The Magic Of Our Childhood (Review of Museum)

As I was doing research for my trip earlier this year, I came across something called the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood. It was getting some amazing reviews, and being a child at heart, I knew I had to make the time to pop in and look. I didn't get a chance though to properly go through the place as I only had just over an hour to spare, but you need at least 2 - 3 hours to properly appreciate the place.

There is a slightly unusual entrance to the Museum, you don't quite know that you're entering a Museum, until you hear the screams of children enjoying themselves. But then again, it's not your typical museum. 

Oh to be a child again... adulting is hard. SNIFF!

from site - https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/place/465370-v-and-a-museum-of-childhood#lHpZxws3T6XfwK0l.97

The mission of the museum is "To enable everyone, especially the young, to explore and enjoy the designed world, in particular objects made for and made by children." It has extensive collections of toys, childhood equipment and costumes, and stages a programme of temporary exhibitions.

It is the largest institution of its kind in the world. Its mission is to hold in trust the nation’s childhood collections and to be an international leader in engaging audiences in the material culture and experiences of childhood.

Timeout London says "Home to one of the world’s finest collections of children’s toys, doll’s houses, games and costumes, the Museum of Childhood shines brighter than ever after extensive refurbishment, which has given it an impressive entrance. Part of the Victoria & Albert Museum, the museum has been amassing childhood-related objects since 1872 and continues to do so with ‘Incredibles’ figures complimenting bonkers 1970s puppets, Barbie Dolls and Victorian praxinoscopes. The museum has lots of hand-on stuff for kids dotted about the many cases of historic artefacts. Regular exhibitions are held upstairs, while the café helps to revive flagging grown-ups."

One of the most interesting reviews from Timeout London's site by FloA, which perfectly captures how I feel about the place.
"The V&A Museum of Childhood is just an amazing place. The first time i went was on my own and I thought the exhibition was quite beautiful and interesting. A couple weeks ago, my cousins (in their 40s) visited with their dad (late sixties) and their little 3 years old visited me and I took them to the Museum of Childhood. At that point, this museum took all its sense... Four generations sharing experiences, excitement and nostalgia (for the eldest), what a great afternoon! I think we stayed for 3 hours and none of us wanted to leave!!"

There are thousands of individual toys in this place, and I saw many that I either had as a child or wished I could be a child to play with, since some of the toys only came out a few year ago. The scope of the place is unbelievable, as it has toys ranging over a very long period of time, and the layout is very nicely done. I recommend that you walk all the way around a glass case, because the displays are made for 360 degree viewing and you never know what you you'll see on the other side. 

I guarantee that every person who visits this museum will find at least one thing they would reminisce over or have their heart strings tugged. 

The V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green in the East End of London is a branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum (the "V&A"), which is the United Kingdom's national museum of applied arts.

The museum was founded in 1872 as the Bethnal Green Museum. The iron structure reused a prefabricated building from Albertopolis which was replaced with some early sections of the modern V&A complex. The exterior of the building was designed by James William Wild in red brick in a Rundbogenstil (round-arched) style very similar to that in contemporary Germany. The building was used to display a variety of collections at different times, including the works which can now be seen at the Wallace Collection. In the 1920s, it began to focus on services for children, and in 1974 the director of the V&A, Sir Roy Strong, defined it as a specialist museum of childhood.  Of all the branches, the Bethnal Green Museum has the largest collection of childhood objects in the United Kingdom.

Another review by Jenny E
Amazing museum of everything childhood related from past to present. The exhibits are set out in numerous glass cases around the perimeter of this huge building and accessible on two levels. There are little play stations set out in amongst the exhibits so there are plenty of places for younger visitors to stop and enjoy themselves and keep their attention. Showcased across the museum are toys, crafts, clothes and furniture from the past, present and future including a narrative of children's toys and making tools across the ages. It's very interesting and includes a number of fantastic pieces which are wonderful to see captured side by side. 
In the centre of the museum is a lovely big open space for families to enjoy a drink and bite to eat before visiting the small gift shop as you exit. It's a wonderful place for young children and best of all, it's free.

