Windsor Castle is the biggest and oldest inhabited castle in the world. Located in the city of Windsor, in Berkshire and about 22 miles west of London, Windsor Castle has served as the royal residence of the British monarchy for over 1,000 years. It still is, up to this day, where the British Royal Family (and in particular, Her Majesty The Queen) spends most of their private time.
With 13 acres of magnificent grounds, the Gothic St George’s Chapel and a palace that features some of the most luxurious ceremonial and private rooms in the country, Windsor Castle is the perfect representation of a quintessentially British royal household. And guess what? You can explore most of the palace on a self-guided tour in 2.5-3 hours; even if The Queen is there! Just look out for the Royal Standard flag waving above the Round Tower.
1. History and architecture of Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle has undergone a unique transformation since its medieval beginnings in the early 11th century. This is reflected in the variety of architectural styles of the interiors and exterior façade, which offer an incredible walk through the history of England. After all, Windsor Castle has been the main residence of 39 British monarchs, each with their own unique style and taste!
In around 1070, some years after the Norman invasion of England, William the Conqueror founded Windsor Castle on a strategic location above the river Thames and next to a Saxon hunting forest. Initially built as a military fortification against western invaders, the palace had officially transformed into a Royal residence by the late 12th century with King Henry II.
During this time, the originally timber walls were completely rebuilt in stone. New buildings were added to the medieval structure (such as a chapel, new wards and courtyards) and the original Norman keep was transformed into the now famous Round Tower. New changes came in the late 14th century, when King Edward III modernised the palace with Gothic touches and established the state apartments in the Upper Ward for business and private use.
Windsor Castle remained mainly untouched until the late 17th century, when King Charles II left his mark by restoring the Upper Ward and rejuvenated the interiors in a rich Baroque style. In 1820, with King George IV on the throne, the exterior of the castle was completely remodelled in the Romantic style we see today. New towers and battlements were added and the height of the Round Tower was raised. Inside, luxurious furniture and decorations were added to the rooms.
The Fire at Windsor Castle
A moment in time that seems to be engraved in everyone’s memory is the Windsor Castle fire. It started in Queen Victoria’s private chapel in the morning of 20 November 1992, when a curtain next to the altar caught fire due to a faulty spotlight. Consequently and after burning for 15 hours, the chapel, St George’s Hall and the State Apartments were badly damaged. The restoration process took 5 years to complete, with a newly created Lantern Lobby on the site of the chapel. As for St George’s Hall, a modern approach was used to closely reinstate its original appearance from the 14th century.
2. What to see when you visit Windsor Castle
With magnificent facilities inside the walls of the palace, not to mention the spectacular courtyards and outdoor buildings, Windsor Castle comes with many surprises waiting to be explored. Feel free to take pictures of all outdoor spaces; however, bear in mind you’re not allowed to take photos inside the castle or St George’s Chapel. Trust me, a picture wouldn’t do them justice – now it’s your turn to see them all by yourself!
Here are the places you can see when you visit Windsor Castle. Did I mention you can grab a free multimedia guide or take one of the Windsor Castle tours to explore? Read on!
The Windsor Castle State Apartments
The Windsor Castle State Apartments are royal facilities that include rooms for both private and formal use by members of the Royal Family (such as dinners, investitures, award ceremonies and other events). These are often decorated with luxurious furniture, works of art and paintings by some of the best artists in the world (read: Rembrandt or Rubens!), now part of the Royal Collection. It’s here where you can clearly see the mix of architectural styles that match the personal taste of each British monarch.
Take the Ceremonial Route if you want to have a lil’ nose around the impressive Grand Reception Room and Waterloo Chamber. If, on the other had, you want to know what the private rooms of King Charles II and Catherine of Braganza looked like, the Historical Route is the one for you.
The Semi-State Apartments
These are the private rooms built for King George IV in the 18th century, and are now used by The Queen for official entertaining. They include the magnificent Green Drawing Room and the Crimson Drawing Room. Make sure you check them out, as they’re considered to feature some of the most expensive interiors in England. You can even see the monarch’s own furniture from his previous residence in Carlton House!
Castle Precincts
Free 30 min tours of the castle precincts are available throughout the day. Here you’ll be able to explore the outside areas of Windsor Castle and learn more about the architecture and history of the 1,000 years old royal palace. Simply look for the Wardens at the Jubilee Bandstand, near the entrance. Or check out the posters on the multimedia guide building for all the Precincts Tour times.
