Windsor Castle

What a beautiful castle. The tour is well planned and if you love the monarchy and the queen/king things you will be blown away by this gorgeous place. Just don’t forget to book tickets in advance, take the audio guide with you and enjoy a little touch to royal family’s life.

A Breathtaking Journey Through History My visit to Windsor Castle was an absolutely unforgettable experience. It is not just a castle; it is a living monument to British history and royalty, and it truly deserves its reputation. The castle itself is magnificently grand and imposing, set against beautifully manicured lawns and pristine gardens. The contrast between the sturdy, historic stone walls and the flawless green landscaping is strikingly beautiful. Inside, the arrangement of the State Apartments is both logical and fascinating. Each room flows into the next, revealing its unique function, from grand halls for ceremonies to more intimate living quarters. They are beautifully preserved and offer a genuine sense of how the palace operated. Furthermore, the furnishings are not merely decorative; they are functional pieces of art. The vast and diverse collections are utterly precious. I was particularly captivated by the extensive array of portraits of royal members. These paintings, varying in size, are so vividly lifelike that they seem to breathe, telling the story of the monarchy across the centuries. The entire visit was an eye-opening and dazzling spectacle. It leaves one in deep awe of the British Royal Family's centuries of influence, global history, and their immense accumulation of cultural and artistic treasures. It was, without a doubt, a trip that was worth taking in every sense.

I went las Saturday to see the change of guards, it is amazing!!! It it important to wait for them (10:50 am approx) if you arrive early, otherwise you won’t have time or the best location to see them. The exhibition is quite amazing, and unbelievable!

First time visiting and was blown away at the history and beauty of the Castle, the church and grounds. The town is charming as well. This is a must see, easy trip via overland train from London. Get the audio tour headsets as it’s included and will make the experience worthwhile.

Over the past 40 years that I have been coming to London, I somehow avoided Windsor Castle for no reason except that there were other things to do but on this trip I am glad to say that I finally visited it and I was not disappointed. I especially was fond of the chapel. I’m not religious whatsoever, but the burial chamber of the Queen was worth seeing. The crest room as seen in one of these photos fascinated me. The tour guides and Museum staff were helpful and knowledgeable.

Its an english castle. Well kept. I Its slightly less for value of money. Would advice to buy tickets in advance as that will save money. If you are visiting multiple castles throughout UK, kindly buy a pass for them as that will be cheaper rather than buying tickets at every castle. No pictures allowed inside.

The Windsor Castle and Town are a must to visit! An authentic place with it's atmosphere and history. While visiting the castle you get the audio guide and it is really easy to walk, listen and admire. We spent here about 4h to visit each and every chamber and exhibition. Great experience!

What a day out . Memorable , impressive and spectacular. The tour of the Castle is a walk through history the sights sounds and architecture are all breathtaking. Highly recommended a must do if in the area .

As with many London attractions, my expectations were much different than reality. I expected A Castle - as in a single building that was a castle. In reality, the castle is a complex of buildings dating to 1070. It's actually more akin to a small city. We were here in October so we missed the crowds mentioned in several reviews. Large portions of the complex are open to the public, including the royal apartments, St George's chapel, etc. The guards and docents were all most helpful and willing to explain what you were seeing. If your time is limited, this is one of London's most impressive sites and should be one of your top priorities.

I had no idea just how old this castle is! Built in 1070! How in the world did they build this massive grounds way back then? I loved all of the historical memorabilia. From guns, shields, armor, horses, artifacts, and the doll houses. Of course down at the bottom of the hill by the church you can get your pic with a beefeater. The church was pretty cool. I got to see Queen Elizabeth's tomb amongst many other dead Kings/Queens and other famous Londoners. There's a cute town surrounding the area. We walked over to a spot called The George for lunch.

