It is old. That is the first thing that hits you when you finally step inside the Windsor Castle. Not just "antique" or "well-preserved," but a kind of heavy, stone-cold permanence that makes modern buildings feel like cardboard boxes. You’re standing in a spot where William the Conqueror decided to put up some wooden walls back in 1070. Since then, it has survived fires, sieges, and the daily foot traffic of thousands of tourists.
Honestly, most people expect a museum. It isn’t one. Not really.
It is a working palace. If you see the Royal Standard flying from the Round Tower instead of the Union Jack, the King is actually there, probably having tea or doing paperwork while you're staring at his armor collection downstairs. It’s a strange mix of a high-security government facility, a family home, and a massive art gallery.
The State Apartments are basically a flex
When you walk through the State Apartments, you’re seeing what the monarchy wants the world to see. It’s about power. The Grand Staircase is lined with arms and armor, which is a pretty clear "don't mess with us" vibe left over from the days when kings actually had to fight.
You'll notice the Waterloo Chamber. It’s huge. It was built to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon, and the walls are covered in portraits of the people who made that happen. It feels a bit like a victory lap that has lasted two hundred years. The ceiling is shaped like the hull of a ship, which is a neat detail most people miss because they’re too busy looking at the massive carpet. Fun fact: that carpet was supposedly the largest seamless one in the world when it was made in India for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.
The St. George’s Hall is where the state banquets happen. If you’ve seen photos of a long table with way too many forks, this is the room. It’s 180 feet long. After the 1992 fire, which absolutely gutted this part of the castle, they rebuilt it with a modern Gothic twist. The ceiling is covered in shields representing the Knights of the Garter. Look closely at the plain white shields; those represent knights who were disgraced or "de-knighted" for various crimes, including treason.
St. George’s Chapel and the weight of history
You can’t talk about being inside the Windsor Castle without mentioning the chapel. It’s tucked away in the Lower Ward. It is arguably one of the best examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in England, but most visitors go there for the graves.
It’s the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth II. She’s buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel alongside her husband, Prince Philip, and her parents. It is a very quiet, somber corner of a very grand building.
But then you have Henry VIII. He’s buried right in the middle of the choir, under a relatively simple floor stone. It’s a bit ironic given how much of a massive ego he had in life. He’s down there with Jane Seymour and Charles I (the one who lost his head). The atmosphere in the chapel is different from the rest of the castle; it’s less about the "now" and entirely about the "forever."
Queen Mary’s Doll’s House is a weird masterpiece
This isn't just a toy. It’s a 1:12 scale aristocratic home built in the 1920s. If you shrunk a person down, they could actually live in it. The plumbing works. The lights turn on. The tiny wine bottles in the cellar are filled with real vintage wine from that era.
Even the library is functional. Famous authors of the time, like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling, wrote tiny, postage-stamp-sized books specifically for the doll's house. It’s a bizarre, obsessive tribute to craftsmanship that took 1,500 artists and craftsmen to finish. It’s easily one of the most popular things to see inside the Windsor Castle, mostly because the level of detail is slightly insane.
The 1992 Fire: Why some rooms look "new"
If you look at the walls in the Semi-State Rooms, they look incredibly opulent, but much of that is a miracle of restoration. In November 1992, a spotlight pushed against a curtain started a fire in the Private Chapel. It burned for 15 hours.
It destroyed 115 rooms.
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The Duke of Edinburgh was deeply involved in the restoration. They didn't just fix it; they used the opportunity to improve the layout while staying true to the original designs where possible. This is why some areas feel a bit more "fresh" than the 14th-century masonry in other parts of the fortress. The cost was about £36.5 million, which is why the Queen started charging for entry to Buckingham Palace—to pay for the repairs here.
Semi-State Rooms: The private-ish side
These are only open to the public during the winter months (usually October to March). They were the private apartments created for George IV. He had very expensive, very flashy taste. Think lots of gold leaf, heavy red silks, and elaborate carvings.
If the State Apartments are for "The Crown," the Semi-State rooms feel a bit more like a "Home," albeit a home belonging to someone with a limitless credit card.
What to actually do when you visit
Don't just rush to the big rooms. The Moat Garden is stunning if you catch it at the right time. The walk up to the castle from the train station is steep, so wear decent shoes. If you're wearing heels, you're going to have a bad time on the cobblestones.
- Check the flag. Seriously. If the Royal Standard is up, you’re sharing the roof with the King. It adds a bit of a thrill to the visit.
- Watch the Changing of the Guard. It usually happens at 11:00 AM on specific days. It’s less crowded than the one at Buckingham Palace and you get a much better view of the soldiers.
- Look at the ceilings. In the State Apartments, the ceilings are often more impressive than the stuff on the walls. The wood carvings by Grinling Gibbons are legendary—the man could make wood look like delicate lace or realistic fruit.
- Don't skip the North Terrace. The views across the Thames and toward Eton College are incredible. It gives you a sense of why this spot was chosen for a fortress; you can see everything coming from miles away.
Navigating the crowds
Windsor is busy. There’s no way around it. To get the most out of being inside the Windsor Castle, you need to arrive early. Like, "be the first in line" early.
The audio guide is actually worth using. It’s narrated by experts and sometimes members of the household staff, and it gives context to the paintings that you’d otherwise just walk past. Without it, the "Room of many gold things" just becomes another "Room of many gold things."
Most people spend about 2 to 3 hours inside. If you’re a history nerd, give yourself 4. There is a lot of walking involved, and the security check at the entrance is basically airport-style, so don't bring anything you wouldn't take on a plane.
Practical next steps for your visit
If you are planning to go, book your tickets online in advance. They do sell out, especially on weekends and during school holidays. Once you’re done with the castle, take a walk down the Long Walk. It’s a three-mile straight path that leads away from the castle into the Great Park. You don’t have to walk the whole thing, but walking just half a mile down gives you the iconic "movie poster" view of the castle behind you.
Also, check the official Royal Collection Trust website the morning of your visit. Because it’s a working palace, they sometimes close certain rooms or the entire castle on short notice for state events.
Go to the chapel first if you can. It closes earlier than the rest of the castle because it’s a place of worship. If you wait until the end of your tour, you might find the doors locked for a private service.
Final tip: If you get your ticket stamped by a warden before you leave, it becomes a 1-year pass. You can come back as many times as you want for the next 12 months for free. It’s the best deal in British tourism, honestly.