Virtual Tour, this I stumbled across online, essentially this gives you an in-depth look at the layout of the place, i.e. a taste/ teaser of what you expect to get, without going into the finer points of each exhibit. Amazing bit of work to put together. 

Museum opening hours
Open daily 10.00-17.45 (last admission 17.30)
Admission free.

Location
V&A Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath Road
London E2 9PA
United Kingdom

Nearest tube: Bethnal Green on the Central Line

The Loveliest Castle in the World - Leeds Castle (Review)

Who would've thought that Leeds Castle wasn't in Leeds? They are approximately 230 miles apart, Leeds is to the north of London and Leeds Castle is roughly south east. Address: Maidstone, Kent, ME17 1PL.

Leeds Castle is in Kent, England, 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Maidstone. The castle today dates mostly from the 19th century and is built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the east of the village of Leeds.

Looking further afield from London for touristy things to do, I came across an awesome medieval castle, Leeds Castle. Timeout says - A picturesque Norman castle set on two islands in the middle of a lake with 500 acres of beautifully kept grounds to picnic in when you’ve exhausted the medieval furnishings, paintings and tapestries – and the collection of antique dog collars. 

How does one get here from London? It's not that difficult from London, you essentially have three options (stations in London to choose from), St Pancras International, Victoria and London Bridge. My sister and I ended up choosing St Pancras International, since that was the most direct one to get to from where we staying at her flat. As you can see from the picture of the ticket below, it's slightly pricey, and this is after we got a discount. Once there at Bearsted station (what an awesome sounding name huh?), you have a look around and ask a station attendant where the coaches/ bus/ taxi service is to Leeds Castle. I should mention that since this is a tourist site, (Leeds Castle), I ended up paying 20 pounds for a return journey for the two of us, (it was like a 15 minute journey one way). 

The pictures I was able to take do not do justice as to how gorgeous it is. It is something, one has to experience in person. 

Here's me, looking utterly pleased with myself.

So on top of their being this fabulous castle to stroll around and admire the centuries old building inside and out, there's also 

• A gatehouse exhibition
• Dog Collar Museum (this was fascinating)
• a battle for the skies exhibition (couldn't figure out the relevance to Leeds Castle)
• Knights' Realm Playground (for Kids)
• Squires’ Court Playground (also for Kids)
• The Maze (for adults as well as kids - I love mazes, this one had a curious ending)
• The Culpeper Gardens (flowers galore)
• The Wood Garden (you didn't realize walking in from the entrance that it was actually a garden, but it had plenty wildlife (birds) to accompany you)
• The Lady Baillie Mediterranean Garden Terrace (didn't care much for this part of the visit, it was strangely laid out)
• Bird of Prey Centre
• Falconry Displays
• Falconry Experiences (it was too windy and drizzly when the time came around for this, I was so disappointed they couldn't have it the day I went)
• Punting on the Moat
• Elsie the Castle Train (it's a short ride from the entrance to the castle and back, I didn't see the point going on it, but it's just for tourists 😀
• Black Swan Ferry
• Segway Tours (sadly it didn't have any the day I went)
• Go Ape Tree Top Adventure (I didn't realize this existed until the day after I went, so I missed out)

 There is also several other one off events during the year, have a peek at their What's On before planning your trip. 

  

The Castle
Leeds Castle has been a Norman stronghold; the private property of six of England’s medieval queens; a palace used by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon; a Jacobean country house; a Georgian mansion; an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous; and in the 21st century, it has become one of the most visited historic buildings in Britain.

The first stone castle was built in 1119 by a Norman baron during the reign of William the Conqueror’s son Henry I, on an island in the River Len. In 1278, a century and a half later, it came into the possession of Queen Eleanor of Castile, first wife of Edward I.

For the next 300 years the castle remained a royal residence, before again becoming a private home. This in turn was handed down over four centuries, by both inheritance and purchase, through a network of interlinked families.

You can discover the fascinating history of the Hon. Olive, Lady Baillie, the last private owner of the castle; a wealthy Anglo-American heiress who acquired Leeds Castle in 1926 when it was sold to pay death duties.

Today, the influence of Lady Baillie continues to bring the state rooms to life while visitors can see the effect of Medieval and Tudor periods in many of the other Castle rooms.