Of all the palaces we visited while we were in London, I think Windsor was the most impressive because of its sheer size and the fact that it looks the way you expect a castle to look with its notched battlements. Fortunately, you can take pictures outside, which is impressive in itself. Unfortunately, we're forbidden from taking photos inside, but I can understand why since it's so beautiful inside and so crowded. If everyone stopped to take pictures every few minutes, no one would get anywhere. I like how the inside tour flows in one direction, so you see everything and can't get lost, but even then I still lost my mentally disabled sister. It was so crowded, she refused to let me hold onto her, and we prefer to look at things at different paces. Since the flow is one way, I distinctly remember a man saying "She's going the wrong way" and me saying "I'm looking for someone." I ended up telling one of the docents what happened and I'm so grateful to Lizzy who went out of her way to get me through the ropes and go through the rooms one by one until I found my sister. Another incident that bothered me while I was there was during the changing of the guards. Unlike the one at Buckingham Palace, here the guards aren't stuck behind the gates, especially for the captain's inspection. As such, you can get a better unobstructed view, but of course it's still crowded. Anyway, my sister made here way through the crowd to get to the front and a lady shouted "She stomped on my foot!" and I said "I'm sorry, she's mentally disabled" and the woman was like "Well, she can't be that disabled if she can get all the way down there!" Just awful! And on the way out, one of the guards yelled at us because god forbid we take a photo when we're already outside and leaving. Aren't there any more kind, compassionate, understanding people in this world? That's why I will always remember Lizzy, because she was actually nice to us. So if it weren't for a few bad people and incidents, the place itself is amazing and so was at least one of its staff members. If you're going take a day trip out of London, I would recommend this one.

I like that the tour is self-guided. It's easy.to follow the walk using the complimentary headphones and instructional phone type apparatus. You could stay in each room as long as you cared to and many rooms had benches or chairs where you could take a break. No pix allowed inside, which was sad.

Oldest inhabited castle in the world. I have been to 4-5 castles on my UK trip, but it has been my favorite by a mile... Home to more than 40 British monarchs and in use since the 11th century, Windsor Castle is a spectacular day trip from London. Visitors can wander the elaborate state rooms, observe the famous Changing the Guard, and admire the many artworks and collectibles on display. Should time allow, take a stroll along the Long Walk: a nearly 3-mile-long tree-lined road that is part of the castle's park. The history here is astounding for those of us from the Antipodes or America. The castle was built nearly 1000 years ago in the 11th century after the Norman invasion and is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world. There was a line to enter to see Queen Mary's Doll house- It was built by the leading architect Sir Edwin Lutyens for the little princess Mary in the early 1920s, and is the largest and most intricate in the world. (There is another amazing doll house in the world. Castle also has St George's Chapel- This is where Queen Elizabeth II will be buried, in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George's Chapel. This is also where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married in May 2018. It is the home of the Order of the Garter (established in 1348 as an order of chivalry founded by Edward III and dedicated to the image of St. George, the patron saint of England). You can't take any photos inside Windsor Castle (and they have staff watching you in every room), but I used this chance to ask many questions to the same staff. They are also incredibly knowledgeable, and often they're historians in their own right. I covered the castle as part of a day tour... but you can reach the castle via the South Western Railway and get off at the Windsor & Eton Riverside stop.

For centuries and centuries, the British Empire waged wars, colonized, stole, enslaved, annexed, murdered, and preyed upon many foreign lands, enriching themselves and the British Royalty...and it all accumulates to a climatic touristy visit to modern day Windsor Castle. It's a great epic castle indeed! It's huge! This majestic medieval has been the home to British Royals for 900 years, with the castle dating back to the 11th Century...lots of fabulous, opulent, royal rooms filled with priceless Victorian furniture and gorgeous paintings of great people whom born to the rich families. The outside architecture is incredible as well, made feel like I was back in an episode of Game of Thrones... £31/$42 for an advanced purchase ticket, or £35/$47 if you just show up...quite expensive! I guess the British Empire didn't steal quite enough to pay for the upkeep...

The expectations placed upon members of the British Royal Family seem nearly unachievable to me and the cast members in this regal theatrical ensemble must continuously remain "in character." While on the one hand revered and cherished, the other hand appears at the ready to dispense punishing ridicule each time a ravenous national media publicizes a royal indiscretion. During my lifetime I can recall no individual who has portrayed her "royal persona" with greater fidelity than Queen Elizabeth II, and I credit her for creating an interest within me to visit Windsor Castle. Sadly, she accomplished this when I watched on television as she arrived here to be laid to rest in 2022. If you fancy a visit to this jewel within the royal collection, you'll find that the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world is actually set within a quaint community just 90 minutes outside of London. The construction of St. George's Chapel was completed in 1528 by a "Henry", so you know it's good! As you wander through the choir be sure to look above the stalls for the helmets, crests, and banners of the current Knights and Ladies of the Garter. As we climbed the Grand Staircase while entering the Royal Apartments, I couldn't help but wonder what domestic and foreign dignitaries had done the same. My favorite room was the Waterloo Chamber. Designed to facilitate meetings of a serious nature, I counted 60 seats around a very long table. I couldn't help but imagine a monarch scheduling a meeting, having everyone seated and waiting for about 10 minutes, and then making a grand entrance by entering through the double doors at the head of the table. Talk about your home field advantage! Don't be surprised to find a line to view the dollhouse and that's because the details of each item seem impossibly accurate and it features running water, electricity, a functioning phonograph, a shotgun that can be loaded with shells, and books written by famous authors (some of them handwritten)! And that's...Henry's Take. #windsorcastle

