While medieval castles turn into tourist attractions, Windsor Castle is no different other than it still remains the residence of the British Royal family. Though a portion of the Castle opens its doors to visitors, most of it is still occupied by the British monarch.
In fact, Windsor Castle is known to be the largest and oldest working Castle not only in the UK but in the world. This is the reason why it stands out from the rest of the famous castles in Europe. It is often used by the Queen as a place to entertain guests during State Visits and to hold official ceremonies. Most importantly, Windsor Castle is the favorite weekend home of the Queen where she chooses to spend most of her private time.
With 2 royal weddings held at Windsor Castle in 2018, it has drawn more and more visitors. Many tourists are delighted to come and have a look at the wedding venue while others are just fascinated with Castles and British history. But above all, the palace is a must-see to complete your visit to London.
PLANNING YOUR VISIT
Getting to Windsor Castle from London is easy. It is just a few miles away from Central London which you could reach within an hour by public transport. You could fill in your London itinerary with a visit to the castle and allot 2-3 hours to explore the place excluding the travel time and the long queue during peak season.
Take note that even before the Castle opens at 10 am, visitors already starts to fall in line and it builds up very fast. So if you want to avoid the long queue, you need to come early to be first on the line but then you still need to wait until it opens. Better yet, come after lunch to avoid the bulk of visitors but you would miss the changing of the guards if you opt for this.
Before planning your date of visit, always check the Windsor Castle’s official website. Better be sure that it is open before you come to avoid disappointments. There are certain days that the entire Castle is closed for scheduled official events or sometimes the State Apartments only. At times, announcements are given on short notice so check the official website before the day of your visit.
Expect for an airport-style security check before gaining entry to the Castle. The ticket prices vary depending on the availability of the State Apartments where it is much lower when it is closed. Discounts are given to families and groups with a minimum of 15 people. An audio guide, available in several languages, is already included in the admission fee. So certainly your tour will be informative even without a tour guide.
For your convenience, you can join one of the several tours that run from London every day. There are tour packages that combine Windsor Castle with nearby attractions or with other farther destinations in England, like the Stonehenge.
THE STATEROOMS
The Staterooms are the sought-after attraction at Windsor Castle. Visitors are eager to see the grandeur of its interior. Like the Palace in Versailles, Paris, and Rome, the interiors of Windsor Castle are richly decorated and focused on the details. It is what you expect of a royal castle – lavish, grand, and impressive. From the floor to the walls and the ceilings, everything is created and designed to impress.
Take time to explore one room to the other and be amazed by the intricacy and elaborateness of the design. Recognize the royal portraits decorated on the walls and check out the paintings of famous artists.
Be aware that at certain times during special events, the state apartments are closed on short notice. But don’t worry if by chance you missed it on your visit because exploring the castle grounds alone is a satisfying experience.
ST GEORGE’S CHAPEL
In 2018, St. George’s chapel has played again a significant part in royal history as it holds the wedding ceremony of the most talked about couple, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. In the same year, another member of the royal family, Princess Eugenie of York married Jack Brooksbank, in the same chapel. St. George’s chapel has been a witness to several royal weddings even in the past. But it is not only a venue for weddings but also of royal ceremonies and funerals. In fact, this chapel houses many tombs of kings and queens. It has become a mausoleum of the royal family.
The Queen worships at St. George’s chapel but it also serves the local community. It is open to the public for daily service. But other than a place of worship, the chapel is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, which is regarded as one of the prestigious order of the chivalry in Britain. This is the place where the Order holds their special services.
Inclusive of the Castle’s entry ticket is admission to St. George’s chapel. Take time to have a look of the chapel’s interior and you will be surely be blown away by this one of a kind “Perpendicular Gothic” architecture. The inside of the chapel is a feast to the eye with its fan-vaulted ceiling, stained-glass windows, and the Quire’s intricate wood-carvings.
QUEEN MARY’S DOLLS’ HOUSE
The elaborate design of the State Apartments might have brought you in awe but how much more if you will see the tiny version of the palace. The Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House is a miniature palace created as a present to Queen Mary from the people. With the initiative of the Queen’s cousin, Princess Marie Louise, the dolls’ house has made possible. She gathered the best craftsmen of the time to collaborate and come up with a fantastic small-scale palace with meticulous attention to the details. It is over 3 feet tall made in a scale of 1:12 that features miniature replicas of the items in Windsor Castle.
This work of art is an interesting display at Windsor Castle not only because of its small size but also because everything in it is functional. It is supplied with electricity that powers the light bulbs and moves the elevators. The plumbing in the bathrooms is actually working where flushing of the toilets is surprisingly possible. Even the cars in the garage have engines that run.
What is more fascinating about Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House is that it has a collection of books that are actually written by famous writers in small-scale to fit the mini library. Not only that. The mini-bottles in the wine cellar were filled with real liquors and beverages.
THE CHANGING OF THE GUARDS
If you missed seeing the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, you could try to catch it at Windsor Castle where the crowd is much lesser. This famous ceremony where the new batch of guards takes over the guards on duty is a British tradition that eventually became a tourist attraction.
The guards start to march from their barracks at 10:45 am but the actual turn over takes place at 11 am at the lower ward of Windsor Castle. You can watch the parade as the guards’ march from their barracks towards the high street before proceeding into the Castle. However, you need to gain entry to the Castle to witness the actual changing of the guards that lasts for 30 minutes.
Tourists usually come early to witness the tradition and take pleasure seeing the guards march with their red tunic and bearskin hat while the band is playing traditional music.
