Windsor Castle, A Day Trip from London
March 15th 2008 03:05
Windsor Castle is one of Queen Elizabeth's three official residences - well worth visiting.
It takes about 20 minutes to drive to Windsor once you clear the west of London. That's not the West End where the theatres are, but the western boroughs. Windsor is easy to reach by train or bus (coach).
This picture was found on Wikimedia Commons and is reproduced under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License. The photograph was taken by David Iliff, Wikimedia name diliff. Thanks for the great shot!
Windsor Castle is a Royal Residence
Yes, it's really the Queen's house, and she does sometimes actually live here.
If you've never been to a Royal Residence before, be prepared to be amazed at the wealth and splendour of the Queen's stuff. I'm serious, it really does take your breath away.
Outside, you'll see the famous guards in their tall furry black hats, marching to and fro between pillboxes - lots of great photo opps.
Windsor Castle must be the most iconic castle in England, with its imposing round tower (imaginatively called... the Round Tower) overlooking the kingdom. It's on a hill, making it seem that much bigger. The Castle's history starts with William the Conqueror, who built a series of castles for defence of his new realm after the events of 1066.
Open to the Public
Unlike Buckingham Palace, which has limited opening times, Windsor Castle is open to the public almost every day of the year. Check before you go, in case a special event or Garter Day (in June) has caused a closure. Admission prices may seem a little steep (about 15 pounds per adult, 8.50 for a child, 38 for a family), but this is a rare sort of attraction, filled with history and beauty.
Allow a day for a trip to Windsor. If the Castle is not enough sightseeing for you, or if you want to cut it short (why?) there is some pleasant strolling, shopping and sightseeing in Windsor town. Nearby Windsor Great Park is a vast green space (4,800 acres) with trees, gardens - lots of places to walk and enjoy the scenery on a nice day.
Here's another article I wrote about Windsor Castle in my Accessible Recreation column on Suite101.com. It's mainly about the logistics of getting there, especially for those with non-standard needs.
It takes about 20 minutes to drive to Windsor once you clear the west of London. That's not the West End where the theatres are, but the western boroughs. Windsor is easy to reach by train or bus (coach).
Windsor Castle Upper Ward Quadrangle, David Iliff
This picture was found on Wikimedia Commons and is reproduced under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License. The photograph was taken by David Iliff, Wikimedia name diliff. Thanks for the great shot!
Windsor Castle is a Royal Residence
Yes, it's really the Queen's house, and she does sometimes actually live here.
If you've never been to a Royal Residence before, be prepared to be amazed at the wealth and splendour of the Queen's stuff. I'm serious, it really does take your breath away.
Outside, you'll see the famous guards in their tall furry black hats, marching to and fro between pillboxes - lots of great photo opps.
Windsor Castle must be the most iconic castle in England, with its imposing round tower (imaginatively called... the Round Tower) overlooking the kingdom. It's on a hill, making it seem that much bigger. The Castle's history starts with William the Conqueror, who built a series of castles for defence of his new realm after the events of 1066.
Open to the Public
Unlike Buckingham Palace, which has limited opening times, Windsor Castle is open to the public almost every day of the year. Check before you go, in case a special event or Garter Day (in June) has caused a closure. Admission prices may seem a little steep (about 15 pounds per adult, 8.50 for a child, 38 for a family), but this is a rare sort of attraction, filled with history and beauty.
Allow a day for a trip to Windsor. If the Castle is not enough sightseeing for you, or if you want to cut it short (why?) there is some pleasant strolling, shopping and sightseeing in Windsor town. Nearby Windsor Great Park is a vast green space (4,800 acres) with trees, gardens - lots of places to walk and enjoy the scenery on a nice day.
Here's another article I wrote about Windsor Castle in my Accessible Recreation column on Suite101.com. It's mainly about the logistics of getting there, especially for those with non-standard needs.
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