Picture of the station sign which advertises Leeds Castle.

Had to take a picture of the tickets, as they are taken by the ticket barriers to pass through.

A very upset looking bird. Hopefully I didn't piss it off.

Who knew there were so many different types of dog collars? One of the more fascinating exhibits for me, since I love dogs of course. 

Oh yes, on top of all of these things, it makes for an unbelievably fabulous wedding location, who wouldn't want to get married in a castle? Well for minimum of 8,250 pounds it makes for a steep ask, but it'll make for great memories.  Got this picture from Leeds Castle Website.

Leeds castle has a brilliantly detailed website - Website which lists out every conceivable thing you can do and see.

As with all the tourist locations in England, there is a few eating places as well as the mandatory souvenir shop for all your tourist collectibles. I'll admit I bought quite a few things here, as it was really interesting stuff. 

All in all, it was an extremely interesting day out, only slightly marred by the usual English weather, (unfortunate for the two of us). 

Price
Adults £24.90
Senior Citizen/Student £21.90
Child (4-15 years) £16.90
Visitor with Disability - Adult* £21.90
Visitor with Disability - Child (4-15 years)* £13.90
Infant (under 4 years) FREE

Important opening times!

The Wonderful Story Of Foyles (Review)

One of the most impressive things (well to my eyes) in such a modern world that we live in, with the advent of E-books, is that a brick and mortar store just for books, is a chain of seven stores in England called Foyles. 

W & G Foyle Ltd. (usually called simply Foyles) is a bookseller with a chain of seven stores in England. It is best known for its flagship store in Charing Cross Road, London. Foyles was once listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest bookshop in terms of shelf length (30 miles (48 km)) and number of titles on display.

Why is it impressive? Well, coming from Trinidad and Tobago, and our tiny bookshops, covering possible half a floor, to one that covers 6 floors, is quite jaw-dropping. Over 200,000 books? Quite literally it's one of those landmarks of London which shouldn't be missed out on. 

In his love of showmanship, 'the Barnum of Bookselling', William Foyle, called his emporium 'The world's greatest bookshop'. Over the past century the world has become a very different place and far be it from us now to make such bold claims, but what we can say for sure in this day and age is that few bookshops can claim such a rich and varied history and still retain the passion we have for books and the people who write, publish and, above all, read them.

By Tom Morris - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33726491

It was extremely difficult to take this picture, I suppose someone would have to save it and zoom in probably, but the lighting for taking a picture of this wasn't great, it was more of mood lighting than anything else.

Taken from Timeout London's website on Foyle's (I really wish I had taken something like this, but when you're overawed by the vast number of books, looking for the perfect picture is secondary in nature.)

The flagship bookshop

The new Foyles flagship at 107 Charing Cross Road houses a range of over 200,000 different titles on four miles (6.5km) of shelves - the equivalent of lining one bank of the Thames with books from Battersea Power Station to the Tower of London. With 37,000 square feet of retail space, spread across eight alternating foot-plates over four floors, it is the largest bookshop to have opened in the UK so far this century. Alongside books, we have a wide range of gifts and stationery, magazines, printed music, classical music CDs and Classic and World DVDs as well as Ray's Jazz, Grant & Cutler Foreign Languages, a Cafe and an Auditorium. An impressive full height central atrium and large windows fill the space with natural light, while the layout allows for easy navigation and the serendipitous discovery of new books.

Foyles, which was founded in 1903 by brothers William and Gilbert Foyle, first opened on Charing Cross Road in 1906 and moved to its location at 113-119 Charing Cross Road in 1929. Declared by William Foyle to be 'the world's first purpose-built bookshop', it quickly became one of the capital's most well-known literary landmarks. William's daughter, Christina, built friendships with some of the leading writers of the time and pioneered bookshop author events, beginning a lecture series in the 1920s and founding the famous Foyles Literary Luncheons in 1930. The move to 107 Charing Cross Road in June 2014 marks a new chapter for the world-renowned, family-owned bookshop.

