Bingo is and has always been one of the favourite pastimes in the UK. There, people host virtual bingo parties, prepare educational bingo games, and there are plenty of celebrities who enjoy playing a game of bingo or two. Today, bingo is present online, and the rise in popularity of online bingo resulted in developing plenty of unique and fun bingo games. You’ll benefit from different offers, bonuses and jackpots, and you can meet numerous people in the online chat provided in the bingo rooms.
However, apart from Bingo, the United Kingdom is famous for other things, like Big Ben or British tea. But, one of the greatest landmarks of this country is Windsor Castle. Are you planning a trip to Windsor Castle? Here are the most important things you need to know about this amazing castle!
The Windsor Castle is a Royal home and one of the largest occupied castles in the world. It has thousands of years of royal history and is one of the few remaining working castle places in the world. Located in Berkshire, the English county, Windsor Castle is the family home to British lords and rulers. The Windsor Castle is opened for tourists all year round and is a great place to visit during a trip to London.
About Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is an English royal residence that stands on a ridge at the northeastern edge of the district of Windsor and Maidenhead in the county of Berkshire, England. It occupies five hectares of land above the south bank of the River Thames. The castle’s location can be quickly spotted from a considerable distance.
Windsor Castle has two courtyards, the Upper and the Lower Ward. They are separated by the Royal Tower. The court west of the Tower is the Lower Ward, while the court east of the Tower is called the Upper Ward. This amazing castle has been home of British kings and queens for thousands of years.
The Queen spends most of her private weekends at Windsor Castle, as well as for some formal duties, including the ‘Easter Court’, a month over Easter. The Queen is also at Windsor for one week each June. It is believed that Windsor Castle is the Queen’s favourite residence. In addition, the castle was home to a couple of royal weddings.
Windsor Castle is still a working royal palace and is used for ceremonial occasions, but it is opened for tourists as well. The State Banquet takes place in St George’s Hall, where 160 guests are welcomed to a table with porcelain and silver-gilt from the Royal Collection.
Who built Windsor Castle?
Windsor Castle was originally built by William the Conqueror in 1070. The castle was complete 16 years later. It was originally used to guard the western approach to London, not as a royal residence. The first king to use Windsor Castle as a residence was Henry I, in 1110. He celebrated Whitsuntide at the castle as well as got married. The walls of the castle were built of timber, but Henry II replaced them with stone. The Normal keep was rebuilt as the Round Tower in 1170, and Henry III completely rebuilt the castle and added a large new chapel.
How to reach Windsor Castle?
It is easy to reach Windsor Castle because there are numerous organised tours you can take part in from London. In addition, you can reach the castle by car, bus, or train. The two main railway stations to reach the castle are the Eton Riverside and Eton Central Station. Moreover, you can take the bus “Green Line 702” from Green Line Coach Station near Victoria station. If you are travelling by car, follow the Windsor castle map on Google and you’ll easily reach it.
Things to see when visiting Windsor Castle
No trip to London can be finished until you visit Windsor Castle. It is a must-visit tourist attraction that offers something for everyone. The castle is so huge that you can plan to spend two to three hours to visit everything.
Here are the main attractions in Windsor Castle:
St George’s Chapel
St George’s Chapel is one of the best models of Gothic architecture in England. It is one of the most popular landmarks in Windsor Castle and is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter. Today, there are 24 knights chosen by the Queen in recognition of their work for the nation. Inside the chapel, the tombs of 10 monarchs are placed, including Charles I, Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour.
The State Apartments
The State Apartments are fabulous rooms fulfilled with the best masterpieces from the Royal collection. Each of the monarchs that lived in Windsor Castle has left individual marks on the State Apartments. According to the story about the apartments, Charles II wanted to rival his cousin Louis XIV’s accomplishments in Versailles and modernised the interiors of the State Apartments. Today, the Royal Family uses these rooms for many events.
The Grand Reception Room
The Grand Reception Room is the most striking room of the castle, showing King George IV’s love of French things. The room was used as the main ballroom in the Castle. It is full of chandeliers and French bronzes of the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the most noticeable pieces in the room is the large malachite urn, presented to Queen Victoria by Tsar Nicholas I in 1839.
Changing the guards
Changing the guards is a fantastic British ceremony, a big show of colours and sounds that is happening since 1660. However, it also has a military purpose. The ceremony takes place in order to allow handover of obligations between two groups of guards. British guards are always fun to watch, especially during this ceremony. The ceremony lasts 45 minutes at 11 AM on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, but it’s always worth checking the current schedule before visiting.
Waterloo Chamber
The Waterloo Chamber is built to celebrate the victory at the Battle of Waterloo. It is an amazing room that contains the portrait of Pope Pius VII which is considered as one of Lawrence's greatest works. Moreover, there is the Indian carped woven by the inmates of the Agra prison for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1894, which is believed to be the largest seamless carpet and required the help of 40 men to move it into the castle.
The Semi-State Rooms
The Semi-State Rooms are private apartments located on the sunnier east and south sides of the Castle. They are built for George IV and feature interiors decorated by Morel & Seddon. The Queen uses these incredible rooms for official entertaining.
Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House
The Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House was built between 1921 and 192 for Queen Mary by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. It is the most beautiful and most famous dolls’ house in the world. The house includes contributions from thousands of artists, craftsmen and manufacturers. What’s more, the house features electricity, running hot and cold water, a library, and working lifts.
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To this day, Windsor Castle attracts thousands of tourists. If you’re as fascinated by this castle as we are, make sure to put it on your bucket list!
Here at Bingo Scanner, regardless of providing you with the most popular bingo sites, bonuses, and promotions, we love sharing interesting facts and stories that revolve around the UK culture, one of which is the story about Windsor Castle. In case you have some other story that you want to share with us, feel free to let us know. And if you enjoy this article, stick with us while we go through the most popular aspects that make Britain so Great!
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