Forgot to teach DD about history. Ideas for a summer of Tudors please.

[MrsJoyless]

I am aware that this parenting fail may shock you, but now DD has a long summer holiday from her science degree so I think I have just enough time to cram "The Tudors". Does anyone have any suggestions for suitable DVDs, lightweight historical novels or days out, please?

Thank you, for the suggestions. We both read PG's "Red Queen" as suggested above and are now on our third. They are exactly what I wanted, even if rather fanciful. We made sure to see the play at Hampton Court. We have also seen "Much Ado About Nothing" at the Globe, which was marvellous, and Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford upon Avon. We have seen the Tudor portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, Sudeley Castle for Katherine Parr, and made a visit to the Vyne near Basingstoke, which has a Tudor chapel. Also a side trip to Tewkesbury battlefield prompted by "The Red Queen". We have watched some of the suggested films, and are saving others for a rainy day. DD has meanwhile learned names and dates of all the English monarchs from 1066 and now the dates of Henry's wives

I am envious of your DD's summer!

Hever Castle, Hampton Court and Arundel Castle as day trips.
A trip to Canterbury Cathedral maybe a visit to both Anglican and Catholic churches playing ‘spot the differences’ to tie in with reasons for break with Rome.
Tower of London, obviously with a boat trip on Thames to see traitors gate.
Then some suitable books and some of the activity packs available at the gift shops at places like the Tower and Museum of London.
Maybe some Tudor Cooking sessions and making Tudor outfits.

And obviously read: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/history_club/1572449-Henry-VIII-eh-What-a-bastard

Divorced,beheaded,died,divorced,beheaded,survived .That's Henry's wives sorted ! David Starkey the author has wrote a fairly comprehensive book which I found very informative and easy to understand.

I hope DD enjoyed her summer as much as I did. We also managed Hever Castle, the Mary Rose, which I last saw when it was first on display, and the Tower of London, by boat as suggested by a PP. Next summer won’t be quite as long for DD and I haven’t thought of a theme, but I shall start saving up my Tesco coupons in anticipation. I have never taken her to Brighton Pavilion...

Jean plaidy books

I honestly think I got a fabulous grounding in the basic history of Europe from Jean Plaidy as a young teen/tween. I read them all from William the Conqueror through the plantagenets, wars of the roses, Spain (isabella and Ferdinand), the tudors, the georgians etc. I learned it in school too but I think being able to instantly and accurately place William Rufus or fair rosamund or Sophia Dorothea of Celle, I give full credit to Jean Plaidy.