I really loved this tour! It was well worth the money. I'd recommend getting there really early because the lines get long , even on the weekday . After you tour the castle you can walk around the city. They have nice restaurants and shops.

It was a beautiful castle to tour. The apartments are very luxurious. The doll house is neat. The grounds are really pretty. You buy timed rickets in advance and walk right in . You can also use your ticket for one year to return if you print it out .

If you are into history and have interest in where some of the royal family live, Windsor Castle along with Buckingham palace, and the Tower of London (Crown Jewels) are the big three I would visit. Windsor castle is open year round but is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Buckingham is only open from July-September. The changing of the guard is only on certain days at each location so I would plan accordingly to prioritize what you want to see on which day and time. To get a decent look at most of Windsor castle at a comfortable pace I would set aside about 2 hrs. After the self guided tour we ended the day with a nice cold ice cream/soft serve.

It's Windsor Castle. Leave lots of time to explore! Wear comfortable shoes! If you can stay late for Choral Evensong in St. George's Chapel you should attend. It's amazing beyond any words I can write. Food and shopping nearby, but Windsor Castle is the focus.

Yes, yes and yes. And take the time to go on a private tour with a guide and to walk around - all around it. It is a wonderful day trip from London and it is so charming to see the monarchs live among the people in the burbs. Super interesting considering all the history and how long this structure has been here. Love seeing Queen V (albeit baptized by bird). Whether you like monarchy or not (I'm not one of those monarchy junkies...), history alone will transport you. Beware, however of the touristy trappy stuff around. It dilutes the value of being there.

I finally was able to check London of my bucket list! Windsor Castle is stunning! I was sad that we were not allowed to take pictures inside, but I was in an awe with all the beautiful things inside. I was happy to at least be allowed inside though! The long was so long to get inside but it moved fast and since I had been looking forward to it, I didn't mind the wait! I was disappointed that because of the long wait we missed the changing of the guards, but I was able to still get a small glimpse of it before it was over. This is on of the things that you must do while visiting London!

Totally worth a visit but be ready for lines, even if you book your ticket in advance. The visit of the apartments takes under two hours with an audiobook and is very interesting, there is a lot more to discover than I expected. Make sure you don't miss the Dollhouse, a separate entry (meaning another line!). It's worth the wait! You may want to start your visit with St George's Chapel as they tend to close early afternoon (checkout the website). See Yelp's review specific to the chapel. Plan plenty of time since you'll have to go through multiple lines (starting with security) but you can take a break at the café inside the Castle. Prices are reasonable, they offer various sandwiches, drinks and pastries, in a historic setting!

I have since been in touch with the local police on why they couldn't solve this case. Apparently, there is CCTV footage available, but it is controlled by Windsor Castle and they refused to share it. Wow, what a farce of a royal residence, if so. Why wouldn't they share CCTV footage of an assault that happened right beside their walls? Don't they care at all for justice for tourists and commoners? Be aware, if you encounter any incident around this tourist spot, the staff at Windsor Castle will not oblige the most basic requests to help. It's really incredible.

Definitely a castle worth seeing. Not my favorite in London so far but definitely a must see. This is the place where you see "Status" and what it looked like back then. Move over Warren Buffet and Elon Musk. The people that lived here make the Kardashians look like welfare cases. You can see the power and status of the Monarchy all the way from the beginning to today. The rooms and the contents inside are amazing. Imagine every room you walk into a house today that has nothing but exclusive stuff that less than 1% of the population has. As a Christian I really enjoyed King Georges Chapel. Many monarchs and important people are buried here, including the infamous Henry VIII as well as Master John Schorn. PROS: You get to see pretty much everything. The rooms where the kings and queens slept, the exquisite paintings OMG SUCH AMAZING PORTRAITS, treasures that were gifts from other countries, etc. CONS: Too many lines. Line to get tickets, lines to get through security, lines to get into the apartments, line to get into Queen Victoria's dollhouse, omg. Too many dang lines. Also You CANNOT take pictures of anything. Sucks. Not sure why but I they don't allow it. So not much to post here as far as photos go but cool tour. Definitely recommend!

