Windsor Castle timeline (2024)

FAQs

How much time does it take to visit Windsor Castle? ›

Visitor Information

There is a lot to see and do at Windsor Castle, so please allow enough time to make the most of your visit. We suggest between 1½ and 2 hours.

Windsor Castle as it appears today is the result of almost a thousand years of development. It is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and has been the home of 39 monarchs, each of whom has left their mark.

Finishing the restoration

The official completion date for the restoration project was 20 November 1997, 5 years to the day after the outbreak of the fire and the 50th wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

William the Conqueror chose the site for Windsor Castle, high above the River Thames and on the edge of a Saxon hunting ground. He began building at Windsor around 1070, and 16 years later the Castle was complete. The Castle was originally constructed to guard the western approach to London.

Consider visiting Windsor Castle after 1 pm. If you have a London Pass you'll need to do that anyway for free entry, but this is because the castle is quieter during the afternoon. Do bear in mind, though, that the last entry for the day is around an hour and 15 minutes before closing time.

There are parts that are off limits, because it's living area to the royal family and the castle workers. Windsor Castle is a must when visiting England, there is history, art, stories, and culture every where walk and see. Good day out enjoyed are day .

King Charles III inherited Windsor Castle from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The Windsor Castle is now under his ownership “in right of the Crown” though he doesn't occupy it.

Size. Buckingham Palace is huge (we're talking 108 meters long by 24 meters wide), while Windsor Castle is a more modest 48 meters by 24 meters. Buckingham Palace is a whopping 828,821 square feet, while Windsor Castle comes in at 484,000 square feet.

The distance between Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace is 26 miles. The road distance is 22.3 miles.

The cost for repairs and restoration was met by charging the public for entry to Windsor Castle, and by opening Buckingham Palace for admission. In addition, Queen Elizabeth contributed £2 million of her own money, and she agreed to start paying income taxes.

Who lived in Windsor Castle when it burnt down? ›

It has housed 39 British monarchs, serving as a royal residence for nearly one thousand years. Windsor Castle was home to the late Queen Elizabeth II when the blaze broke out in 1992, a time she described as an "annus horribilis," or horrible year.

Those who live and work within the Castle include the titular head of the Castle community, the Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle; the Dean of Windsor, Canons and other staff who run the College of St George; the Military Knights of Windsor; the Superintendent of Windsor Castle and his staff, who are responsible ...

The House of York is one of the Plantagenet cadet houses. As such, the Windsors are descended from the Plantagenets.

By contrast, Elizabeth I enjoyed spending time at Windsor. She used it increasingly for diplomatic engagements, although space at Windsor was not as large as the more modern royal palaces. Elizabeth's successor in 1603, James I used Windsor primarily as a base for hunting, one of his favourite pursuits.

Buckingham Palace also houses the largest private garden in London at 17 hectares, which is about the size of 672 tennis courts. Windsor Castle, on the other hand, is the world's oldest and largest inhabited castle.

The tree-lined 2.64 miles (4.25 km) avenue known as the Long Walk was originally a path from Windsor Castle to Snow Hill.

A visit to Windsor Castle takes 2 to 3 hours, to tour the State Apartments, visit St. George's Chapel, and watch the Changing of the Guard. Windsor Castle can be visited on a half day trip from London or combined with Stonehenge, Bath, and/or Oxford.

Here are a few facts about Windsor Castle and the Long Walk:

There are over 1,000 rooms in the castle! It's larger than Buckingham Palace. Over 150 people reside in the castle or its grounds today. The Long Walk is 2.6 miles long.

No, there is no dress code to follow at Windsor Castle. However, given the importance of the attraction to the UK's heritage, wear respectable and modest clothes. Avoid shorts and flip-flops.