History
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and has been the residence of British monarchs for almost 1000 years. Built by William the Conquerer in the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings, construction started in 1070 and took 16 years to complete. He selected the location to originally protect London from any advances from the west but also liked its proximity to a royal hunting forest, making it a suitable place for a Royal Residence.
Today it is still an official residence of Her Majesty the Queen (in addition to Buckingham Palace and a few others throughout the UK such as Balmoral Castle (her summer home) and Holyrood Palace in Scotland. It is used regularly for ceremonial and state occasions, including visits from overseas leaders.
Over the centuries many royals have made additions to the castle, while raising their families and maintaining their leadership, using the place as the epicentre of the British empire. It has been home to 39 monarchs, with Queen Elizabeth II spending a great majority of her weekends there.
Getting There
Getting to Windsor Castle is a fairly easy train-ride from London. There are a few options (both of which are similar walking distance to the Castle ( a few minutes on foot from the station). Follow the signs and you can see the castle right in front of you from the station…you can’t miss it! 🙂
Windsor and Eton Central: Trains leave from London Paddington and you need to change at the first stop (Slough) to pick up the connection the rest of the way. Tickets are normally around 11 GBP one way and the journey normally takes 30 min to 1 Hour.
Windsor and Eton Riverside is also another good option. These trains leave from London Waterloo and the journey takes roughly an hour.
Opening Hours
Opening hours differ depending on the time of year. During the Summer months the castle is open for an hour longer than in Winter. It is important to note, however that Windsor Castle is NOT open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so keep that in mind when planning out your itinerary. Below you can find the 2021/2022 opening times. For more information check out the official website HERE.
Cost
Adults: £ 26.50 ($50 AUD)
Youth Concession: £ 17.50 ($33 AUD)
Full details of admission prices for the upcoming year (2022) can be found below.
NOTE: Tickets can be cheaper during times when the State Apartments are closed.
Tips
Audio guide: This is included in your entry ticket. It gives a decent overview of things, but not the most amazing audio guide I have come across…which fits perfectly with my thoughts outlined below.
Photography: Unfortunately this is not allowed inside the castle of the chapel.
My overall thoughts:
To be honest I actually found the experience to be a little overrated and slightly underwhelming. I much preferred touring the Palace of Versailles in Paris (which was bigger, more beautiful and photography was allowed inside).
I actually didn’t think there was that much to see. The surrounding landscape and quaint town of Windsor looked quite charming although I didn’t spend any real amount of time exploring them, as it started to rain..typical Brit winter!
So if you have the extra time on your itinerary and are willing to spend the $50+ AUD then go for it. If not, I would prioritise other landmarks and sites such as Westminster Abbey or a tour INSIDE Buckingham Palace (these tickets can be limited, do you research well in advance) over it.
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