To commemorate the 100th anniversary, a new book titled The Miniature Library of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House by Elizabeth Clark Ashby has been published. It explores the stories behind the creation of the Dolls’ House Library and includes excerpts from selected works, some reproduced for the first time.

Queen Mary's Dolls' House

What is Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House

Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House is the largest and most famous doll’s house in the world. Constructed in the early 1920s and finished in 1924, Queen Mary's Dolls' House was created for Queen Mary of Teck, consort of King George V. The miniature marvel was the brainchild of architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and showcased the talents of numerous prominent artists and craftspeople of the era.

Where is it located?

Queen Mary's Dolls' House is in a specially designed room, part of the State Apartments. The house itself is behind a large glass case, with a mechanism that allows its facade to be lifted, revealing the rooms inside.

How to access Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House

Access to Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House is included in all Windsor Castle tickets.

Things to know before booking Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House tickets

Ticketed entry: When you book a ticket for Windsor Castle, access to Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House is included in the price. You do not need to purchase a separate ticket to view it.
Accessibility limitations: Step-free access is available to the Dolls’ House via a lift from the North Terrace. There is also ramped access from Engine Court to an alternative entrance of the State Apartments. The route within the State Apartments involves some steps between different rooms, but there are alternative step-free routes using lifts.
Timings: Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House follows the opening hours of Windsor Castle (10am to 5:15pm from Mar to Oct and 10am to 4:15pm from Nov to Feb). However, entry to the State Apartments, where the doll’s house is located, typically closes 30 mins after the last admission time for the castle itself.
Closures: As Windsor Castle is a working royal palace, the entire castle or parts of it, including the State Apartments, can be closed at short notice for official events or other reasons. Check the official Royal Collection Trust website for the most up-to-date closure information.

Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House in a nutshell

Year built: 1921-1924
Founders: Princess Marie Louise and architect Sir Edwin Lutyens
Must-see highlights: Library, wine cellar, royal bedrooms, garden, miniature art collection, Strong Room, and Crown Jewels.
Unique facts:
Everything in the house is meticulously crafted to a scale of 1:12 (one inch to one foot).
The dollhouse boasts fully functioning electricity, running hot and cold water, and even working lifts!
The house includes miniature replicas of the Crown Jewels and tiny throne chairs.

What to see inside Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House

Built to a 1:12 scale and standing over three feet tall, Queen Mary's Dolls' House is a marvel of miniature craftsmanship, featuring scaled replicas. Its detailing extends to the objects within, many of which are 1/12th-size copies of items found in Windsor Castle.

Furnishings

The house boasts authentic carpets, curtains, and working electric lights. The bathrooms are fully plumbed with running water and a functioning flush toilet with miniature toilet paper. Other features include monogrammed linens, working lifts, and a garage housing cars with operational engines.

Library

Renowned authors penned nearly 600 original, scaled-down books for the house's library, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's How Watson Learned the Trick alongside works by Thomas Hardy, Rudyard Kipling, and Joseph Conrad.

Music

The library also consists of works of miniature musical pieces by composers such as Gustav Holst, Frederick Delius, Arthur Bliss, John Ireland, and Arnold Bax.

Cellar and pantry

No domestic detail was overlooked in the dolls' house, which includes a fully provisioned cellar and pantry, as well as a kitchen. The exceptional attention to detail extended to the wine cellar, stocked with 1,200 appropriately sized bottles filled with real top-tier champagnes, wines, spirits, and beers.

Garage

Befitting a grand residence, the dolls' house includes a five-bay garage on its west side, housing a fleet of miniature automobiles. These include models from Daimler, Lanchester, Rolls-Royce, Sunbeam, and Vauxhall, each maroon and black with embossed royal coats of arms or ciphers. Here, you can see a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost seven-seater limousine-landaulet.

Secret garden

A hidden gem is the secret garden, revealed by pulling out a large drawer beneath the main structure. Designed by Gertrude Jekyll, it features miniature greenery and gardening tools, all in a traditional ornamental style based on studies at Kew Gardens.

Saloon and dining room

The Dining Room was designed for large-scale formal entertaining. The elaborate silver tableware, both in use and displayed, would serve eighteen guests. For formal gatherings outside of mealtimes, the Saloon on the floor above would have been utilized. Its suite of chairs and sofas is styled after Louis XV and upholstered in detailed petit point embroidery.

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History of the Dolls’ House

The vision for Queen Mary's Dolls' House originated with Queen Mary's cousin, Princess Marie Louise. It was at the 1921 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition that she proposed the idea to Sir Edwin Lutyens, a leading architect of the era.

Leveraging her extensive network within the arts, Princess Marie Louise enlisted the skills of the foremost artists and craftsmen of the time to contribute their talents to the project. Conceived as a gift from the nation to Queen Mary, the doll's house also served as a historical record, illustrating the royal family’s lifestyle during that period.

Subsequently, the doll's house was displayed to generate funds for the Queen's charitable endeavors. Its initial public showing was at the British Empire Exhibition of 1924–1925, attracting over 1.6 million visitors. Today, it remains a popular tourist attraction at Windsor Castle.

Know before you go

Timings

Getting there

The Castle is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Nov 1 to Feb 29: 10am to 4:15pm (Last entry: 3pm)
Mar 1 to Oct 31: 10am to 5:15pm (Last entry: 4pm)

Entry to the State Apartments closes 30 mins after the last admission time.

Windsor Castle timings

Address: Windsor Castle, Windsor SL4 1NJ, United Kingdom | Find on Maps

By bus: 702, 703
Nearest stop: Parish Church (Stop J)
By train: GWR, South Western Railway
Nearest station: Windsor & Eton Central
By car: Via A4 and M4
Nearest parking: Romney Lock and King Edward VII car parks on Datchet Road
By guided tour: Evan Evans Tours
Nearest stop: Windsor Castle

Getting to Windsor Castle

Viewing only: The dollhouse is for viewing only. You cannot touch or interact directly with the house or its contents. It is typically displayed behind glass to protect the delicate miniatures.
Photography: Photography is strictly prohibited to prevent damage to sensitive materials.

Frequently Asked Questions about Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House

Is access to Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House included in the Windsor Castle ticket?

Yes, entry to Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House is included with the standard Windsor Castle admission ticket.

How old is Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House?

The doll’s house is over 100 years old, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024.

How many people contributed to the doll’s house?

The completed house was the product of 250 craftspeople and manufacturers, 60 artist-decorators, 700 artists, 600 writers, and 500 donors.

What are the opening hours for Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House?

From March 1 to October 31, the castle is open Thursday to Monday, 10am to 5:15pm, with the last admission at 4pm. From November 1 to February 28, it's open Thursday to Monday, 10am to 4:15pm, with the last admission at 3pm.

Can I purchase souvenirs related to Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House?

Yes, the Windsor Castle gift shop offers a range of souvenirs, including items inspired by the Dolls’ House.

Are there any publications about Queen Mary's Dolls' House?

To commemorate the 100th anniversary, a new book titled The Miniature Library of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House by Elizabeth Clark Ashby has been published. It explores the stories behind the creation of the Dolls’ House Library and includes excerpts from selected works, some reproduced for the first time.