IT S 500 years this year since Henry VIII came to the throne and to celebrate, his former palaces are hosting some very special exhibitions. The Tower of London is staging a spectacular exhibition of his armour and weaponry. Henry VIII: Dressed to Kill op

IT'S 500 years this year since Henry VIII came to the throne and to celebrate, his former palaces are hosting some very special exhibitions.

The Tower of London is staging a spectacular exhibition of his armour and weaponry.

Henry VIII: Dressed to Kill opened last week and runs until January 2010. It will take over three floors of the iconic White Tower and brings together at the Tower of London, for the first time since the reign of his daughter Elizabeth I, the largest number of original weapons and military equipment associated with him.

Some of the artefacts have never been on display in the UK before.

The exhibition explores Henry as a sportsman, a king, a warrior and an icon.

The exhibition is a joint venture by Historic Royal Palaces and the Royal Armouries.

Hampton Court stages Henry VIII: Head and Hearts, a year-long programme.

The state apartments have been lavishly renovated, featuring magnificent new furnishings, the Great Hall will be laid out with tables ready for a feast fit for a king, and every day visitors will be invited to join in the historic celebrations for Henry's wedding to his sixth wife, Katherine Parr.

Henry's Women is a temporary exhibition at Hampton Court until August 3. The king's council chamber will be open to the public for the first time to host a unique exhibition of portraits and historic objects associated with his six wives and two daughters.

To celebrate the anniversary and the exhibitions, we are giving away an annual family membership to the Historic Royal Palaces.

Worth �55, it gives entry to all the charity's palace for a year - Tower of London, Hampton Court, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace.

See this week's Recorder Review for details.