If you’re planning a trip to London and looking for some unique activities, Windsor Castle is a must-visit. This beautiful landmark is the largest inhabited castle in the world and has been a royal residence for 1000 years!
You can explore the castle on your own or book an audio tour to learn about its history and see the best of it.
Spectacular Interiors
Windsor Castle has been a home to many of England’s kings and queens for almost 1,000 years, and is now one of the Royal Family’s official residences. Visitors to the Castle can explore the magnificent State Apartments, which have been furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection.
The State Apartments are a feast of artistic treasures, from paintings by Holbein and Rubens to exquisite Sevres porcelain. They’re also home to a wide selection of 19th century antiques.
A visit to the Castle can be a wonderful experience, but it is important to plan your trip carefully to avoid long ticket lines and crowds. Make sure you have a valid admission ticket before heading to the Castle and ensure you’re aware of any restrictions such as photography or filming.
You may also wish to take advantage of a skip the line admission ticket to Windsor Castle, which can be purchased from a number of websites. This will help you avoid the hassle of queues and allow you to enjoy your time at Windsor Castle without wasting any precious holiday hours.
Royal Collection of Artworks
The Royal Collection of Artworks is one of the most impressive collections in the world. It contains works of art by some of the greatest artists from around the globe.
You will find a stunning array of works by artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Sir Thomas Lawrence and Sir Anthony Van Dyke. The castle’s Drawings Gallery is also a must-visit for art lovers and features drawings by Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
In the State Apartments, you will be surrounded by a collection of priceless paintings and sculptures by the Old Masters. You will also find a wonderful selection of gifts to the Queen made by her family and friends, many of which come from far-flung places throughout the world.
St George’s Chapel
Designed in the late 15th century, this elegant chapel is a symbol of English royalty. It’s home to the tombs of some of the country’s most famous monarchs (Henry VIII, Charles I and his wife Jane Seymour are among the latest to be buried in the Chapel) and it also has a royal vault in the Quire.
The carved oak stalls in the choir are a wonderful example of Perpendicular Gothic architecture and they evoke medieval pageantry. To the back of each stall is a brass plate identifying each member of the Knights of the Order of the Garter by name.
As a member of the Order of the Garter, a Knight is awarded an insignia, which includes a sword, crest, mantling, coronet or crown and a banner. When a member dies, the insignia are returned to the monarch and the stall plates are kept in place.
The Long Walk
The Long Walk is a straight avenue of trees that connects Windsor Castle to Snow Hill in Windsor Great Park. This is one of the most popular walks in the UK, with tens of thousands of visitors, walkers, joggers and lovers enjoying it each year.
It’s also used by the royal family when they travel to Ascot for the annual races. The Queen and her party depart Windsor Castle in a fleet of cars and head to Ascot via this route.
As you walk the Long Walk, you’ll be able to see the sweeping vistas of the town and river on one side and the rolling hills of the park on the other. You’ll be able to spot the many lakes and gardens within the park, as well as many of its sculptures and historical features.
The walk is also very picturesque, especially during the spring and summer months when the leaves on the trees are a gorgeous shade of yellow. However, in recent years the Horse Chestnuts which make up the majority of the tree canopy have suffered from a bacterial canker.