Interestingly, I had gone to their previous location 113 - 119 Charing Cross Road in 2010 and 2011, but going to their new location in 2017, I thought they did renovations/ re-modelling, totally oblivious to the fact that it was a whole other building! 

Foyles employs more than 80 expert booksellers who will be happy to offer any help or advice you may need. Whilst these days most bookshops are stocked by books bought centrally from head office and distributed across the chain, at Foyles the heads of department are also our buyers, so they truly are experts in their stock and subjects.

From Timeout London (I totally agree with everything)

"If the old Foyles was a bookish uncle in a soup-stained cardigan, the new Foyles is a hip teenage cousin: ahead of the curve where apps and indie cinema are concerned, but sporting a pair of off-puttingly flash trainers. Foyles has always been one of those shops that trades partly on sentiment, with its labyrinthine layout, oddball-friendly café and loyal staff: Giles Armstrong, manager of the foreign languages department and Foyles' longest serving, had clocked up an impressive half-century on the payroll in 2015. News that Foyles was moving, and its much-loved café closing, was greeted with understandable dismay by Time Out readers, but standing in the vast, updated premises (just a couple of doors down from the old one, in the former Central Saint Martins HQ) it's easy to understand the decision. 

Foyles CEO Sam
 Husain describes the new store as ‘a bookshop for the twenty-first century’, with 37,000 square feet of floorspace laid out immaculately by architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands around an impressive central atrium, and eight levels (four actual floors) packed with more than 200,000 books. Wherever you stand, you can see every part of the building, and the place is bathed in a gentle, contemplation-inducing glow. It’s light years away from the dusty nooks and crannies of the old building, and a bold visual statement of Foyles’s ambition and new image.

In the age of the e-reader and Amazon, punters need a good reason to visit a bookshop, and the new story has plenty. Books aside, the focus is on the social aspect of reading. A whole floor is dedicated to events, from readings by Michael Palin and Jarvis Cocker, to themed reading groups or literary tours. The swish new café is run by Leafi, the people behind Whitechapel Gallery's smart bistro, so expect something slick rather than homely. There's also a capacious art space curated by cultural innovators Future City.

There are no real signs of the building’s former life, although one was uncovered during the redevelopment, in the form of ‘a big wall that had been given a going over by some art students’, according to the shop’s manager. This is in stark contrast to the old premises, where expansion work turned up disused rooms and even lifts that no one knew anything about.

Foyles veterans may find the new store a smidge anodyne, but any business making such a gutsy statement in favour of ink and paper, and bringing the printed word to life in such a sociable setting, deserves an exciting new chapter."


Location and Opening Hours
Foyles, 107 Charing Cross Road, London, 
Postcode - WC2H 0DT 

The nearest Underground station to Foyles is Tottenham Court Road, which is on the Central line and the Northern line. Alternatively Leicester Square, which is on the Northern and Piccadilly lines, is a 5 minute walk from the shop.

Opening hours
Christmas Opening Hours Special opening hours which vary from year to year.
Monday - Saturday 9.30am - 9.00pm
Sunday 11.30am* - 6.00pm (*11.30am - 12.00 noon browsing only)
Café The Café closes 45 minutes before the shop.

One final note on bookstores, the current record-holder for the largest bookstore is Iran has opened possibly the world's biggest bookstore still to be verified by Guiness Book of Records, as far as I can tell, but as the article indicates "In a country where literary censorship is official government policy, the fact that Iran has opened what could be the world’s biggest bookstore is all the more astonishing."

 To demonstrate the impressive range of topics that are covered, have a peek at the below listing. (Which is basically a reader friendly version of the sadly blurry picture above)

