WITH its imposing towers, luxurious, stately rooms and spectacular gardens, Windsor Castle is literally a home fit for a king.
The impressive castle is the largest and oldest occupied fort in the world and was the royal residence of 40 monarchs.
Everything you need to know about Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle was built by William the Conqueror.
He started building it in 1070 and it took 16 years to complete.
Over the years it has been the official residence of 40 monarchs and their families.
William the Conqueror chose to build the castle on that site due to its view of the Thames, as well as its proximity to Saxton’s hunting ground.
Henry I was the first monarch to use Windsor Castle as his home in 1110.
His grandson Henry II liked the castle so much that he renovated it to make it more robust.
The Queen was raised at Windsor Castle along with her sister, Princess Margaret.
The fortress has 188 staff rooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.
In 1992, a devastating fire broke out at Windsor Castle.
The horrific incident destroyed 115 rooms and took five years to restore.
The cause of the fire was a faulty searchlight in Queen Victoria’s Private Chapel which set fire to a curtain near the altar.
The fire then spread throughout the historic castle, including St George’s Hall next door.
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When does Windsor Castle open?
Windsor Castle is open to public visits every day except Tuesday and Wednesday.
The São Jorge Chapel is not open to visitors on Sundays, as it is only open for worship.
You can book tickets to visit the Castle through the official website.
Although Windsor Castle is a working royal palace, it sometimes needs to be closed at short notice.
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Where is Windsor Castle and how can I get there?
The historic building is located in Windsor with full address Castle Hill, Windsor, SL4 1PD.
The quickest way to travel there is to take the train from London Paddington Station to Windsor Central Station.
Another option is to take the bus, with Green Line No. 702 operating regularly daily from Victoria Bus Station.
If you are driving, tourists are asked to be aware that there is no parking at the castle itself.
Visitors must leave their car in one of the parking lots in Windsor city center.
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How much does it cost to enter Windsor Castle?
The cost of visiting the famous fortress varies depending on whether you book in advance or show up on the day.
Here is a price list:
- Adult (in advance) £30.00 per ticket.
- Adult (on the day, subject to availability) £33.00 per ticket.
- Young people aged 18-24 (in advance) £19.50 per ticket.
- Young people aged 18-24 (on the day, subject to availability) £21.50 per ticket.
- Children aged 5 to 7 – £16.50 per ticket.
- All children under five are free.
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Who lives in Windsor Castle?
Windsor Castle is home to around 150 people and was the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II before the monarch’s sad death in 2022.
After that, ownership of the fortress passed to King Charles, although he does not live there.
As long as he is Sovereign, he will be the rightful owner of the Windsor Estate.
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The Queen lived at Windsor Castle for much of her reign.
Buckingham Palace was her main destination, but she normally resided at Windsor Castle at weekends.
After Prince Phillip passed away in 2021, the Queen announced that she would be moving to Windsor Castle as her more permanent home.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
