The Great Hall with its famous hammerbeam ceiling. We're standing in the minstrels' gallery, off limits to the public, but still used by entertainers during functions.The hammerbeam ceiling contains numerous painted faces. It is said that these were positioned in the eaves to remind courtiers that their conversations might be overheard - the origin of the word 'eavesdropping'.The Georgian wine cellar, an area of the Palace normally off limits to the public.London's most evil window?The Silver Stick Staircase, off limits to the public, is said to be haunted by the shade of Jane Seymour, who died in an adjacent apartment shortly after giving birth to the future Edward VI.And here is the room in which Jane Seymour gave birth to Edward in 1537. The suite is today used as a briefing room, and contains little of interest other than this Tudor fireplace.This off-limits fire exit hit the headlines a few years ago, when CCTV footage captured a mysterious cloaked figure closing the doors (inset). The figure was dubbed 'Skeletor' for his resemblance to the He-Man character. More here.The beautiful painted staircase in William and Mary's Baroque wing of the palace, very different from the nearby Tudor buildings. Cracks and soot from a 1986 fire can still be found in some of the non-public areas of the building.Warder Christian Lax shows us around the rooftops. Up on the rooftops. The Tudor great hall can be seen in the distance.Looking out over the Long Water, excavated during the reign of Charles II.