I had to make the decision to take a tour versus taking the train there and doing everything on my own. I am so glad I chose taking a train. It is super easy to get there from London and it is a short walk from the train station. I used my London pass, so I had to wait till 1 PM to go in. I felt like that was a perfect time since all the tour groups were gone by then. Getting in was easy. There was no line. you do get an audio guide. It's kind of bulky since it has the old style head phones. The castle grounds are big. There's plenty to see. Expect to be there around two hours. The chapel is beautiful. No pictures allowed in there. You can see a mini changing of the guard as well. The castle is still inhabited and it is nice seeing the people that live there going on about their day like normal. I love their gift shop. I think I just love gift shops in general. There's a lot of cute little things that you can buy. I would definitely say this is a must see if you're in the area.

It seems a little silly to recommend a historical castle, because yeah obviously you should visit a site of great historical significance. It's only about a half hour train ride from London. And once you arrive at the train station, if you don't know which way to go, just spin in a circle until you see a giant castle on a hill and walk that way. I bought tickets and advance but it didn't seem to save any time in line. I would strongly recommend going any day but Sunday (like I did) because St. George's chapel is a functioning chapel and is only open for service, which was disappointing but understandable to me, a visitor. There was a line to see Queen Mary's Doll House and then the castle and one to skip the Doll House and just go in. I just went in and afterwards since we had time, looked at the Doll House. It is cool to see a detailed estate at a small scale, but at the end of the day, the wait in line really wasn't worth it. The rooms are so nice and grand and luxurious, I loved hearing the multimedia tour describe the lives of Charles II and his wife and about the objects in each room. The castle is much older, but these rooms were preserved in the peak of royal decadence and are beautiful to behold. I just wish they allowed picture taking inside, but alas it was forbidden. There's a lot of history here and it was an exciting and fun place to visit. Be prepared for a lot of walking. This is a giant fortress castle to get around.

Windsor came highly recommended as an attraction on my recent London trip so I had to come. Buy tickets in advance if you are able - there will likely be a large line to get in, but it moves pretty quickly (lots of people + ticket check + security check). Once inside you are offered a complimentary audio guide - recommend taking it even if you don't listen to it all; it offers a lot of nice insights you wouldn't otherwise get. There are 2 areas to explore - the state apartments (think main part of the castle) and St. George's Cathedral. You can easily plan to spend several hours here, especially if you listen to all of the audio guide. No pictures are allowed inside, but you can take pictures outside. The interior of both the castle and cathedral are so amazing - ornate, stately, and awe inspiring!

EVERYTHING! I loved every moment of the tour, we also had the souvenir booklet that went with the tour. Remember to stop at the gift shop and pick up some trinkets! We also went back before our travel home and took part in a church service- it was unreal.

wonderful day out, the castle itself is beautiful to walk around and visit we thoroughly enjoyed the guided tour which h was so very interesting. it was also immensely enjoyable just walking around at our own pace and looking a the grounds, the tea room is a a bit dear and so id I was to visit again would probably take my own packed lunch but then have a pot of tea and cake in the restaurant for the experience. We had a delightful day, thank you.

We loved our time at the castle for a half day. We got a ride through Anderson Tours from London to the castle which was about a 35 minute ride with minimal traffic @ the the time of day we went. We left London around 9am and around to the castle itself @ 10am. We enjoyed our time and did not have a castle associated tour guide, however, did not feel like it was needed since we had the free audio guides that are provided upon entrance. Overall we loved the castle and tours. The castle is still an active royal residence and has staff living on the grounds. Therefore, whatever the royals need or want is a priority. Also, going earlier was better since the tours started getting very busy in the afternoon. Would recommend going to the chapel first before anything else!

Windsor Castle is huge. You enter through security and come into an outside area with a few choices. I went to St. George's Chapel first - where you end up in a slowly moving line and see the chapel interior, the grave of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip and much more. Coming out it is best to see the dollhouse and the apartments (lots of preserved art and rooms). You can explore the grounds as well. There's a lot that isn't available (over 400K square feet on 13 acres). Took between 2 and 3 hours to do it justice. Audio guide is free.

Very much worth it. If you like Armor and Art this is the place to be. Classy too.

