Windsor

Windsor Castle

The Castle is the largest continuously inhabited castle in the World and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.  It was founded nearly 1000 years ago and sits on top of a prominent hill to the west of London, near to the River Thames.

It is the home of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, and they are often in residence there. On State occasions the Queen entertains visiting Heads of State to banquets and the castle is then closed to the public - see below.

Left:  Windsor Castle - photo by Chris Parry and reproduced by kind permission

The State Apartments and the public areas of the Castle, together with St. George's Chapel, are normally open to the public. The ceremony of Changing of the Guard is at 11.00 am every day in the spring and summer months, and every other day in the autumn and winter months.

Left: Windsor Castle - photo by SW

The Royal Apartments are the setting for new exhibitions of Royal treasures:  in 2006 the palace hosted an exhibition of photographs from The Queen's remakable 80 years to celebrate her 80th Birthday and in 2007 there will be an exhibition called "Five Golden Rings" to celebrate the Diamond Wedding of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh.

Services take place daily in St. George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle, to which the public are admitted. See separate entry for St George's Chapel.

As Windsor Castle is used for State Occasions like the visits of foreign Heads of State it is occasionally closed at short notice and visitors should check in advance of their peoposed visit.