Windsor Castle has served as a fortified royal residence for 39 reigning monarchs across nine centuries, making it the longest-occupied palace in Europe.
William the Conqueror chose the chalk escarpment above the Thames in 1070 for its strategic command of the river approach to London, and every subsequent sovereign has left architectural evidence of their tenure. The Round Tower, raised by Henry II in the 12th century, still anchors the skyline; the Gothic perpendicular fan vaulting of St George's Chapel, completed under Henry VIII, remains one of England's finest ecclesiastical interiors; and the State Apartments, remodelled by Charles II and George IV, house works by Holbein, Rubens, Rembrandt and Canaletto within Rococo and Baroque schemes of unmatched opulence.
The castle remains a working royal residence. Queen Elizabeth II spent most weekends here during her reign, and the tradition continues under Charles III. When the Royal Standard flies from the Round Tower, the sovereign is in residence. The Changing of the Guard takes place at 11:00 on selected days, weather permitting, and follows the same ceremonial protocol observed at Buckingham Palace. The State Apartments open to visitors only when not required for official functions, which means itineraries can shift at short notice during state visits or investiture ceremonies.
Within the 5-hectare precinct lie distinct architectural episodes. The Lower Ward contains St George's Chapel, burial site of ten monarchs including Henry VIII, Charles I and George VI. The Middle Ward centres on the Round Tower, whose motte rises 50 metres above the town. The Upper Ward comprises the State Apartments and the Semi-State Rooms, the latter added by George IV and opened to the public only in autumn. Queen Mary's Dolls' House, designed by Edwin Lutyens in 1924 at one-twelfth scale, contains working electric lights, running water and a stocked wine cellar with miniature bottles of vintage claret.
A windsor castle tour from london typically departs Paddington or Victoria by coach, covering the 40 kilometres in under an hour outside peak traffic. Direct trains from Waterloo reach Windsor & Eton Riverside in 55 minutes, while services from Paddington via Slough arrive at Windsor & Eton Central in 30 to 40 minutes. Half-day tours allow three hours inside the castle; full-day itineraries combine Windsor with Stonehenge, Bath or Oxford, extending the return to London until early evening.
3 hr
