I had a wonderful time exploring Windsor Castle with my family! We were attending my niece’s wedding at Stoke Place in Slough and, because we were within a 15 minute drive of Windsor, we knew we had to visit the castle. Windsor Castle is a royal residence in the county of Berkshire that is over 950 years old. It is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and has served as a royal home for 40 monarchs.
We visited on a Sunday and were pleased that there was no line up for tickets. Upon entering the grounds, however, we saw that there was a long line-up to see Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House. My sister-in-law informed me that the house was not to be missed so we packed our patience and stood in line for at least 35 minutes.
Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House
The Dolls’ House is a miniature house made for Queen Mary that showcases British craftsmanship. Unfortunately, no photos or video are allowed. The house features electricity, hot and cold running water, flushing toilets, operational lifts, miniature books, a functional gramophone with records, a set of miniature linens and a full set of miniature China, miniature copper pots, a wine cellar with tiny bottles of real Champagne and wine. It is definitely worth seeing and I don’t regret the wait.
Once we were finished seeing The Dolls’ House, we walked into another room that led us to the State Rooms. Again, no photos or videos were allowed. These ceremonial rooms are used by the Royal Family for events such as hosting Heads of State; bestowing knighthoods and OBEs; and where private Royal Family dinners take place including Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday party.
State Rooms
One of the most impressive rooms is St. George’s Hall, which is used for state banquets. The Waterloo Chamber contains portraits of European leaders and heroes who defeated Napoleon. There is also a Grand Reception Room, and the King’s and Queen’s drawing rooms, and state bedchambers. Interestingly, several people had access to the King’s state bedchamber, including the Groom of the Stole, who was in charge of the king’s wardrobe; the gentlemen of the bedchamber who guarded access and assisted with the King’s dressing; and grooms of the bedchamber who assisted with meals and dressing. Ministers of State and visiting dignitaries also often attended the King’s state bedchambers to conduct sensitive government business.
After our tour of the State Rooms, we walked around the charming Town of Windsor, which features upscale shops and restaurants and had lunch at Wagamama, a popular UK restaurant serving pan-Asian cuisine.
Windsor is only about 45 minutes west of London and it’s definitely worth a visit! After being in London, it’s refreshing to visit Windsor since there is not as much traffic and you have the majestic castle as a backdrop.
Admission to Windsor Castle is Adult 36 British pounds; Young Person (18-24) 24 British pounds; Child (5-17) 18 British pounds; Child (under 5) Free. There is a small discount if you book your tickets for Windsor Castle in advance online. You may be interested in reading, “Summer Road Trips Less Than 90 Minutes from Toronto“