I've visited here a few times, most notably on the weekend of the Royal Wedding in May 2018. St. George's Chapel is worth checking out - it's beautiful. On the day after the Royal Wedding, every bouquet and flower in the chapel was sent to hospices with the exception of the flowers on the entrance walls. Those were given away to tourists and to visitors. I took a few with me, and still have them (all dried up). Bring sturdy walking shoes. There are many buildings here - all of them surrounded by a moat - all very grand with the highest ceilings I've ever seen, red carpets, ginormous paintings in gold frames, walls gilded in gold, and fancy swords with gems in them (every bit of gold and jewels stolen from the colonies, of course!) all over the place.

My wife and I decided to come here the day after we landed in London for our our honeymoon and it is well worth it. Windsor is a nice little town a short train ride outside of London and the castle is amazing. You cannot take pictures inside but it is well worth the memories of this massive and picturesque historic castle that is still being used by the royal family. Reminded us of what we saw in The Crown on Netflix. It was a bit crowded for the school holidays but not too crazy. Another plus is that it is totally wheelchair accessible and they gave me a wheelchair to borrow.

An amazing place of history stacked with so much information! Sadly we were there the day HRH Queen Elizabeth passed, it was so nice to see her Coronation robes and jewells. The audio guided tour loads you up on information, without being overwhelming. The castle is closed currently due to her death, but I do look forward to reusing my ticket for another visit hopefully around Christmas time once it's reopened. Windsor castle and Windsor town is a wonderful place to visit!

My first time ever saw this real giant occupied castle. I took a train from London to see this castle. It took about one hour and the last stop on Waterloo train station. Once the train stop, you walk out and right away saw this castle from a distance. It is located in a beautiful town with many restaurants surrounding. You can buy a tour to enter the tour but I skip that option since the farther I go the better view of the castle. It is known for fish and chip and teas. it is a walking distance in this town with a market and shopping. This used to be the Queen weekend home but as she passed away, this consider to be a servant living home.

#ThrowbackThursday Who wouldn't want to visit a castle? Other than the castles at the Disney resorts, we've only been to a few, but none of them are still used by royalties. We've been to Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA, but it's not for kings and queens. Then there's Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome which is a mausoleum. Château de Versailles in France would be the closest, but no nobilities have been there since the 18th century. We purchased the full-day tour from London that would take us to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and the Roman baths in Bath. It would mean one day away from London, but we would be visiting a royal residence and a couple of UNESCO World Heritage Sites so that was a very fair deal. Our first stop was at Windsor Castle which was about an hour west of London. It has been home to the British crown for over 900 years and it's where Queen Elizabeth II spends her weekend. The Royal Standard flag is hoisted on the Round Tower when she's here. The castle sits on top of a hill and there was already a line when we arrived. After getting through airport-type security, we were off to see the State Apartments. It's the same rooms that the Queen and the rest of her family walk on, so it's cool that they share them with the public. The paintings, chandeliers, and all the other ornaments were very impressive. This is the inside of a castle after all. But it was St. George's Chapel, where the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place, that my wife and daughters were very interested in seeing. The chapel was beautiful - the vaulted ceilings and the stained glass windows were gorgeous. It's smaller than Westminster Abbey, so it carries a more intimate setting. No photography was allowed inside the apartments nor the chapel so I was a bit bitter about that. But I had to follow the rules. There's plenty of walking to cover the castle grounds so we had to make sure we make it back to the bus on time. Our visit seemed short, but it was sweet as well. Our day tour was off to a fantastic start...

We were able to order our tickets online one day before our visit. Due to Covid, it wasn't crowded at all. Masks are required when inside buildings and they also encouraged sanitizer use whenever you entered a building. Today was the last day to get to tour the garden. This was the first time in 40 years that the garden had been open. It was a very peaceful place. The highlight was going into the State Apartment rooms. It was super cool going up the same steps that heads of state and honored guests go up. I loved the number of rooms that you get to see. Included in the price of your ticket is an audio guide that is very helpful. It explained several of the paintings you see. The property is massive and there is something neat about knowing that the Queen still spends many of her weekends here. When she is in residence you will know by the flag that is up. I would definitely recommend coming here if you have any interest in history or the royals.

Windsor is the primary residence of the queen and a fun site to visit for tourists and locals a like. You can spend a couple hours here exploring the historic castle interior and visiting the Saint George's Cathedral. Admission includes a great self-directed audio guide which tells you as much or as little as you want to hear about each room or stop. Tickets are pricey, and it's not something I particularly need to see again. But it was cool to visit at least once.

