Windsor Castle
ウィンザー城
ウィンザー・アンド・メイデンヘッド · GB
The world's oldest occupied castle, the symbolic seat of the British monarchy since 1066
In Berkshire west of London, Windsor Castle is the world's oldest and largest inhabited castle, founded c.1070 by William the Conqueror. For over 950 years, 39 monarchs have lived here, with St George's Chapel and the Round Tower as the symbolic seat of the British Crown.
Best Season & Time
Easter Garter ceremony in late April; the Garter Day procession is the must-see royal pageantry.
★★★★★
Pleasant 20°C and peak crowds with 2-3 hour standard waits; advance booking is essential.
★★★★☆
Fewer visitors with autumn foliage; stone castle and falling leaves give a quintessential English image.
★★★★★
Quietest of the year with magical Christmas lights; royals depart to Sandringham for the holidays.
★★★★☆
Top 3 Highlights
1.The Medieval Round Tower
The 65-meter Round Tower at the castle's center is Henry II's 1170 stone rebuild atop William the Conqueror's original wooden motte. When the Royal Standard flies, it signals the monarch is in residence — an iconic British scene captured by photographers worldwide.
Looking up from the Lower Ward in soft morning light
2.St George's Chapel and Royal Tombs
Edward IV began this Late Gothic chapel in 1475 with a fan vault and Garter Knights' banners. Ten monarchs from Henry VIII to Elizabeth II are interred here, with royal weddings and funerals continuing today as Britain's second royal mausoleum.
From inside the Quire stalls looking up at the fan vault in natural light
3.The State Apartments
The Upper Ward's official royal rooms feature paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt and Canaletto. St George's Hall, restored after the 1992 fire, runs 55 meters by 10 meters with Garter Knights' shield decoration as a magnificent ceremonial space for state banquets.
Looking up at the ceiling decoration of St George's Hall in natural light
Stories & Legends
Recommended For
Insider Tips
- 1.Castle tours require advance online booking via rct.uk; same-day tickets often involve 1-2 hour summer waits, and State Apartments may close for royal events without notice — check before you travel as Garter Day in early June closes the entire castle.
- 2.The 11am Changing of the Guard is free to watch but is suspended on Garter Day and other royal events; check the official site for dates, and arrive at the Lower Ward entrance at least an hour early to secure a viewing spot near the gates.
- 3.St George's Chapel closes to tourists during Sunday 10:45am services; weekday afternoons are best for visits, with photography forbidden inside but allowed in the cloister, and morning light is the best time for architecture students.
Visit Information
- Access
- From London Paddington, train via Slough to Windsor & Eton Central station (30-40 minutes), 5 minutes' walk to the castle. Direct trains also run from Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside.
- Time Required
- 2-3 hours castle tour; half a day with the State Apartments and chapel.
- Budget Guide
- Castle admission 28 GBP (about 5,200 yen) including online surcharge; Changing of the Guard free. (As of 2024.)
Nearby Attractions
Five minutes' walk to Eton College, the famous 1440 boarding school. Thirty minutes by car to Legoland Windsor for family entertainment. An hour by car returns to central London (Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey), making Windsor the heart of any royal-London day-trip itinerary out of the capital city.
Go Deeper
Deeper details for those with the time to read on.
Timeline
- c.1070
William's foundation
After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror founds a wooden motte-and-bailey castle west of London as the origin of Windsor Castle.
- 1170
Stone reconstruction
Henry II rebuilds the Round Tower and outer walls in stone, transforming the wooden castle into a long-lasting fortress.
- 1348
Order of the Garter
Edward III founds Britain's highest order, the Order of the Garter, making Windsor its seat with the annual ceremony there.
- 1475
St George's Chapel begun
Edward IV begins St George's Chapel; the Late Gothic fan-vault masterpiece is completed in 1528 under Henry VII's reign.
- 1547
Henry VIII buried
Henry VIII is interred at St George's Chapel beside Jane Seymour, beginning the chapel's tradition as a royal mausoleum.
- 1649
Charles I secret burial
After his execution in the Civil War, Charles I is secretly buried at St George's Chapel by royalist supporters.
- 1820-1830
George IV's overhaul
Jeffry Wyatville leads a Gothic Revival reshaping under George IV, establishing the major elements of the modern silhouette.
- 1917
House of Windsor renamed
Anti-German sentiment in WWI prompts the British royal house to rename itself the House of Windsor after the castle.
