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WINDSOR CASTLE
Stop by the Queen’s Country House for Tea
Windsor
Castle is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world with
Queen Elizabeth Winsdor Regina is principal resident. The original
fortified castle was first built by William the Conquerer in the 11th
Century, but the castle has gone through some serious redecorating and
has grown considerably in floor space since then. The Queen spends
most of her weekends at the castle and her presence can be noted by whether
the royal standard is flying above the round tower.
The
Long Walk approach through Windsor Park provides one of the most spectacular
castle views. Visiting the royal House of Windsor family home provides
an opportunity to see how the other half lives. Explore the castle
grounds or take an
audio tour. The areas of the castle that can be visited will change
depending on whether the queen is home or if special activities are
going on.
The
State Apartments are suitably furnished in lavish royal style with
the selections from the English
Royal Art
Collection on display with
masterpieces by Rubens, Van Dyck, Holbein along witrh magnificent English
and French period furniture, silver and porcelain. The personal Windsor
collection is one of the world’s richest and the castle is a living
museum. The Semi-State rooms the private living rooms added by King George
IV are some of the most richly (perhaps gaudily) decorated interiors
in the castle. They are only open in the fall to the spring, being rather
in use during the summer.
St. Georges’s Chapel is one of the most opulent church buildings in England with the burial plots of ten kings including Henry VIII and the beheaded Charles I, though I wonder if he needs two separate boxes. King Henry VIII’s armor can also be found at Windsor, notable for both the XL size and for the extended steel codpiece intended to guard the family jewels.
And for a royal house in miniature, Queen Mary’s Dolls House is one of the most famous in the world. Children are not allowed to play with it, but 1,500 craftsmen built this miniature lavish house for royal dolls with electric lights, hot and cold running showers and even flushing toilets. I bet even Ken and Barbie suffer from royal envy.
New for 2011 - Conquer The Tower
A new guided tour is being offered at Windsor Castle, starting in August to September. The ‘Conquer the Tower’ tour takes visitors inside the famous Round Tower up 200 steps to the top of the iconic landmark, 215 feet above the Thames River with views across several counties to London. The tour takes about 45 minutes and will be in addition to the castle tour with additional admission. You have to take the castle tour to take the Round Tower tour and should be pre-booked due to expected popularity.
Visiting Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is about an hour from London by car on the M4. By rail from London Waterloo Station and Paddington Station check with Britrail. A bus leaves daily from Victoria Station. Take the Green Line. Prices for Windsor Castle are £14.50 for adults, under 17 is £8. A Family ticket (including 2 adults and 3 kids under 17) can be had for £36.50. Combined Windsor Castle and Conquer the Tower tickets prices are adults £23, concession £20, under 17 £13.25, with Family Ticket £60.00
Or get a Great
British Heritage Pass
if
you plan on visiting other historic sites outside of London. Admission prices
for the castle tour will be reduced if the State Apartments are closed,
which can happen on short notice. And your first admission allows you
to register for unlimited returns throughout the year. The Castle is
open from 9:45am to 5:15pm March to October and 9:45am to 4:15pm November
to February with the last admissions an hour fifteen before closing.
If you want to see the mausoleum of Queen Victory and Prince Albert, you’ll have visit Frogmore House near Windsor, but that’s a separate bus tour with no access for private cars. Check with the Windsor ticket office. © Bargain Travel Europe
Reviews and best deals at Windsor Castle at TripAdvisor
Web Info
Windsor Royal Collection
These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission. Photos Courtesy Royal Collection Photo Credit Mark Fiennes.
See Also:
TOWER OF LONDON
Mind Your Head and the Family Jewels
LONDON'S
SECRET GARDEN
Kensington Rooftop Gardens
LONDON'S MARITIME MUSEUM AND ROYAL OBSERVATORY
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