Ancient History/Archaeology/Civilisations: Floor 3
Art/Architecture: Ground Floor
Atlases/Maps/Travel: Lower Ground Floor
Audiobooks: Floor 2
Bestsellers: Ground Floor
Biography - see Popular Biography
Biology: Floor 3
Business: Floor 3
Cafe: Floor 5
Chemistry: Floor 3
Children's Books & Gifts: Lower Ground Floor
Classical Music/CDs & DVDs: Floor 2
Computing: Floor 3
Cookery/Food & Drink: Lower Ground Floor
Crime Fiction/True Crime: Floor 1
Design: Ground Floor
Dictionaries: Floor 4
DIY: Floor 3
Drama/Film/Plays/Theatre: Floor 2
DVDs: Floor 2
Earth Sciences/Geography: Floor 3
Economics: Floor 3
Education: Floor 4
EFL/English Language: Floor 4
Engineering/Technology: Floor 3
Fiction/Literature/Literary Criticism/Poetry: Floor 1
Foreign Languages/Grant & Cutler: Floor 4
Gallery: Floor 5
Gardening: Lower Ground Floor
Gender/Sexuality/GLBT: Floor 2
General Enquiries
Geography/Earth Sciences: Floor 3
Gifts/Cards/Stationery
Graphic Novels/Manga: Floor 1
Health: Floor 3
History/Politics/Current Affairs: Floor 3
Horror Fiction: Floor 1
Humanities: Floors 2 & 3
Humour: Floor 1
Jazz/Ray's Jazz: Floor 2
Law: Floor 3
Linguistics: Floor 4
Literature/Literary Criticism/Fiction
London Guides and City Writing: Lower Ground Floor
London History: Floor 3
Management: Floor 3
Manga/Graphic Novels: Floor 1
Maps/Atlases/Travel: Lower Ground Floor
Mathematics: Floor 3
MBS (Mind, Body & Spirit): Floor 3
Medicine/Medical Equipment/Nursing: Floor 3
Military History: Floor 3
Modern History/Politics: Floor 3
Music Books/Printed or Sheet Music: Floor 2
Natural History: Floor 3
Nursing/Medicine/Medical Instruments: Floor 3
Pets: Floor 3
Philosophy: Floor 2
Photography: Ground Floor
Physics: Floor 3
Plays/Theatre/Film: Floor 2
Poetry/Poetry Criticism: Floor 1
Politics/Current Affairs/Modern History: Floor 3
Popular Biography - titles are kept in related departments
Popular Medicine: Floor 3
Popular Music: Floor 2
Popular Science: Floor 3
Printed Music: Floor 2
Psychiatry: Floor 3
Psychology: Floor 3
Ray's Jazz: Floor 2
Reference Children's: Lower Ground Floor
Reference General: Floor 4
Religion/Theology: Floor 3
Sheet Music: Floor 2
Sport/Puzzles/Games/Hobbies: Lower Ground Floor
Teaching Resources/Education: Floor 4
Technology/Engineering: Floor 3
Textbooks/KS1,2&3/GCSE/A-Level: Floor 4
Theology/Religion: Floor 3
Transport: Floor 3
Travel/Maps/Atlases: Lower Ground Floor
Veterinary Medicine: Floor 3

Rubbing Shoulders With Royalty (Windsor Castle)

My original post for today, was meant to be something with one of the many zoo's I went to. 
But, with the announcement of a royal wedding on Monday 27 November 2017, I immediately remembered that time I rubbed shoulders with royalty, all the way back on 20 June 2010, a nearly 7 and a half year throw-back post, so my memory of the day is slightly hazy. Pictures help doesn't it? The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is scheduled to take place in May 2018 at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in England. 

I love the TV show Suits, and Meghan Markle is an extremely gorgeous actress, I wonder how the British Royal family would really react to the first person of mixed race heritage to marry into the British royal family? Well, that's not the reason or the purpose of my blog post today. 

Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. It is notable for its long association with the English and later British royal family and for its architecture. The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion of England by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I, it has been used by the reigning monarch and is the longest-occupied palace in Europe. 

Windsor Castle, part of the Occupied Royal Palaces Estate, is owned by Queen Elizabeth II in right of the Crown, and day-to-day management is by the Royal Household. In terms of population, Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and the longest-occupied palace in Europe, but it also remains a functioning royal home. As of 2006, around 500 people were living and working in the castle. The Queen has increasingly used the castle as a royal palace as well as her weekend home and it is now as often used for state banquets and official entertaining as Buckingham Palace.

An extremely bleak day out, yes that's English weather for you, but the opportunity to visit an actual working castle? In these modern days? Something to not be passed up!

