A Secondary Royal Residence
Built in 1070 by William the Conqueror, Windsor Castle sits about 40km west of London. During World War II, Queen Elizabeth II sought refuge here with her family. Today, it remains a major tourist destination while continuing to serve as a private home for the British royal family.
Scarred by a Devastating Fire
In 1992, Windsor Castle suffered a devastating fire that destroyed more than 115 rooms, including 9 State Apartments. Investigators traced the source to a faulty spotlight that ignited a curtain in Queen Victoria's private chapel. Fortunately, most of the artwork was rescued and the royal library escaped damage. The British government funded the restoration, which sparked considerable public debate. To help cover costs, Queen Elizabeth II decided to open Buckingham Palace more widely to the public and raise admission fees for the castle grounds.
The Largest Castle in the World
The castle spans an area of more than 5 hectares, complemented by 13 hectares of parks and gardens. Inside, you will find roughly 1,000 rooms, ranging from State Apartments and reception halls to staff quarters.
Visitors can tour the State Apartments, which house the monarch's official rooms. Heads of state and global monarchs are received here, and the spaces regularly host investitures and official ceremonies.
- The Grand Reception Room functions as the castle ballroom, showcasing lavish decor filled with French decorative arts collected by King George IV, a passionate admirer of French culture.
- The Waterloo Chamber displays portraits of the key allied leaders who defeated Napoleon.
- The rooms of King Charles II and Queen Catherine of Braganza feature a sequence of rooms scaling down in size, housing significant artwork including paintings by Rubens and Van Dyck.
The Semi-State Rooms, originally built as private apartments for King George IV, now host official royal events. The interior features exceptional furnishings brought from Carlton House, the king's former London residence. The Crimson Drawing Room displays portraits of former English monarchs.
St. George's Chapel
Set within the castle walls, this 15th-century Gothic chapel serves as the final resting place for 10 kings and queens, including Henry VIII, Charles I, George V, and George VI. The chapel has hosted numerous royal weddings, most recently the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Opening hours
Early March to late October: 10:00 AM to 5:15 PM (last admission: 4:00 PM)
*Information subject to change
Windsor Castle is really impressive, both from the outside and the inside. It is honestly huge. Inside, you can visit a ton of well-decorated rooms. If you look at everything in detail, you will spend several hours there.