Windsor
Join our guided tour to Windsor & Oxford from Cambridge
Other than the capital, there is no town in the UK that has had a connection with royalty for as long as Windsor. Located just 40 km west of central London, Windsor is a short step out of the city but a long stride into Britain's past.
Queen Victoria's statue stands tall at the west end of the castle
Windsor has been the home of the British royal family since William the Conqueror built the castle over 900 years ago in the 1070s, although it has not been used continuously by the monarch since then. Built and expanded over the centuries, the castle is now the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world. Today it feels as much a palace as a castle and is often chosen as the welcoming venue for VIPs from around the world when they come to Britain on official state visits.
The guards protect the Queen in her private apartments - no tourists allowed here!
The castle is not just a symbol of royalty, it is an official residence of Queen Elizabeth II today. Visit on a weekend and there is every chance you may even see The Queen. If the royal flag, The Royal Standard, is flying over the castle's Round Tower, the Queen is there! Our tour passengers have seen the Queen on numerous occasions from less than 5 metres away, always on a Sunday morning, always at the same time and at the same place. She is a creature of habit! Join our tour and we will ensure you will be at that place, at that time, and, fingers crossed, you will see her, too!
Changing of the Guard in central Windsor
Another sight not to be missed is the Changing of the Guard when the soldiers that protect the Queen and Castle are relieved of their duties by new guards. The guards' parade, and the pageantry that accompanies it, passes through the town’s streets at a specific hour - but not everyday so it's a matter of luck as to whether we see the event.
No escape from the sound of air traffic - Windsor lies under the flightpath of Heathrow Airport just 5 miles away
The small town of Windsor is situated on the opposite bank of the River Thames to the even smaller but equally famous town of Eton, home to Britain's most elite private school, Eton College. Love it or hate it, a visit to Windsor & Eton is a trip into the upper echelons of British high society. The students of the College have been overly represented in positions of great power and influence for centuries and that still continues today with our present Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, being an alumni of Eton, and Princes William and Harry too! The town itself is a very quaint one-street town full of cafes, antique shops, pubs and restaurants.
The River Thames divides Windsor from Eton - here, the rowing boathouses jostle for attention with the swans and public river cruisers
What to see and do in the Castle and in Windsor?
The Round Tower - the central part and oldest part of the castle dating from the original Norman castle of the 11th century.
St. George’s Chapel - One of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Europe. It is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the senior order of British Chivalry established in 1348 by Edward III. The chapel is the burial place of ten of the most recent kings and queens and the setting for many Royal weddings.
State rooms - Extensive suites of rooms at the heart of the working palace, furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto, Gainsborough and Sir Anthony van Dyck.
Queen Mary's Dolls' House - a miniature mansion built to perfection.
The Semi State rooms (October~March) - Housing some of the most splendid interiors in the castle and furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection including paintings by Holbein, fine tapestries and porcelain, sculpture and armour.
The Drawings Gallery - Regular exhibitions of treasures from the Royal Library.
Windsor Great Park - a fabulous park of open grassland, avenues of trees and splendid vistas including The Long Walk - a straight path 5km long - to Snow Hill. It is said that Henry VIII stood on Snow Hill awaiting news of Anne Boleyn's execution which was to be signalled by cannon fire from The Round Tower of the Castle.
How to get to Windsor from Cambridge?
Join our guided tour to Windsor & Oxford from Cambridge