I should point out, it had thousands of people here that day, yes, even a gloomy cold windy day like this, so to get a shot without anyone interrupting the picture is very difficult, maybe if we were a camera crew and we cordoned off the place? 

Our Tour Guide! I don't know if it's from a script they learn off, or it's something that they've developed themselves, but this particular fellow made the tour very engaging. 

My continued fascination with planes resulted me in spotting this particular one coming into land it seems? Too bad I didn't have a camera with higher resolution.. 

Proof that I was there! The back of my head 😋

Timing your visit

There is a lot to see and do at Windsor Castle, which should take between 2½ and 3 hours. The Castle is at the top of a steep hill, and the visitor route covers long distances. The Admission Centre is at its busiest between 09:30 and 11:30, so you may like to consider arriving after 11:30. You can visit the State Apartments, the Drawings Gallery, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and St George’s Chapel at your leisure using the complimentary multimedia tour, which lasts 1½ hours. Guided tours of the Precincts, which are included in the admission price, depart at half-hourly intervals from the Courtyard and last 30 minutes. St George’s Chapel closes at 16:00, although visitors are welcome to attend evensong at 17:15.

Safety & Security

For safety and security reasons, a one-way system operates along the visitor route. On arrival, you and your belongings will be subject to airport-style security checks. Please try to bring as little as possible with you as it will help you to get through security screening more quickly. Some items, such as large items of baggage, backpacks, pushchairs, pen-knives and scissors will have to be checked in and reclaimed at the end of the visit. 

Refreshments

Eating and drinking are not permitted in the State Apartments or St George’s Chapel. You will be asked to place drinks and food in closed bags before being admitted to the Castle. You can purchase bottled water at the Courtyard Shop at the beginning of your visit. Visitors wishing to leave the Castle for refreshments in the town may obtain re-entry permits from the Castle shops or the audio return point.

Photography, filming and mobile phones

Photography and filming including the use of wearable devices are not permitted inside the State Apartments, the Semi-State Rooms or St George's Chapel. Photography and filming for non-commercial purposes are welcomed in the outside areas of the Castle Precincts.  

No parts of Windsor Castle may be used as the setting for wedding photography. In consideration of other visitors, mobile phones must be switched off inside the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel.

In case anyone is wondering, why I don't have pictures of inside of the castle, this particular little restriction is the reason why, but trust me, it's gorgeous inside, have a look at the video below. It is well worth the price of admission, but please take your time and enjoy every minute as, since you can't take pictures, your memories are all that you would have. As well as the souvenir guide which is available at the castle shop, should be of some help as well. 

For further information, you can visit their website for online bookings etc.
Windsor Castle Website


The State Apartments

Visitors exploring St Georges Hall in the State Apartments at Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle has been the home of 39 monarchs, and the appearance of the State 

The State Apartments are furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Canaletto.  Many of the works of art are still in the historic settings for which they were first collected or commissioned by the Kings and Queens who have lived at Windsor.

On 20 November 1992 a fire destroyed or damaged more than 100 rooms at the Castle. Four thousand gallons of water a minute were used against the blaze at the fire’s height, the equivalent of the entire weight of Niagara Falls descending on the Castle for two seconds.  The restoration of the Castle, particularly St George’s Hall and the Grand Reception Room, is a testament to the extraordinary skills of some of the finest craftsmen in Europe.

Today Windsor's State Apartments are frequently used by members of the Royal Family for events in support of organisations of which they are patrons.

Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House

Among the highlights of a visit to Windsor is Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, the largest, most beautiful and most famous dolls’ house in the world. Built for Queen Mary by the leading British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens between 1921 and 1924, this most magical of residences is a perfect replica in miniature of an aristocratic home. 

The house is filled with thousands of objects made by leading artists, designers and craftsmen, nearly all on the tiny scale of 1:12.  From life below stairs to the high-society setting of the saloon and dining room, no detail was forgotten. Among the most striking features of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House are the library, bursting with original works by the top literary names of the day, a fully stocked wine cellar and a garden created by Gertrude Jekyll. The Dolls’ House even includes electricity, running hot and cold water, working lifts and flushing lavatories. Learn more about the House in our online trail. 

