Hampton Court Palace: This, the largest royal palace in Great Britain, was founded in 1515 by Cardinal Wolsey, who later presented it to Henry VIII. It stands on the bank of the Thames near London( in the borough of Richmond upon Thames, London, England). It was occupied at various times by the Stuarts, Cromwell, and William III. It no longer serves as a royal residence, but more than 800 of its 1000 rooms are occupied by aristocratic pensioners of the crown. Its galleries contain a fine collection of paintings, including portraits of so-called "Hampton Court beauties," ladies of the court of William and Mary. Click here to enlarge.