- 20 November 1992
Major fire
Over 100 rooms in the Upper Ward burn; a 5-year and 37 million GBP restoration completes in 1997, restoring the castle.
- 19 May 2018
Harry's wedding
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wed at St George's Chapel in the most-watched royal wedding of recent decades.
- 19 September 2022
Elizabeth II buried
The 70-year reign of Elizabeth II concludes with her interment at St George's Chapel beside her husband Prince Philip.
- May 2023
Charles III pre-coronation
Charles III's pre-coronation event is held at Windsor, continuing the tradition of 39 monarchs at the oldest inhabited castle.
Detailed History
Windsor Castle was begun around 1070 by William the Conqueror (r.1066-1087) as a wooden motte-and-bailey castle west of London. Henry I started stone-building around 1110, and Henry II's 1170 reconstruction added the Round Tower (a shell keep) and outer walls. Henry III (13th c.) developed the royal apartments, and Edward III in 1348 founded the Order of the Garter (Britain's highest order) and made Windsor its seat — the annual Garter ceremony continues today on the second week of June. Edward IV began St George's Chapel in 1475 as a Late Gothic masterpiece, completed under Henry VII in 1528. Henry VIII chose St George's as his final resting place (interred with Jane Seymour). Charles I was secretly buried here after his 1649 execution; Charles II remodelled the State Apartments in French Baroque after the 1660 Restoration. George IV's 1820-1830 Gothic Revival overhaul under Jeffry Wyatville created the silhouette seen today, including the heightened Round Tower. Queen Victoria spent much of her widowhood at Windsor after Albert's 1861 death, earning the title 'Widow of Windsor'. In 1917 the royal house renamed itself the House of Windsor (replacing Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) due to anti-German sentiment in WWI — the castle gives the dynasty its name. WWII saw George VI and Princess Elizabeth (the future queen) sheltered at Windsor; postwar it served as Elizabeth II's weekend residence (Buckingham Palace for official duties, Windsor for personal stays). On 20 November 1992 (the Queen's 'Annus Horribilis') a major fire damaged over 100 rooms in the Upper Ward; restoration ran 5 years and cost 37 million GBP, completing in 1997. The 19 September 2022 funeral of Elizabeth II ended with her interment at St George's Chapel's King George VI Memorial Chapel beside Prince Albert, Princess Diana and others. Charles III's coronation pre-event was held at Windsor on 5 May 2023, continuing the tradition of 39 monarchs in residence at the world's oldest inhabited castle.
Cultural Significance
Windsor Castle holds the world record as the oldest and largest inhabited castle, with 950 years of unbroken royal use, and serves as a materialized symbol of British royal history. Since 1917 the castle has lent its name to the British Royal House — the 'Windsor' brand has its source here. As the seat of the Order of the Garter (founded 1348 by Edward III, Britain's highest order with the monarch plus 24 knights), the second week of June Garter Day procession draws royal-watchers from across the world. St George's Chapel (1475-1528) is Britain's second royal mausoleum (Westminster Abbey is the first), with 10 monarchs and royal family members buried here including Henry VIII, Charles I, George V, George VI and Elizabeth II. As a venue for royal weddings, the 2018 marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the 2018 wedding of Princess Eugenie were held here. The contrast between the 1992 fire (symbol of the 'Horrible Year' when the Queen marked 40 years on the throne) and the 2022 burial of Elizabeth II forms a striking modern memory in the national consciousness. As one of the inspirations for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films, Windsor has gained additional global fame, drawing 1.5 million-plus visitors annually as the standard London day-trip choice.
Architectural Details
Windsor Castle covers a 484 m × 165 m irregular plan with over 1,000 rooms across 13 hectares — the world's largest inhabited castle. The plan divides at the central Round Tower into the Lower Ward (west, including St George's Chapel), Middle Ward (Round Tower and operations), and Upper Ward (east, with the State Apartments and royal residence). The Round Tower (65 m) reflects Henry II's 1170 stone work plus George IV's 1820s Wyatville Gothic Revival heightening. St George's Chapel (1475-1528) is a Late English Gothic (Perpendicular) masterpiece, with a fan vault and Garter Knights' Stall Plates richly decorating the choir. The Upper Ward's State Apartments hold a major painting collection (Rubens, Rembrandt, Canaletto, Van Dyck) and connect to grand ceremonial halls; St George's Hall (55 m × 10 m), destroyed in 1992 fire, was restored with a new Garter shield ceiling. The walls preserve much medieval stone, with 19th- and 20th-century additions layered together making 'a walking British architectural history'.