In the adjoining display two remarkable French dolls, France and Marianne, are shown with part of their extensive wardrobe of clothes and accessories. They were presented to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth for their daughters, the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose, by the French Government during the 1938 State Visit to France. The dolls’ clothes and accessories were designed and made by the leading Parisian fashion houses, including Worth, Lanvin, Cartier, Hermès and Vuitton

The Semi-State Rooms

The magnificent Semi-State Rooms at Windsor Castle
One of the best times of the year to visit Windsor Castle is between September and March, when the spectacular private apartments created for George IV are open. These Semi-State Rooms are among the most richly decorated interiors in the Castle and are used by The Queen for official entertaining.  

Building George IV's new private apartments
George IV had a well-developed love of fine objects and a taste for the theatrical.  With his architect, Sir Jeffry Wyatville, he completely remodelled the Castle’s exterior during the 1820s, giving it the romantic and picturesque appearance seen today. He also decided to create a new suite of private rooms on the sunnier east and south sides of the Castle, including the magnificent Crimson Drawing Room. This was George IV’s last and greatest commission, and one of the most lavish and costly interior decoration schemes ever carried out in England.

Fire-damaged in 1992
The Semi-State Rooms were severely damaged by the fire of 1992, although, by good fortune, their contents had been moved elsewhere at the time. They were completely restored to their 19th-century appearance using the original designs supplied to George IV.

Please be aware the Semi-State Rooms will not be open when the State Apartments are closed.

St George’s Chapel

The beautiful architectural exterior of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle
St George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England and is particularly noted for its magnificent stone fan vaulting. It is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the senior order of British Chivalry established in 1348 by Edward III.

Within the chapel are the tombs of ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I. At least three services take place every day. The chapel is closed to visitors on Sundays, but all are welcome to attend any of the services.

Please note that Monday - Saturday the Chapel closes at 16:15 (last entry 16:00) in order to prepare for the evening service at 17:15 (doors open at 17:00).

Precincts Tour of Windsor Castle

A Castle warden guides visitors through the precincts at Windsor Castle
As the perfect start to your visit, you can join a free 30-minute tour of the Castle Precincts. The tours are led by the Wardens, dressed in their striking red and black Windsor livery, and depart at regular intervals throughout the day from the Courtyard at the start of the visit. Precinct tour times are advertised on a poster adjacent to the building from which multimedia tours are issued.

The Precincts tour introduces the Castle’s 900-year history as a fortress and palace, and its role today as an official residence of The Queen.  It ends at the entrance to the State Apartments on Henry VIII’s North Terrace, from where spectacular views of the surrounding countryside can be enjoyed.

Changing the Guard at Windsor Castle

The Changing the Guard Ceremony, the Lower Ward, Windsor Castle
Changing the Guard at Windsor Castle encompasses colourful spectacle and British pageantry.

When the ceremony takes place
The ceremony usually takes place at 11:00am within the Castle grounds on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, weather permitting.  Please note that this schedule is set by the British Army and is subject to change. We advise you to check the Army website before visiting.

What happens?
Changing the Guard, also known as ‘Guard Mounting’, begins with the Windsor Castle Guard forming up outside the Guard Room. In due course, the new Guard will arrive, led by a Regimental Band, Corps of Drums or occasionally by a Pipe Band. During the 45-minute ceremony, the handover of duties will take place, including the changeover of sentries. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the old Guard will return to Victoria Barracks in Windsor town. When The Queen is in official residence, the parade takes place on the Castle Forecourt.

Where can I watch it?
Changing the Guard processes through Windsor town and then takes place inside the Castle Precincts. To access the Castle visitors must purchase a Castle ticket to watch the full ceremony.

History
The privilege of guarding the Sovereign traditionally belongs to the Household Troops, better known as ‘the Guards’, who have carried out this duty since 1660. For operational and other reasons, this privilege is periodically extended to other regiments of the British Army. The Guards consist of five infantry regiments – the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards – and two regiments of the Household Cavalry – the Life Guards and Blues and Royals. Most of the Guards will have seen action overseas.

Multimedia tours at Windsor Castle

Multimedia guide handset
To make the most of your time at Windsor, pick up one of the free multimedia tours in the Courtyard at the start of your visit.

