The "beating heart" of Henry VIIIs Thames-side pleasure palace will be brought to life this spring and summer.

Hampton Court Palace's sprawling kitchen complex once produced 1,000 meals a day to satisfy the king, his guests and people working at the palace.

This year, the Historic Royal Palaces charity will give visitors an insight into the preparations for a royal feast.

Guests will meet a cast of historic characters, including Thomas Cromwell, master cook John Dale, kitchen clerk Michael Wentworth and other staff.

In summer, a specially commissioned play will add drama, and during school holidays there will be workshops, games and competitions for families to get involved.

The kitchen team will be busy creating period dishes, with a promise that they "might even be on the lookout for extra kitchen hands".

Tracy Borman, joint chief curator of Historic Royal Palaces, said: “Henry VIII’s kitchens at Hampton Court are a rare survival from one of the most fascinating periods in the palace’s history, and a must-see for our visitors.

"By using new technology, and informed by our research findings, we’re now able to bring them to life like never before, and offer a real chance to experience history right where it happened.

"Promising everything from interactive cookery demonstrations to the sights, sounds and even scents of the Tudor kitchens complex, we hope to engage visitors of all ages with the unique and fascinating stories behind their history.”