How to Visit Windsor Castle in England
Windsor Castle in England is a magnificent tourist attraction near London. It is over 900 years old, but still in working condition. The castle hosts the Queen of England for about six weeks per year, and during other times is open for tourism. The beauty of the castle makes it well worth the trip outside of London to see the spectacular state rooms, St. George's Chapel, and the castle grounds. This article will tell you how to visit Windsor Castle in England.
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Instructions
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Go to the website for Windsor Castle. This will give you an overview of what the castle has to offer before you visit. You can also check out the visiting hours and dates in which the castle is open. In general, the castle is closed to guests two days in early November, one day in early December, and the 25th and 26th of December. During the summer, the Semi-State rooms are not open to the public. If you want a full tour, you should visit in October through the beginning of March, with more specific dates available on the website (listed in the resources).
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Decide whether to purchase your tickets ahead of time. If so, you can purchase them online through the castle website. The advantage is that you won't have to stand in line once you arrive. However, generally the lines are not as long to get into the castle as they are at some other London attractions. Admission is about $30 per adult when the State Apartments are open, and $15 when the State Apartments are closed.
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Tour Windsor Castle. You will be able to see the State Apartments, which house many works of art, such as paintings, from the Royal Collection, including some works by Rembrandt.
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See St. George's Chapel. The Chapel is part of Windsor Castle, and you can go inside. It is a fine example of Gothic architecture.
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See the world's most famous doll house, Queen Mary's Doll House. This doll house is inside the castle, and is one of the treats that come with admission to Windsor Castle.
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View current exhibits. If you go into the Drawings Gallery at Windsor Castle, you will see changing exhibits. These come from the Royal Library of the castle. The current exhibit is on the Prince of Wales. The collection includes photographs, childhood memorabilia, and paintings he actually painted! You can find out what is being displayed on the castle website.
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Go outside and explore the castle grounds. Watch the Changing of the Guards. In the summer, such as July, the Changing of the Guards takes place every day at 11 am, if the weather permits. However, for other months, the schedule goes every other day. For instance, in August of 2008 the Changing of the Guards occurs on even days, while in September it occurs on odd days. These dates are the exact opposite of Buckingham Palace, which has the display on odd days in August and even days in September. Make sure to check the schedule.
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Purchase souvenirs and eat ice cream. There are three shops that sell gifts for Windsor Castle. You can also purchase water and ice cream on the North Terrace of the castle.
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Shop nearby. You can leave the castle and come back by getting a wrist band. There are many shops and restaurants on the streets surrounding the castle. You will find American fast food restaurants and English restaurants.
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Tips & Warnings
A fire occurred in the early 1990's, and it took five years for the castle to be restored and reopened to the public for visiting.
If you purchase a London Pass, you can get into Windsor Castle and as many other included attractions as you can see in one day for a discounted, all-inclusive price. The pass costs about $75 for one day (whereas it costs about $30 when the State Rooms are open just to get into Windsor Castle itself!)
The website gives directions by train, coach and car if you need to know how to get to Windsor Castle.
Sometimes the Queen of England will hold unannounced events at the castle, which could mean that it becomes closed to visitors without much prior notice. Be aware of this and call ahead of time to make sure the castle is open for the day.
Resources
- Photo Credit Christi Bowers, 2006
