After Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle is probably Britain’s most famous royal residence. Originally built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, the landmark is the longest occupied palace in Europe as it has been used by the reigning monarch continuously since the rule of Henry I. As a result, visitors to Windsor Castle will be confronted with a patchwork of buildings which have been added to and expanded almost constantly for over 900 years. Located on a hill overlooking the meandering River Thames, the castle is surrounded by parkland to its east while the picturesque streets of Widsor lay beneath it to the west. The castle itself is split into an upper and lower ward separated by the old keep which resides atop a steep artificial earthwork. The upper ward comprises a number of 19th century royal apartments which are enclosed by the old keep wall to form a central quadrangle. Meanwhile, the lower ward sits to the west of the old keep and is reached through the old Norman gate. Originally of mediaeval design, most of this part of the castle was renovated in the gothic style during the Victorian period.

The castle has therefore witnessed nearly a millennium of British history, playing a key role throughout. The old motte and bailey were originally expanded by Henry III and Edward III, meaning Windsor was well set up to host a royal court by the Tudor period. During the English Civil War, the royal residence served as a military headquarters for parliamentarian forces, and later as a prison for Charles I. After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Charles the II decided to renovate and created many of the lavish baroque interiors which survive to this day. Royal apartments were then added to by George III and George IV who picked out many of the Rococo and Gothic features that remain today. In the reign of George VI, the castle became a refuge by the royal family during the Luftwaffe bombing campaigns of the Second World War. And more recently, extensive restoration of several state rooms was required after the castle survived a fire in 1992. Windsor is now one of the country’s foremost tourist attractions, a venue for hosting state visits, and was the main residence of Elizabeth II from 2011 to 2022.

If you go and visit Windsor castle there are hundreds of things to see but one you might want to check out is the castle’s art collection. Masterpieces by Rubens, Michelangelo, Van Dyck and Rembrandt can all be seen during a tour of the many luxurious staterooms, halls and galleries which all speak to the changing taste of the royal family over the years. The royal Kitchens at Windsor are also worth a look, as they are the oldest working example in the country, serving kings and queens some of the most lavish dishes ever cooked up. There is also a changing of the guard which you can observe at Windsor Castle just like there is at Buckingham palace for people looking for a photo of them standing next to a Beefeater.