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Contents
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.
Royal chambers
The King's and Queen's suites are on the second floor, accessible via a marble staircase. Each room has specific articles and decorations, like a Faberge mouse and a Cartier longcase clock. Other highlights include George Plank's ceiling painting, of the opening notes of the National Anthem in the garden trellis and the blue-grey damask walls.
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.
New works
In 2024, the library was enriched with 20 new manuscripts commissioned by Queen Camilla as part of a project celebrating modern British literature, with contributions from Sebastian Faulks, Elif Shafak, Anthony Horowitz, A. N. Wilson, Jacqueline Wilson, Philippa Gregory, and Tom Parker Bowles.
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.
Paintings
Miniature paintings were also provided by artists like Eli Marsden Wilson, Edith Mary Hinchley, Gladys Kathleen Bell, and Christopher Adams. Notably, two pen-and-ink drawings by the late G. Howell-Baker were sent by his sister.
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.
Nursery
The uppermost floor features 2 bedrooms, 4 lobbies, and 6 rooms, all filled with reminders of childhood and family moments. The Day Nursery overflows with miniature toys and the walls are adorned with fairy tale murals by Edmund Dulac, a leading illustrator from the 1880s to the 1920s.
Saloon and dining room
The Dining Room was designed for large-scale formal entertaining. The elaborate silver tableware, both in use and displayed, would service 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.
Staff rooms
In contrast to the opulent bedrooms, the staff quarters on the lower and upper mezzanine floors offer a look at the daily lives of household staff. The simple furnishings include a bed with a chamber pot and wire-sprung mattress, and dressing tables with basic toiletries like toothpaste and washstand sets.
Book Windsor Castle tickets
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 timingsAddress: 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
- 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.