Windsor Castle

The view was beautiful. However the length of visit was a bit short compared to ticket price (personal perspective)

Windsor Castle, the favorite home and final resting place of the late Queen Elizabeth II, is definitely worth a visit. The castle's interior is incredibly luxurious, though unfortunately, photography is prohibited. However, it offers a true glimpse into the vast financial resources of the British royal family. Personally, I think it's even better than Buckingham Palace, though perhaps Buckingham Palace's limited public access means you won't be able to see its finest treasures.

🌟 Windsor: A Symphony of Royal Secrets and Gothic Romance 📜 Thousands of Whispers Within the Stone Walls The town of Windsor, nestled on the Thames, is a living fossil of Britain's millennia-long royal history. In 1121, Henry I built his first wooden hunting lodge here, and today it's the largest still-inhabited castle in the world. As sunlight paints a golden rim on the Gothic towers of Windsor Castle, the stained windows of St. George's Chapel cast a medieval light on the cobblestone streets. ⛪ Five Secret Drawers of St. George's Chapel 1️⃣ Secret Ritual of the Order of the Garter Every June, the Queen presides over the investiture of the Knights of the Garter in this 15th-century Perpendicular Gothic building. The most interesting detail? Behind each new knight's chair hangs a blue velvet banner embroidered with their family's coat of arms. Beneath the chair, hidden in an oak drawer, lies a medieval embroidery kit—a testament to the age-old admonition to "maintain perfect stitches." 2️⃣ The Wars of the Roses in Stained Windows The interwoven red and white roses of the Houses of York and Lancaster in the east window embody the wisdom of the Tudor dynasty. To end the Wars of the Roses, Henry VII deliberately displayed the coats of arms of the two houses side by side. Even the lead joints in the stained glass are designed in an S-shaped curve, symbolizing the intertwining of the bloodlines of the two feuding families. 3️⃣ The Ghost of the Organ in the Basement A 17th-century organ rests in the basement of the chapel. Musicians often recount the mysterious legend of the night before Charles I's execution: someone heard the strains of "Have Mercy" emanating from the basement, and the next day, water stains were discovered on the organ bellows. 4️⃣ A Royal Wedding Schemed to Replace the Original For Princess Elizabeth II's wedding in 1947, the royal jeweler spent three months quietly replacing the ordinary stained glass in St. George's Chapel with gold-infused Venetian glass. When sunlight filters through, it casts a Tudor rose-shaped pattern across the nave. 5️⃣ The Unique Indentations in the Choir Stalls A close look at the undersides of the oak pews reveals numerous irregular indentations. These are the marks left by successive royal children, secretly kicked with their heels while attending services. Even during George VI's stuttering years, he would leave new scratches before rehearsing his speeches. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding took place here. The tombs of Edward IV and Henry VIII within the chapel hold the bloody gossip of the Tudor dynasty. As dusk casts a purple-gray cloak over Windsor Castle, the evening bells of St. George's Chapel chime six times. Legend has it that each chime contains a vowel, which, when combined, represents the ancient Tudor motto: "Dieu et mon droit" (My right is granted by God). Standing beneath the animal-headed drainpipe at Henry VIII's Gate, you can almost hear the gargoyles exchanging five hundred years of royal secrets in the moonlight.

The most famous castles and manors in the UK are covered with a mysterious veil. Behind the high walls are a series of wonderful and moving stories, including Windsor Castle. This romantic anecdote of "not loving the country but loving the beauty" has made the castle famous. The scenic spot is divided into three parts: Queen Mary's Doll House, the State Rooms, and St. George's Chapel. After entering the gate of the scenic spot, you can follow the instructions to get the guide, and then you can start the tour according to the order of the guide! You can choose the language, and each place has a corresponding number and explanation.

We bought the London pass and Oyster card in advance. First visit Kensington Palace, cross the circular pond in Kensington Palace Gardens, and arrive at Paddington Railway Station. Free train to Windsor Castle (open to visitors with London pass after 10:30). You need to take the Great Western Railway (GWR) train to Slouch station for transfer. ① Paddington Station GWR-Oxford Line-Slouch Station, ② Slouch Station- Windsor &Eton Central-Windsor Castle (intercity rail transit). Return by the same route. Windsor Castle is one of the official residences of the Queen of England and the largest and oldest castle in the world that is still inhabited. Like Buckingham Palace in London and Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Windsor Castle is also the Queen's main administrative residence, where official and private events are often held. The entire Windsor Castle can be divided into the Upper, Middle and Lower Wings. The Upper Wing mainly includes the Waterloo Hall (banquet hall), Queen's Ballroom (ballroom), gallery, Queen Mary's doll house (closed door) and other palace furnishings in the State Apartment. The Middle Wing has a round tower surrounded by a rose garden, and the Lower Wing has the Gothic-style St. George's Chapel.

Windsor Castle dates back to the time of William the Conqueror. The castle has a floor area of ​​approximately 45,000 square meters (484,000 square feet). Like Buckingham Palace in London and Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Windsor Castle is also the main administrative residence of the British monarch. The late Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor spends a considerable amount of time at Windsor Castle every year, where she conducts state or private entertainment activities. Her other two houses are private residences of the royal family, namely Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle.

Windsor Castle, built by William I in 1070 to consolidate political rule and provide military defense, is the fourth largest castle in the world and the oldest and largest inhabited castle. Due to its proximity to Heathrow Airport, planes fly over Windsor Palace every minute. Windsor Castle is located approximately seven miles west of the airport, directly on the flight path. It's very convenient to buy tickets on Ctrip and exchange them there.

Windsor Castle Windsor Castle (English: Windsor Castle) is located in Windsor, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire, southeast England. It is currently the family castle of the British royal family, the Windsor dynasty, and the largest inhabited castle in the world today. Windsor Castle is also the main administrative residence of the British monarch. The current Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor spends a considerable amount of time at Windsor Castle every year, where she conducts state or private entertainment activities.