Small groups of members are taken up a little-used staircase to the roof of Hampton Court Palace. A brief rain threatened cancellation but cleared. A briefing leads to a shabby stair climb, a door, and arrival among famous brick chimneys and a maze of walkways formed by multiple historic rebuilds. Guides point out views over ornate gardens, the courtyard, distant landmarks like the Heathrow control tower and BT Tower, and anecdotes such as a rope winch used to raise groceries and a dog. The tour emphasizes hidden grime and behind-the-scenes quirks.
After a briefing, a closed sign by a staircase is pulled away, and the climb starts. A long upward route up a shabby staircase whose appearance is a legacy of the 1986 fire in this part of the palace. After all, when so much of the rest of the palace is so spotless and pristine, the whole point of the behind-the-scenes tours is to see the grime.
As an old building that has been extended and rebuilt several times, the roof is a higgledy-piggledy maze of walkways, tight corners, and weird angles, all adding to the fun. There are chances to stand for a while for the best views over the ornate gardens, to peer down into the courtyard, and the two staff guides point out the history and quirks of the roof and the palace.
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