Next year will see Her Majesty the Queen become the first monarch in British history to celebrate a platinum jubilee. Historic Royal Palaces plans to mark this milestone with a major new display in the moat at the Tower of London.
The moat was previously the setting for a world-famous display of 888,246 ceramic poppies to mark the centenary of the First World War. Next year, it will be transformed into a stunning, colourful natural landscape, filled with vibrant flowers.
For the first time, throughout the summer visitors will be able to go into the moat and enjoy views of the Tower from within. The display will mark Her Majesty’s jubilee by celebrating the transformative power of nature and green spaces – something we’ve all come to appreciate after the pandemic. HRP’s five other palaces will also host jubilee events throughout the year.
Groups and travel trade clients will be able to book a combination ticket with a Tower of London visit. Moat-only visits will be at the full price and bookable online. More details on availability and pricing will be announced in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the village of Hillsborough in County Down will be granted royal status later this year. Home to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, it will be the first village or town in Northern Ireland to receive the title.
Renowned for its fine Georgian architecture, parkland and lakeside walks, the village also has a rich political history, having welcomed, among other key political figures, American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin in 1771.
Historic Royal Palaces believes the announcement will put Hillsborough firmly on the tourist map and inspire visitors from around the world to come and experience all the village, and the castle and gardens that sits at the heart of it, has to offer.
Add Hillsborough Castle and Gardens to your tour itineraries now and let your clients experience the magic of the castle, gardens and the village for themselves!
Christmas plans for HRP include the Festive Fayre at Hampton Court Palace from 3-5 December 2021. Visitors will be able to eat, drink and be merry as they indulge in delicious street food, browse a selection of unique gifts and sing along to those classic Christmas songs. And from 8 December to 3 January 2022, visitors to Hampton Court Palace will be swept up in a whimsical world of planets and stars on an enchanting new light trail, Palace of Stardust.
Also, Hillsborough Castle and Gardens from 3 December to 2 January 2022 will feature sparkling tunnels of light, and a chance to enjoy a spiced winter warmer as the Christmas Light Trail takes over the castle gardens.
Both Palace of Stardust and the Christmas Trail at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens are separately ticketed evening events.