General tour
Available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian and Mandarin.

The tour is introduced by The Prince of Wales, Chairman of Royal Collection Trust and takes you through the Castle Precincts, the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel. The commentary provides a lively guide to the Castle’s history, from William the Conqueror, through medieval expansion, George IV’s gothic transformation and The Queen’s use of the Castle today. 

Along the route, staff of the Royal Household explain the role of the Castle today as an official residence of The Queen and talk about their work, from arranging a State Banquet for 160 guests to restoring the historic interiors following the devastating fire of 1992. Woven into the tour are the unique sounds of the Castle, from the music of St George’s Chapel choir to the chimes of the famous collection of clocks.  

Family multimedia tour

Aimed at children aged 7-11, available in English

Collect your handset and listen to Horace, a timeless tutor, and Tommy, his pupil, who are your guides.  They introduce you to the many magical characters who live at Windsor Castle, including Gilbert the Grotesque and Cyril, a Page of the Back Stairs.

Tour for blind and partially sighted visitors

An audio descriptive tour in English is available for blind and partially sighted visitors.

The tour provides information about the Castle as well as directions and location information to assist visitors throughout their visit.

How to get there?

By train: To Windsor & Eton Central or Windsor & Eton Riverside from London Waterloo or London Paddington (National Rail Enquiries Service 08457 484950 (UK)).

By coach: Green Line operates daily services from Victoria Coach Station, London.

Tour companies operate excursions to Windsor Castle from many London hotels. For details, please ask your hotel concierge.

By road: M4 to Exit 6. M3 to Exit 3.

There is no visitor car parking at the Castle, so visitors are advised to use public car parks in the town centre. Details about car parks can be found on the council's car parks page. 

Address: Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1NJ

Opening times and admission prices

Opening times  

March to October  
Open daily from 09:30


Last admission is 16:00
Castle closed at 17:15

November to February  
Open daily from 09:45

Last admission is 15:00
Castle closes at 16:15
A typical visit lasts 2-3 hours.

Admission to the Castle is busiest immediately after opening and throughout the morning. For the best experience we recommend you arrive after midday, especially during the summer and on public holidays.

Closures  
Windsor Castle is closed on:
6 December
25 - 26 December
15-17 January 2018
20 April 2018

Windsor Castle early closures/late opening dates:

State Apartments closed on:
20 November
8 December
12 December
5 - 19 January 2018
23 January 2018
19 April 2018
21 April 2018

The Semi-State Rooms

Please note that the Semi-State Rooms are only open during the winter months between September and March. Please be aware the Semi-State Rooms will not be open when the State Apartments are closed. 

St George's Chapel closures

St. George’s Chapel is closed to visitors on Sundays as services are held throughout the day. Worshippers are welcome to attend the services. These occur at the following times: 
08:30 – Holy Communion
10:45 – Mattins and Sermon
12:00 – Sung Eucharist
17:15 – Evensong

The Chapel's opening hours are different on the following dates: 

31 October St George's Chapel opens at 13:00
23 December St George’s Chapel closes at 13:00
24 December St George's Chapel closed to visitors but open for services

As a working royal palace, the Castle is used frequently by The Queen for State ceremonies and official entertaining, and closures can occasionally occur at short notice.  

Admission prices (all include a multimedia tour)

Standard admission

Ticket 2017 Price
Adult £20.50
Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £18.70
Under 17/Disabled £12.00
Under 5 Free
Family (2 adults, 3 under 17s) £53.00

When the State Apartments are closed

Ticket 2017 Price
Adult £11.30
Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £10.30
Under 17/Disabled £7
Under 5 Free
Family (2 adults, 3 under 17s) £29.60
Admission to the Castle is free to residents of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead with an Advantage Card.

Admission prices for groups (15+) 

Standard groups admission
Ticket 2017 Price
Adult £18.50
Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £16.90
Under 17/Disabled £10.80
Under 5 Free
Book tickets

When the State Apartments are closed
Ticket 2017 Price
Adult £10.30
Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £9.30
Under 17/Disabled £6.30
Under 5 Free
Book tickets