Probably the most famous of all Castles in Britain, Windsor has been in the custody of 37 British Monarchs. It has seen over 1,000 years of British history and has been much altered over that time.
Today, Windsor Castle and park is still used by the current Monarch, mostly as a weekend retreat. This access most areas visit is a fascinating insight into the Monarchy and British history through the ages.
Each private tour is conducted in our premium Mercedes minivans, ensuring your comfort as we venture along the metropolitan streets of London.
Your knowledgable private tour guide will tell you the stories and show you the sights on this tour. We offer flexibility and your time inside and outside the vehicle is up to you.
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Tour duration
Half day (9am-1pm or 1pm-5pm)
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We pick you up
We’ll collect & return you from your central London hotel, cruise port or airport
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Receipt for your booking immediately
Inclusions:
- All-inclusive private tour
- Door to door service
- Dedicated private tour guide and driver
- All travel costs
- Luxury Mercedes tour van
Exclusions:
- Lunch (we can recommend a place)
- Entrance into attractions & sites
- Gratuities (optional)
KEY SIGHTS ON THIS TOUR…
Windsor Castle
After Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle is the principle Royal Residence in England and is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. There has been a royal presence on the site since Anglo-Saxon times (9th c.). William the Conqueror developed the present site, constructing a mound and stockade around 1070 and it has been home to 39 monarchs since.
Windsor has been much altered over the years; Henry II replaced the 11th c. development with a stone tower and outer defences, extended by Henry III In the 13th c. Edward III made the royal chapel the seat of the Order of the Garter in 1348 and converted the upper ward to residential apartments for the monarchs, rebuilt by Charles II and again George IV. By the 17th c. Charles II had rebuilt much of Windsor, adding a set of extravagant Baroque interiors with ornate Rococo, Gothic and Baroque furnishings. During the late 18th c. George III and George IV renovated the Royal Palace and Queen Victoria made a few minor changes in the 19th c. to provide suitable environment for grand Victorian entertainment.
Despite being an obvious target, Windsor has survived three Wars. Its status as a military headquarters and a prison for Charles I (son of the last King of Scotland) meant it was well defended during the English Civil War and use as a refuge by the royal family during the blitz bombing campaigns of the Great War and Second World War.
Today, you can visit much of Windsor Castle’s two district areas, the upper and lower wards.
The Upper Ward
The upper ward includes the state apartments, the Waterloo Chamber, St. George’s Hall, and the grand reception. Tthe royal library contains a priceless collection of works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Hans Holbein the Younger and other Old Masters.
The Lower Ward
The lower ward includes Albert Memorial Chapel and St. George’s Chapel, one of the best example of Gothic-style architecture in the world. One of two royal mausoleums, it contains the bodies of Henry VI, Edward IV, Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, Charles I, Edward VII, and George V. The Albert Memorial Chapel, built by Henry VII was restored by Queen Victoria and named in memory of her consort. George III, George IV, and William IV are buried here.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II spends most of her private weekends at Windsor. It attracts over 1.6 million visitors annually.
St George’s Chapel
St George’s Chapel is the one of the finest examples of English gothic architecture, the final resting place of 10 members of royalty and where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married in May 2018.
The long Walk
From Windsor Castle gate to the foot of the The Copper Horse (statue of King George III), The Long Walk is a This tree-lined avenue that measures 2.64 miles. It is one of the most iconic features of Windsor Great Park.
Legend has it that Snow Hill was where King Henry VIII waited for news of the execution of his second wife, Queen Anne Boleyn. The path we see today only came into existence during the reign of King Charles II who had taken inspiration from the grand gardens at Versailles near Paris.
Queen Anne had a road constructed down the avenue in 1710 so that coaches could travel through the park on a smooth surface. A little way down from the Castle, the Long Walk is crossed by the Albert Road where we will take in the view back towards Windsor Castle.
Guiding is restricted in most of the castle to avoid overcrowding but complimentary audio guides are provided and your guide will provide the commentary on history and what to see and do there on the drive to Windsor from London.
SUGGESTED TOUR ROUTE…
Each tour we operate is unique and designed to your requirements. Here is an example of this tours route…
- Distance Instructions
- Distance 22 miles
- Time 47 min
- Speed 28 mph
- Min altitude 0 ft
- Peak 0 ft
- Climb 0 ft
- Descent 0 ft
ALL OF OUR TOURS COME COMPLETE WITH…
LOCAL TOUR GUIDE
We are passionate, professional and full of personality. Let us share our knowledge of England
HOTEL / AIRPORT / CRUISE PICK UP
We’ll collect & return you at the start and end of the tour
BOTTLED WATER
Premium still and sparkling water is provided in glass bottles
PREMIUM MERCEDES MINIVAN
Our minivans offer luxury interiors and excellent legroom for up to 7 people and their bags
ONBOARD WIFI
Stay connected to friends and family on tour with unlimited super-fast wifi
RECENT CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
Heather C
Our tour was a wonderful and immersive experience with Hazel, who has a wealth of historical knowledge! Tremendously affable, she took us to several unexpected points of Outlander related interest, a delicious place for lunch and our private tour felt like spending the day with [...]
ML
If you're reading this review trying to decide if you want to book this tour, let me tell you that you absolutely should! You will not regret it and will have memories for a lifetime. I highly recommended his tour. Alexander thank you for an [...]
Martin L
We actually took the full day tour and I can't say enough good things about our tour experience and, more importantly, our guide Alexander (Sandy). He was top notch. He immediately made us feel at home. Alexander was down to earth, funny and SO knowledgeable. [...]
Alex M
We went on a tour with Hazel today. She was a rock star! We had the best day ever! She was so friendly, knowledgeable and kind! She was very attentive to our interests and we truly enjoyed her company. She’s the best tour guide ever!