Windsor Castle

Just a short day trip from London, Windsor Castle is a must-see for any royal enthusiast. Even those without their own Princess Diana conspiracy theory or crush on William and/or Harry can appreciate the history at Windsor and enjoy the sweeping views across the picturesque surrounding area.

As one of the oldest continually lived in castles in the world, Windsor rates high on the historical interest charts. The castle is nine hundred years old and each member of the royal family that has lived there has added their own special features to the estate. Admission varies depending on what attractions are open at the castle and there are student concession rates available.



Once you have paid admission you can take a tour for no additional cost where a friendly guide will fill you in on the history of the castle and answer any questions you might have. Then there are several exhibitions for you to explore at your own leisure. Normally, the state apartments are open for viewing… but when we went they were closed. They only close for a few weeks in the year, so we were just unlucky. They are really good... apparently. But there were many other sights, including possibly the most amazing dolls house in the world, Queen Mary’s Doll House. This is definitely not a toy; built in the 1920s it is a fully functioning mini house. The taps even have running water, and the mini vacuum cleaner apparently works!

The Gallery at Windsor is a collection of art and drawings and is definitely worth a look. Some of the work includes sketches by Leonardo DaVinci and Michelangelo, and there is also a lot of historical information about the Crimean war.




The china display is also spectacular, showcasing dining sets commissioned for special events. Some of the china dates back to the 1700’s… but perhaps the most amazing thing is that they actually still use some of it for special events! I’d be too scared to eat off that stuff, it must be priceless!

Windsor Castle can be conveniently accessed via National Rail. Simply catch a train from Waterloo station in London. The journey takes about an hour, and trains leave frequently. Windsor Castle is just a short stroll from Windsor and Eton Riverside station. The planes continually flying over loudly from nearby Heathrow Airport were a bit annoying… if I were Queen, I would have something done about that! But the castle was very interesting and the surrounding town very pretty with many shops. You can also do some sightseeing and look at the famous Eton College, where Princes Harry and William were educated. Apparently they used to frequently pop around to see their granny for a cup of tea on the weekend. Awww…