Highly recommend this as it is one of the must-see locations if you are visiting the country or the area. Overall, it was a lovely visit. Before arriving we did not know what to expect as this was the first time visiting this particular location. We had a driver who dropped us off at the corner between the long walk and the entrance. Entrance was very easy and organized and the guards were very professional and helpful. No pictures are allowed inside parts of some buildings but that leaves the visitor plenty of area to take pictures outside the buildings on the grounds. I like the audio tour but think that your estimate of how long they take is a little low. It took more than 120 minutes to see most of what we saw and that was before the planned Kitchen tour that we booked. I think 180 minutes might be more accurate. The church and grounds are beautiful and have a rich history we could have spent much more time there. The fire restoration is amazing. Kudos to the builders for restoring it to its current condition in just 5 short years. After the visit, we walked part of the long walk and then down the cobblestone city streets. That was a bit less well-kept than the castle grounds but nice all the same.

If castles are your thing, Windsor Castle is about as good as they get. Castles aren't exactly my thing but when in Windsor... What you need to know is this: Purchase your tickets on-line in advance. Why? You can bypass the line of people waiting to purchase tickets and who doesn't want to do that? Tickets run about $25USD apiece with discounts for students and those over 60. You can purchase discounted tickets online and nobody seems to verify your qualifications for the discount. Nice. The audio guide here is free and included in the price of admission. It's a perfect audio guide for the place. Each little audio snippet is succinct and terse, designed to keep you moving through the property It serves its purpose well while being enlightening and informative. St. George's Chapel is on the grounds of Windsor Castle and open for you to tour but not if you come on a Sunday, the day of worship. On that day you'll not be able to see inside at all and you know you want to see inside. St. George's Chapel, after all, is where Prince Harry and his bride were wed. Finally, and I think this is smart: Windsor Castle has a strategically located ice cream vendor inside the grounds, creating a reason to sit down and enjoy the surroundings a bit. It's a beautiful place and sitting down on a bench with some ice cream creates the perfect opportunity to stop doing and start experiencing. You'll know whether the Queen is in residence here by the presence of the Royal Standard flying above. If she's not there, you'll see only the Union Flag. She must not have heard I was coming as the Union Flag was flying during my visit. I tried not to take it personally.

Nice walking tour with Interesting displays I recommend going for the simple fact of making it a day in Windsor Great little town Castle is a few blocks from the station with all kinds of shops and pubs that make it a a perfect day trip to the castle

Absolutely stunning tour, worth the trip from London. We took a tour bus from the Victoria station (through extreme traffic) nice tour guide. Once at the Castle, be prepared to wait in line outside the castle, then another line through security. There is no picture taking within the castle buildings. Incredibly preserved rooms, knights armory, and extensive artwork, tapestries, and largest display of China(dinnerware). Amazing chapel, of which 10 kings are buried! The changing of the guard was a cool thing to witness, but i would not recommend spending all your time watching. Once outside the Castle, there are many shops and restaurants to dine. There is a McDonald's!

Right, so you've seen everything in London, perhaps your kids are tired of museums and churches, and you wonder if the trek out to Windsor is worth it. Yes, it is! My wife is a fan of the royals. I couldn't care less, nor could our son. We were almost museum-ed out at this point in the trip (I think we saw every museum in London). But my wife really wanted to see Windsor Castle and I obliged. Of the billions of castles we saw in the UK and Ireland, this one truly stands out! The courtyard, the river, the gardens, the artwork, the weaponry, all spectacular! And unlike some tours we took, Windsor is an actual place that the royal family frequents and hosts events, not some place they visit once a decade. This side trip was very much worth it! Now, here is how to actually get there. It's quite easy. We took the subway to the Paddington station. Without even walking outside (in the rain), we seamlessly transitioned from the Underground to the train station there. We found a kiosk and purchased "return tickets" (that's British for round trip tickets) to the Windsor & Eton station. I believe first class tickets were about US $35 each. We took the train from Paddington to Slough where the train ends, exited, checked the sign for the proper platform to catch the train to Windsor & Eton, and got there quite quickly (maybe 30 minutes total from Paddington to Windsor). It's just that easy. My only hope is that, with countless of reviews on Yelp, someone can actually find my review and make use of these very concise directions.

