Sutton said: “It was an amazing day out, especially to see how each room in Apartment 39 had changed through each Monarch’s era.”
Sheena Haurdhan, an Architecture graduate, from Ewell West said: “I really enjoyed learning about the architecture of the building. It was fascinating to see the details firsthand and especially impressive as the whole experience was free!”