St George’s Chapel
St George’s Chapel is one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in England. Although most will remember St George’s Chapel as the place where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married in 2018, it’s so much more. Not only is this a magnificent religious building, it’s also the burial place of 10 British monarchs – Henry VIII, his 3rd wife and Charles I, just to name a few.
St George’s Chapel is also the church of the Order of the Garter (the most senior order of knighthood in Britain). The Order of the Garter meet here every June for the annual Garter Service. Look out for the Garter House opposite St George’s – you’ll notice the Order of the Garter insignia above the door.
Clearly, there’s a lot of history lying between the walls of St George’s Chapel. I would encourage you to take your time to walk around and absorb as much as possible.
Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House
Queen’s Mary’s dolls’ house is by far one of the most astounding works of art you’ll see at Windsor Castle. Built between 1921-1924 by Sir Edwin Lutyens and over 1,500 of the finest craftsmen and artists at the time, it’s a miniature replica of an aristocratic house of the time. Queen’s Mary’s dolls’ house is over 3ft tall, making it the biggest dolls’ house in the world.
The overall details and the miniature items within are truly remarkable, many of these being replicas of objects in Windsor Castle. And the rooms? Equally as beautiful. Think furnished bedrooms (of both masters and domestic servants), a saloon, fully stocked kitchen, cellars and even a garden! Did I forget to mention the dolls’ house has running water AND electricity?
Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle
We’ve all heard of the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, but did you know you can also see this ceremony at Windsor Castle? This military tradition has been taking place since 1660 and serves as a way to hand over the duties between the Household Troops. You can see them march through Windsor every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11am. Just make sure you check the weather beforehand as this might affect the ceremony.
The Changing of the Guard lasts for approximately 30 min and finishes inside the Windsor Castle. You’ll need a ticket to be able to see this last bit.
3. Important information for before you visit Windsor Castle
How to get to Windsor Castle
The quickest way to get to Windsor is by train. There are regular trains from London to Windsor all the time. You can choose one of the two options below:
- Direct train from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside. It takes approximately 50 min.
- Train from London Paddington to Windsor & Eton Central Station, changing trains at Slough. It takes around 25 to 50 min, depending on the connections. If you are coming from Oxford or Reading, you can also change at Slough to take the second train.
It’s then a short walk up the hill to the Windsor Castle entrance.
Windsor Castle tickets
The best way to get tickets is to prebook online and skip the line at Windsor Castle. The standard admission Windsor Castle ticket price is £23.50. However, the Royal Collection Trust website offers a variety of discounted tickets for you to choose from (such as over 60s, students and disabled).
Make sure you keep your Windsor Castle tickets until the end and get them stamped. This gives you free admission to the site for a year! You can also get a free readmission by asking to treat your purchase as a donation.
Windsor Castle opening times and guides
Windsor Castle opens daily from 10am-4.15pm in winter/spring and until 5.15pm in summer/autumn. The last entry is 1 hour 15 mins before the castle closes. Entrance to the State Apartments then closes 30 minutes after the last entry time. The castle remains closed some days of the year, and so do the State Apartments. Make sure you check the Royal Collection Trust website in advance to avoid disappointments.
Multimedia guides are available free of charge at Windsor Castle entrance. Don’t forget to visit the castle shops to get a souvenir to remember your visit. There are plenty of postcards, books describing the history and interiors of Windsor Castle, decorative china and even hand towels to make your house more regal.
Royal Collection Trust website: www.rct.uk
What did you think of our Windsor Castle post? I hope this post has inspired you to visit Windsor Castle and walk inside these walls full of history! If you liked our Windsor Castle post, please leave us a comment, pin some photos and show us some love on social media using the buttons below
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I love Windsor Castle. So glad you did too. I’ve never managed to see the dolls house yet so will just have to go back sometime. Stunning photos again and lots of helpful information x
Thank you Jane! The Dolls’ House is stunning, definitely worth going back to see it! x
I love visiting castles, how it feels like a walk through history itself. I’m definitely adding Windsor castle to my bucket list, though it may be a while before I could visit it. Lovely post ♡
—Athena Christy
https://athenachristy.wordpress.com/
Hi Athena Christy! This is so lovely, thank you so much 🙂 I love castles too, they really are an open door to the past. Give Windsor Castle a go when you get the opportunity, it’s a great place to visit x
To my shame, I’ve never visited Windsor Castle. Your photos really sell this place – I really need to go! Thank you for a fantastic guide! xxx
Thank you so much, Ashley! I would recommend adding Windsor as a weekend escape destination and ticking the castle off your list, you won’t be disappointed! x
I am such a huge Royal fan but embarrassingly I have never been to Windsor!
