The longest occupied palace in Europe belongs to the Queen of England. Sitting just a stone’s throw away from Heathrow, Windsor is a quiet getaway from the hustle and bustle of London. Windsor was built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror and has expanded and modernized by every following monarch. For a country filled with castles, Windsor stands out as it remains an actively used royal residence.
The town of Windsor is quite small and mixes a bit of historical and post-war architecture. The result is a bustling touristic town with dots of unglamorous functional architecture. As it is a mere half day trip from city proper, most people will just wander straight to the castle. The castle itself is a massive fortified village with a cathedral and keep on a hill.
Between such are numerous gardens and rooms used by the state. Inside the castle are numerous objects from the royal collection, including gifts from heads of states and numerous royal paintings. Outside of the castle is the Long Walk which leads up to the main entrance of the castle. Official visitors would take this route into the castle, which on the opposite stands a statue to George III.
As large as the castle is, the tour remains quite limited as the castle is still used by the Queen. None-the-less, Windsor Castle is truly an amazing site to see. It is easy to get lost and miss the crowds, while exploring the scenery around is definitely worthwhile. Make sure to look up at the funny gargoyles.
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