Windsor Castle & the Changing of the Guard
Tuesday, January 28
Windsor Castle is the main residence of the Queen!
The town of Windsor lies outside of London and isn't the easiest to get to. I took the Tube from Covent Garden to Paddington Station. I hadn't ever been to Paddington before, so it was cute to see this (below). It's an open book. I should've sat by him and had someone take our photo.
Almost missed the train from Paddington because they changed the platform on me right at the last minute! Had to make a run for it like an idiot. It was a huge train and jam packed to the brim; I had to stand in an area between two cars and get jostled around. I got off this train at Slough and then waited a bit for a smaller train to Windsor.
I had researched the best spot to be for the changing of the guard in Windsor and when to arrive. This event happens only on certain days and at 11:00 am. A few photog's said the stairs of the Guildhall was nice, so that's where I stood.
I was then able to follow them around the corner to the castle.
I had a coffee and walked around Windsor for a bit. It was a sunny and mild day, but windy. Very enjoyable.
During this time I walked part of "The Long Walk," which leads to one of the entrances of the castle.
You can't take photos inside, but this was maybe one of my favorite chapels I've been in so far. It's where Meghan and Harry got married. Here are some photos I didn't take to give you an idea. Everything was very ornate. The stained glass and famous people buried there were the best parts for me.
Next I went into the State Apartments. The audio guide was really helpful here, explaining what each room is used for. Of course everything is opulent and historic. Several rooms were involved in the fire in 1992, so it was interesting to hear how they were restored. I loved walking in the rooms that the Queen herself uses regularly for guests, seeing the views out the windows that she does.
I made the mistake of trying to take a photo out one of the windows--the view of the Long Walk. I was waiting for a family to move out of the way and then took my phone out and positioned it. One of the staff quickly came over to me and said, "There's no photography! Didn't you hear me tell the last woman?!" Nope, I couldn't hear that because of the headphones that are currently in my ears. I wasn't even taking a photo of anything inside! She was pretty rude and that ruined the next couple of rooms for me.
The State Apartments alone probably took an hour to get through. After that, I went into all the gift shops to find which Windsor magnet I liked the best. (I get a magnet from everywhere I visit.) It's interesting that the different gift shops at these places carry some of the same stuff but also slightly different stuff, so I have to compare and contrast options.
I gave everything one more look and then exited through the castle gates. I get so sad leaving places like this because who knows when (if) I'll ever get to go back.
Made the trek back to London. Train from Windsor to Slough, train from Slough to Paddington, Tube from Paddington to Covent Garden. Once back in London, I walked around a bit in the early evening and came across Trafalgar Square again. Took this good looking photo there. I thought the lighting looked nice. I love London.
Went to dinner at, what I believe to be, a trendy place called Ivy Market Grille. I sat at the bar, pictured here. Pretty beautiful in there.
It was hopping during happy hour. I had the shepherd's pie and this bottle o' ale.
Windsor Castle is the main residence of the Queen!
The town of Windsor lies outside of London and isn't the easiest to get to. I took the Tube from Covent Garden to Paddington Station. I hadn't ever been to Paddington before, so it was cute to see this (below). It's an open book. I should've sat by him and had someone take our photo.
Almost missed the train from Paddington because they changed the platform on me right at the last minute! Had to make a run for it like an idiot. It was a huge train and jam packed to the brim; I had to stand in an area between two cars and get jostled around. I got off this train at Slough and then waited a bit for a smaller train to Windsor.
I had researched the best spot to be for the changing of the guard in Windsor and when to arrive. This event happens only on certain days and at 11:00 am. A few photog's said the stairs of the Guildhall was nice, so that's where I stood.
I was then able to follow them around the corner to the castle.
This was neat to see and I'm glad I arrived early to be there. I'm sure the show is better inside the castle itself, but the castle website encourages visitors to go in the afternoon. I've read that all the tour companies do their visits in the morning, so it's very busy. I took the advice of the castle and didn't go in until about 1:30 pm.
I had a coffee and walked around Windsor for a bit. It was a sunny and mild day, but windy. Very enjoyable.
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| The first view of "The Long Walk" as I turned the corner. This leads way out of town. |
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| Your view as you turn back around to look at the castle. |
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| And from waaaaay back. |
It is, indeed, a long walk. Then I made my way back up.
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| It's really hard to trust other people to take photos haha. |
It was now sufficiently time to enter the castle and I was the only one going in when I arrived, so my strategy worked perfectly.
It's really nice in there. I enjoyed it. It came with an audio guide, which is my favorite. There were two areas to explore, St George's Chapel and the State Apartments. I went to the chapel first.
This video is the walk down to St George's Chapel--it's on the right side.
And in this video it's the structure in the middle.
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| This stained glass above the back door was impressive. |
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| Near the altar. |
Many kings and queens and other royalty are buried here. Henry VIII is right in the center of the checkered area above, as well as his third wife, Jane Seymour. I have read so much about Henry VIII, so I sat and observed that one for a while and took it all in. Queen Elizabeth's parents are also buried at St George's.
Here are some photos of the outside that I did take myself. This is kind of a courtyard area outside of St George's.
I made the mistake of trying to take a photo out one of the windows--the view of the Long Walk. I was waiting for a family to move out of the way and then took my phone out and positioned it. One of the staff quickly came over to me and said, "There's no photography! Didn't you hear me tell the last woman?!" Nope, I couldn't hear that because of the headphones that are currently in my ears. I wasn't even taking a photo of anything inside! She was pretty rude and that ruined the next couple of rooms for me.
The State Apartments alone probably took an hour to get through. After that, I went into all the gift shops to find which Windsor magnet I liked the best. (I get a magnet from everywhere I visit.) It's interesting that the different gift shops at these places carry some of the same stuff but also slightly different stuff, so I have to compare and contrast options.
I gave everything one more look and then exited through the castle gates. I get so sad leaving places like this because who knows when (if) I'll ever get to go back.
Made the trek back to London. Train from Windsor to Slough, train from Slough to Paddington, Tube from Paddington to Covent Garden. Once back in London, I walked around a bit in the early evening and came across Trafalgar Square again. Took this good looking photo there. I thought the lighting looked nice. I love London.
Went to dinner at, what I believe to be, a trendy place called Ivy Market Grille. I sat at the bar, pictured here. Pretty beautiful in there.
It was hopping during happy hour. I had the shepherd's pie and this bottle o' ale.
Ended the evening with a couple glasses of wine and snacks at my hotel. (Shout out to Z Hotel--really love it!) I was ready for my last day in London and also ready to be home!