Windsor was our "day trip" out of the city and I really loved visiting the castle. If you don't know, this is the largest and oldest continually inhabited castle in the world. Her Maj apparently spends many of her weekends here and other Royal types have houses & apartments on the grounds. Getting to the castle is easy - just grab a quick connect at Slough and once you walk out of the train station/mall, BAM! You're in front of the castle! Just walk up the hill and the ticket offices are on the right, near the gates. I was surprised how crowded it was on a random weekday - security seems to take up the most time as you'll go through metal detectors and bag searches. If you want to see the changing of the guard, get there EARLY to clear security and stake out a prime spot on the plaza. Watch out for rude tour groups who will try to push in front of you - that's what elbows are for. The changing ceremony is way longer than I expected, like 30 min or so and includes a few snazzy numbers played by the house band (the Austin Powers theme & Game if Thrones in our visit). After that, you'll probably be hot - so head towards the State Apartments and stop at the ice cream stand just under the arch. It uses milk from the Royal herds to make absolutely tasty ice cream (black currant & clotted cream FTW). When you've finished your treat, be ready to check out the seriously impressive state apartments. No photos - they're super serious about that. We've been to a lot of palaces and to me Windsor felt "livable" in the fanciest way possible. I especially enjoyed some of the picture galleries with impressive Tudor portraits (young QEI & Mary I), Holbein portraits and lots of Peter Paul Ruebens. If you are a history buff, the "knights" hall has plaques all over - the numbers correspond to names listed near the windows, sorted by monarch. After you're done here, you can check out the rest of the grounds but don't skip St George's Chapel. It was a gorgeous Tudor window, beautiful tomb art/memorials and several lovely medieval oratories. If you visit in summer, you can tour the round tower where the queen actually lives but otherwise that's off limits. After your visit, don't miss exploring the cute town and definitely don't miss the Windsor & Eton brewery just a few minutes away. (They're the official brewer to her Maj and incredibly friendly folks)w

Absolutely gorgeous at every turn. We highly recommend getting your tickets on line and for an early morning time slot. They do check the times and allow for a 30 minute window. It was quiet when we arrived, busy when we left and had the space to walk without any crowds in the morning. The history here is truly unbelievable and so fascinating, we enjoyed our few hours spent here. Some building don't allow photography inside, like St.George's Chapel while others do. Seeing the soldiers march was one of our favorites, listening to the band play and changing of the guards is a must see. Be sure to get there early to see this and to get a great place to stand, it began at 11am for us. There are a few snack stands inside, but plenty of fun pubs outside, and delicious food as well. Taxis are plenty and the train is about a Easy 15 minute walk. Definitely worth the one hour trip outside of London and we would visit again just to enjoy the beauty here. Enjoy!

this castle was amazing, it was so cool seeing this in person and learning the history of it. it's incredibly old and such an interesting place

One of the obvious attractions in Windsor, but a nice visit nonetheless. While I'm not exactly a fangirl of monarchies, my partner really wanted to see the castle. Seeing some of the varied art pieces was interesting, but I do have to say that the staff there are all really nice and helpful. Visiting in May 2021 required a mask and no photography is allowed at all inside the buildings.

Yelp 100 Challenge 2018 - #95/100 Security is tight as you go through bag checks, it felt like I was going through TSA checks. Missed the actual changing of the guards but I did get a selfie with them marching through the grounds. Got to see St. George's Chapel where Prince Harry and Meghan were married not too long ago. The castle grounds are kept clean despite the foot traffic of hundreds if not thousands of visitors each day. Restrooms were periodically cleaned as well. We parked at the hourly parking station near St. George's school then walked up and through the many shops and restaurants lining the streets.

In my opinion this has to be the most beautiful, iconic castle on the planet - and it is still a "working" castle (e.g. Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding which we witnessed there earlier this year. It can be accessed easily by car, or train (from London). It is part of the beautiful city of Windsor with their shopping center right next door to the castle, plus several nice antique stores, LOTS of restaurants and pubs including several good ones and countless souvenir stores (hint as you get closer to the castle the prices go up!) The castle itself is gorgeous - make sure you follow the guided tour and have your camera/phone ready (but some areas are not allowed for photography). Also there is a royal souvenir shop for official souvenirs (higher quality and higher prices). Do consider visiting the Royal farm shop (a short few miles drive) where you can buy fresh produce, meats and more from Royal farms and suppliers close by. I have reviewed this separately. More souvenirs of course - and do consider pausing at the tea shop and enjoy a cream tea or other goodies. This is a MUST visit! Review #101 2018

