Windsor Castle architecture | Design & grandeur of the world’s largest inhabited castle

Step into St. George’s Chapel, the castle’s Gothic jewel, where pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and stained glass windows tell stories of centuries past. You can also spot Gothic touches in parts of the State Apartments, carefully restored after the 1992 fire with elegant Gothic Revival details.

During the Victorian era, architect Sir Jeffry Wyatville added turrets, towers, and battlements, giving the castle a cinematic feel reminiscent of the grandeur portrayed in The Crown. The best place to see these highlights up close is inside the Crimson and Green Drawing Rooms, where Victorian opulence is on full display.

Jeffry Wyatville was an English architect, famous for his meticulous attention to detail and for blending historical elements with modern design. His notable works include transforming Buckingham Palace and designing several Gothic-style country houses.

A prominent architect and antiquarian, Edward Blore was recognized for his restoration work on historic buildings. He notably redesigned the east front of Buckingham Palace, adding the iconic central balcony, and contributed to the restoration of Lambeth Palace.

Anthony Salvin specialized in constructing and restoring castles, country houses, and churches. He is best known for his restoration of Alnwick Castle and his work on reconstructing the White Tower of London, highlighting his expertise in preserving historical architecture.

Hugh May was a distinguished architect of the Restoration era, remembered for designing the rebuilt Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford. His work exemplifies classical architecture, reflecting his skill in creating harmonious and elegant spaces.

Windsor Castle was built on a strategic site above the Thames River, next to the Saxon royal hunting grounds, to guard the western approach to London. Construction began around 1070 under William the Conqueror and was completed 16 years later.

By the late 1100s, Henry II replaced the wooden structures with stone. He created two sets of royal apartments: a State residence in the Lower Ward and a private residence in the Upper Ward. Later, Henry III rebuilt Henry II’s buildings, including a new chapel.

In the 1350s, Edward III transformed Windsor Castle from a military stronghold into a Gothic palace, spending a whopping £50,000, more than any previous English king had spent! Bishop William of Wykeham led the renovations, which included an inner gatehouse with round towers and separate royal apartments for the king and queen.

Richard II continued Edward III’s work for six years after the king’s death. Later, Edward IV began construction of the present St George’s Chapel in 1475 and added modern touches to the royal apartments.

Henry VII added a narrow range west of the State Apartments, while his son, Henry VIII, built a gate in his name and a wooden terrace overlooking the hunting grounds. By the 1570s, Elizabeth I undertook repairs and improvements, including a long gallery overlooking the North Terrace. This gallery would later become part of the Royal Library in the 19th century.

Charles II modernized the State Apartments in 1660, updating interiors with luxurious textiles and tapestries. By 1684, these became the grandest Baroque royal apartments in England. The Long Walk, a 2.65-mile avenue leading from the castle into Windsor Great Park, was created during Charles II’s reign.

George III commissioned renovations to give the State Apartments a neoclassical style, adding a Music Room and Dining Room. In 1796, architect James Wyatt transformed the exterior into a Gothic palace, introducing a vaulted ceiling in the entrance hall and replacing the Queen’s Stairs with the Grand Stairs.

William IV continued the renovations, adding the Waterloo Chamber and extending St George’s Hall. Furnishings in the French Empire style were supplied by the Morel & Seddon firm. Around £300,000 was spent on the project by 1828!

Queen Victoria installed a private chapel at the end of St George’s Hall and rebuilt the Grand Staircase. The Royal Mews and riding school were completed in the 1840s. She used the Inner Hall for nearly 30 years, until 1866, when architect Anthony Salvin closed it off to create a smaller State Entrance Hall.

On November 20, 1992, a fire broke out in Queen Victoria’s private chapel, spreading to the roof and damaging St George’s Hall and several State Apartments. Led by the late Prince Philip, the Restoration Committee repaired and rebuilt the damaged areas. Some rooms were restored in modern Gothic style, while others were returned to their pre-fire appearance.

In 2020, the Inner Hall was reopened, and a new path to the State Entrance Hall was created for Heads of State and visitors. Layers of paint on the Inner Hall ceiling were removed, revealing intricate designs, including works by Regency stuccoist Francis Bernasconi.

Step into the heart of Windsor Castle, and you’ll find yourself in the Middle Ward, built atop a man-made mound rising 50 feet high. Imagine all the chalk that was dug from the surrounding ditch to create this hill! On it sits the Round Tower, a 12th-century marvel that was raised by 30 feet in the early 1800s by Jeffry Wyatville, giving it an even more commanding presence.

As you explore, you’ll notice two main ways to enter the Middle Ward. From the west, a gateway opens directly onto the North Terrace. Head east, and you’ll encounter the 14th-century Norman Gatehouse. Walk through its vaulted arches, admire the intricate carvings and lion masks and continue naturally toward the Upper Ward.

Look closely at the walls: the exterior is crafted from sturdy Bagshot Heath stone, while the interiors are lined with plain bricks. These tall towers and battlements were designed to impress, inspired by the 18th-century picturesque movement.

Not far from the chapel is the Horseshoe Cloister, once home to the church singers. Restored in 1871, only fragments of the original remain, but it still hints at the castle’s musical past. Nearby, you’ll find one of the oldest surviving features of Windsor Castle: the Curfew Tower, complete with a dungeon, a sally port, castle bells from 1478, and a clock from 1689.

Built between the late 1400s and early 1500s in Gothic style, St George’s Chapel is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Step inside to admire the ornately carved wooden choir stalls from the 1400s. Look to the north, and you’ll spot an older oriel window, commissioned by King Henry VIII for his wife, Catherine of Aragon.

The chapel also serves as a royal resting place. Beneath the floor in the vault in front of the altar lie Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, Charles I, and the late Queen Elizabeth II. Historians regard St George’s Chapel as one of England’s finest examples of Gothic architecture, where artistry, history, and royal legacy come together at every turn.

Windsor Castle’s State Apartments are a delight for architecture lovers. Designed by Jeffry Wyatville, each room has its own style, with the French Rococo rooms being the most famous. The Grand Reception Room is the largest, featuring a Rococo ceiling and gold leaf decorations, while rooms like the Queen's Presence Chamber still retain their 1600s Baroque charm.

Other rooms show Gothic designs from the 1700s or Victorian era. After the 1992 fire, Giles Downes restored several areas in the “Downesian Gothic” style, including the Lantern Lobby, private chapel, Great Kitchen, and the new roof of St George’s Hall.