I remember thinking how beautiful it was when Harry and Meghan got married there. I think I might have just been convinced to get it on the UK Bucket list this year.
A great post, really informative. Thank you
Claire
https://ourfavouritejar.com
Hi Claire, thank you so much for the comment! Glad you found this post informative, and really happy it’s made you want to come over! x
I’m not far off from Windsor Castle, and I should really check it out. I wasn’t sure it would be worth it – but it seems like it is!
It definitely is! The multimedia guide is exceptionally good and you can really learn a lot about the castle and how the different monarchs have impacted it visually throughout the years. Give it a go when you have a chance x
Wow what a series of amazing photos.
This is so nice, thanks Jack!
Wow, just wow. Absolutely breathtaking. I have always wanted to go to Windsor Palace. I will definitely be putting this at the top of my bucket list.
Hi Dawn, thank you so much for leaving a comment! I’m glad you’ve found this post inspiring! x
Oh, how many stories this ancient castle holds within its walls! I luuurve castles and their stories and legends, I’m a huge sucker for a fairy tale. I dunno how I’ve managed to miss Windsor having lived all over England, but definitely need to fix this ASAP. Beautiful photos!
Teresa Maria | Outlandish Blog
Hi Teresa! Thank you for leaving a comment, I am so happy to read that my post has inspired you to visit Windsor Castle! I am sure you will like it as much as we did x
I have not been for years and would like to go again, to see all of it 🙂 Also great photo’s 🙂
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
Thank you Nic! I feel like Windsor Castle is one of these places that you keep going back to and it’s better each time x
Beautiful post with great pictures! I’ve only ever driven past Windsor Castle but would love to go and explore more!
Thank you Sarah! I couldn’t recommend visiting Windsor Castle more, it was such a nice way to spend the weekend! x
I’ve never visited Windsor Castle, but I’d love to as it’s such a beautiful place and has so much to offer! xo
Makeup Muddle
It’s definitely worth exploring! x
Great blog post – this was a really interesting read! I’ve always wanted to visit Windsor Castle and I hope to later this year, so I will have to come back to this nearer the time 🙂
Hi Claire! Thank you so much for leaving a comment and finding my post helpful! I hope you enjoy Windsor Castle when you visit x
A lovely post. You’ve provided some great detail and photos to match. I’m certainly inspired to visit Windsor Castle the next time I am in London/England. Many thanks,
Mark / Mark’s Travel Journal
https://www.markstraveljournal.me
Thank you for leaving a comment Mark! I’m glad to read that my post has inspired you to visit Windsor Castle – it’s a must!
This is a lovely blog post. I visited Windsor Castle when I was a little girl so it has brought back so many memories and now I really want to go again! You also have really beautiful photos!
Thank you for the lovely comment Jade!
An amazing article and photos. You’ve whet my appetite to take a trip across the pond.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you Rochelle! x
Such a beautiful castle! It is high on my list to visit and love all your pictures! I can’t believe how big it is as well!
Thanks Karina! It’s massive and there’s plenty to see so definitely worth visiting 🙂 x
Windsor Castle is somewhere I’ve only ever seen on telly. It’s always intrigued me. Thanks for such a comprehensive look at it!
Thanks for the comment Graham! We had the pleasure to visit last October and it was honestly such a nice way to spend the weekend. I would totally recommend to pop by if you have the chance!
Wow that’s a well written blog! I loved the pictures, some of them look like straight out of a movie 🙂
Thank you, this is so nice to read! x
Wow, Windsor Castle is so much bigger than I expected!! I used to live near Berkshire but I never went, I wish I had now!! xx
It’s massive! Hopefully you can squeeze in a visit when it reopens! x
I visited Windsor Castle on 2017. It was awesome. Thank you for sharing more information about Windsor Castle.
Thanks for stopping by, Fadima! Glad you had a great time in Windsor Castle too!
The castle looks amazing 😇
Thank you for sharing 😇
Thanks for leaving a comment!
I’d love to go to Windsor Castle! Sounds like the perfect excursion from London! Love the detailed descriptions and all the pics!
Thanks Hannah! Hopefully this post has inspired you to add Windsor Castle to your places to visit! x
Thank you for sharing this with us! What a fantastic post. So informative and makes me really want to go!
Stay wonderful!
Louna
What a lovely comment, thanks Louna! I’m so glad this post has inspired you to go, I hope you have a wonderful time if you can squeeze a little visit in! x