Interesting to see a castle that is still in use and being lived in. It sits in the middle of Windsor with businesses right across the street; not what you'd expect when you think of a castle (I think about open land and rolling countryside). Admission is about $23 for adults. You'll have to clear security, including metal detectors, to get in. The architectural details and craftsmanship are amazing, especially for buildings that old. The opulence and extravagance inside are off the charts. Easy to see why royals centuries ago would've viewed themselves as superior to the masses. It was annoying that they won't allow you to take pictures in many parts of the castle; signs and watchful employees are in all those areas, ready to loudly remind you there's no photography (saw several visitors get reminded). Also, certain parts were closed-off to the public so you couldn't tour them. Other areas were under construction / renovation, which detracts from the experience. But overall an interesting and educational experience that's worth the several hours you can easily spend here.

I mean its Windsor Castle, one of the ultimate fairytale castles in the UK! Somehow after several visits to the UK, I finally got the chance to visit it during the off-peak season. While the day was miserable weather wise, it still was a glorious visit. You can get to the castle several ways, but we opted for the train with a short walk through the city. The castle clearly stands out as it's perched on a hill looking very opposing. We had a little bit of an issue finding the entrance, but once we did of course we were elated. You can either do tours or free walk around the vicinity, but this changes certain times of the year if any of the royal family is staying in the castle. Honestly, I could write a novel about this place, but to really sum it up, soak up everything! You have to check the main castle, the church, the gardens/yard, and the changing of the guard (One of the best parts). You can spend hours here, but we opted for about three hours before we felt confident, we soaked up most of history and or sights. Honesty the Windsor Castle is clearly as epic as many state and rivals many of the other local castles in the country. Three thumbs up for this one!

I've been here twice and the second time was actually the week of Prince Harry and Megan Markle's wedding. It was surprisingly not too crowded, considering the circus that was going to happen in a couple of days. This castle is huge and pretty well maintained. There are a ton of things to see and a lot of walking to do. There are many opportunities for photos and many great views to take in. The audiotour does a good job and getting you into the exploring spirit. There are some snack vendors within the grounds so you won't be out of luck if you need a bite. There are also a few shops to buy souvenirs to take home. Bathroom facilities are available as well. This actually isn't my favorite of the one's I've visited, and it is pretty pricey. However, the surrounding town is also a nice place to explore before or after so it makes for a great getaway.

I'm glad that we visited Windsor Castle and St George's Chapel. However, if you only have limited time in London, I recommend that you visit Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey instead. I'm fully aware they are not the same things, but that's what I recommend after visiting those four places. If you are to visit Windsor Castle, you may want to walk through the town as well. It's cute. Our guide also took us to Eton College, a famous boarding school. It's only about 20 minute walk from the castle. It was fun to see students dressed in their uniforms. They look very formal and cool, something we don't see in the US. ****************************** If you found something useful in my review, please hit "useful" so that I can improve my reviews. If you love food and traveling, follow me, or better yet, let's become friends on Yelp! Thank you and happy Yelping!

"Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world." How amazing is that?! This castle was also founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and is where the current queen spends most of her weekends. Apparently when the flag is up, it means that the queen is home. This is truly one of my favorite places we've visited in England. The surrounding town is adorable and this castle is stunning. You can book tickets to go inside for a tour, but we didn't have time. Instead, we walked up the front lawn and admired the beauty. The flag was up, so it was cool to think about the queen just sitting inside, enjoying her day. If you come during an evening in summer, you might even see a beautiful sunset by the castle, makaing it even more magical.

Visiting here was everything I wanted and so much more! I came with a group and we were lucky enough to be first in line for when they opened. There's a quick security check and then you are inside Windsor Castle! You are allowed to roam the grounds, visit multiple rooms within the castle, see so much history, art and more. Also, on any day but Sunday, you can visit the St. George's Chapel as well. My favorite part was how much the royal family allows you to have access to. It was amazing to roam through room after room being guided by a custom audio set that's offered in multiple different languages. Since I was part of an all-day tour group, my time here was a bit limited, and we had about 90 minutes. I would have preferred 2-3 hours if I was on my own. The outdoor backdrop here is beautiful and there are endless photo opportunities. It's understandable that no photos are allowed inside. Overall, I'm so happy I visited and recommend doing the same if you are in the area.

This was a fun place to tour. We had the London Pass for expediting lines. Yeah, not so much. There wasnt expedited lines for London Pass, so be prepared to wait for hours. I think, overall, it was worth the wait. Would I do it again? Nope. But, I am glad I did it once.