Windsor Castle

About Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle has been a working royal residence for almost a thousand years, founded by William the Conqueror in the decades after 1066 and lived in by English and British monarchs ever since. That makes it the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It sits in the town of Windsor, west of central London, high on a chalk ridge above the River Thames, which is exactly why it was built there in the first place. The castle is still a real home for the Royal Family, so parts of it can close at short notice when it's in official use, and the State Apartments in particular aren't always open.

The things most people come to see are the lavish State Apartments, lined with paintings from the Royal Collection, and St George's Chapel, one of the finest examples of English Gothic architecture and the burial place of several monarchs, including Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth II. Also inside the grounds is Queen Mary's Dolls' House, a miniature mansion built in the 1920s and fitted out in extraordinary detail. If you time it right, you can also catch the Changing of the Guard in the castle precincts, though it doesn't run every day and the schedule shifts with the season.

Most visits take two to three hours, and an audio guide is usually included with admission. Windsor is an easy day trip from London by train, with regular services from Waterloo and from Paddington via Slough, and the station sits a short walk from the castle gates. Entry is paid and tickets are timed, so booking ahead is sensible, especially in summer and around holidays. Security screening applies at the entrance, and bear in mind that St George's Chapel is usually closed to visitors on Sundays because of services. It's worth checking current opening arrangements before you travel, since dates can change around royal engagements.