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- London To Windsor Castle Tours
- St George's Chapel
- State Apartments
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- Changing of the Guard
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- Windsor Castle vs Buckingam Palace
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Windsor Castle vs Buckingham Palace | Contrasting Royal Icons
Windsor Castle vs Buckingham Palace
Windsor Castle
A castle that's been around for almost 1,000 years, Windsor Castle is one the most famous symbols of royalty worldwide. Tucked away in southeastern England in Berkshire, it has seen its fair share of kings, queens, and presidents.
Major highlight: The Grand Reception Room is adorned with real gold and chandeliers, making it a popular spot for important guests like US President Joe Biden.
Location: Windsor SL4 1NJ | Find on Maps
About Windsor Castle
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace in London is the official residence of the British sovereign. A crown jewel of the UK, a celebration of British culture, and history.
Major highlight: The Throne Room is just dripping with luxury. The raised platform with red and gold chairs oozes grandiosity.
Location: London SW1A 1AA | Find on Maps
About Buckingham PalaceHighlights of Windsor Castle vs Buckingham Palace
Windsor Castle
Grand Reception Room: Windsor Castle’s Grand Reception Room is decorated with grand chandeliers and invaluable gold.
Waterloo Chambers: George IV added the Waterloo Chamber to the State Apartments to celebrate Napoleon Bonaparte’s defeat in 1815.
Historic rooms: Built for Charles II and his Queen, Catherine of Braganza, the Historic rooms are a series of rooms that grow smaller as you approach the main private spaces.
Semi-State Rooms: George IV created the Semi-State Rooms, the private apartments of the royals, while Morel & Seddon, the official furniture suppliers to the British monarchy, did the interiors.
Buckingham Palace
State Rooms: Monarchs and members of the Royal Family are received and entertained in the State Rooms.
Throne Room: The Throne Room, designed by architect John Nash, houses the UK monarch's throne.
Ballroom: The Ballroom is the largest among the State Rooms in Buckingham Palace and was completed in 1855 during Queen Victoria’s reign. It is used for official purposes like State Banquets.
Picture Gallery: Another John Nash creation, the Picture Gallery inside Buckingham Palace displays the greatest paintings in the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, and Canaletto.
Major differences between Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace
Size
Buckingham Palace: Buckingham Palace is huge (we're talking 108 meters long by 24 meters wide), and covers a whopping 828,821 square feet
Windsor Castle: Windsor Castle is a more modest 48 meters by 24 meters, which comes in at 484,000 square feet.
Gardens
Buckingham Palace: Buckingham Palace beats Windsor Castle when it comes to gardens. The palace boasts the biggest private garden in all of London, sprawling over a whopping 39 acres.
Windsor Castle: Windsor Castle has its own East Terrace Gardens, but it’s only 13 acres; impressive, but not quite as grand.
Age
Windsor Castle: Windsor Castle is the older of the two – it's been around for over 900 years! William the Conqueror, who invaded England way back in 1066, built it in 1070.
Buckingham Palace: Buckingham Palace, on the other hand, is fairly new. Its history started in the early 1700s, with construction coming to an end in 1705.
Fortification
Windsor Castle: Windsor Castle is fortified with walls and towers —the whole shebang.
Buckingham Palace: Buckingham Palace is more like a luxurious apartment building for the royals. It's grand and impressive, but it wasn't built to withstand a battle!
Open to public
Windsor Castle: Although Buckingham Palace is bigger, Windsor Castle is the one that shares the spotlight year-round. You can visit it any time you like.
Buckingham Palace: Buckingham Palace only opens its doors to tourists between July and October. However, you can still peek at the Queen's Gallery or the Royal Mews all year round.
Rooms
Windsor Castle: Buckingham Palace might be the more enormous building, but Windsor Castle is bigger on the inside! Windsor Castle has over 1,000 rooms.
Buckingham Palace: Buckingham Palace, however, only has around 775 rooms, including everything from fancy royal apartments to bathrooms and offices.
Book Windsor Castle tickets & tours
Know before you go
Timings
Best time to visit
Rules
Facilities
Accessibility
Dine
Shopping
Windsor Castle
- November 1 to February 29: 10am to 4:15pm (Last entry: 3pm)
- March 1 to October 31: 10am to 5:15pm (Last entry: 4pm)
Note: The castle is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Buckingham Palace
- July 10 to August 31: 9:30am to 7:30pm (Last entry: 5:30pm)
- September 1 to 28: 9:30am to 6:30pm (Last entry: 4:30pm)
Note: The palace is open every day in July and August but is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in September.
Windsor Castle
Visit between March and May or mid-September to October on weekdays, especially Tuesday–Thursday around 10am. This will allow you to catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony at 11am. During these months, the State Apartments are usually open to visitors unless the Castle is being used for ceremonial purposes.
Buckingham Palace
Visit during late July to early September to get access to the State Apartments, preferably between Tuesday and Thursday, around 9:30am or 10am. You can also catch the Changing of the Guard around 10:45am. Make sure to check the temporary exhibitions available at the King’s Gallery and see if it’s something you don’t want to miss.
Windsor Castle
- Photography is prohibited inside the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel.
- Large backpacks and pushchairs are not permitted in the State Apartments.
- Pets, other than assistance animals, are not allowed inside.
Buckingham Palace
- Photography is prohibited inside the State Rooms.
- Eating and drinking are prohibited inside the palace, barring bottled water.
- Bags and suitcases larger than 45cm × 20cm × 30cm cannot be taken into the Palace.
- Only service animals are allowed inside.
Windsor Castle
- Cloakroom
- Free multimedia guides in English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and BSL with subtitles
- Family multimedia tour in English
- Breastfeeding is allowed anywhere within the Castle
- Baby-care facilities
Buckingham Palace
- Toilets
- Baby-care facilities
- Baby carriers and hip seats available
- Breastfeeding is allowed anywhere within the Palace
- Free multimedia guides in English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and BSL with subtitles
- Family multimedia tour in English
Windsor Castle
- Service animals allowed
- Audio-descriptive tour in English for blind and partially-sighted visitors
- Accessible toilets
- Wheelchair accessible
Buckingham Palace
- Service animals allowed
- Descriptive audio guide in English for blind or partially sighted visitors
- Wheelchair accessible
Windsor Castle
Undercroft Café: Sandwiches, wraps, salads, and an exclusive selection of teas and sweet treats.
Note: Eating and drinking are prohibited in the State Apartments and St George's Chapel.
Buckingham Palace
- Garden Café (West Terrace): Light bites, cakes, ice creams, hot and cold drinks
- Ice-cream stands
Note: Eating and drinking are not permitted inside Buckingham Palace.
Windsor Castle
- Windsor Castle Shop: Visit the castle shop for luxury gifts and china ranges inspired by those found in the collection in the China Museum.
Buckingham Palace
- The King’s Gallery Shop: Collectible range of china, homeware, postcards, jewellery, and even gold life-size thrones in the children’s area
- Buckingham Palace Road Shop: Visit the official palace shop for the best selection of authentic, royal-inspired gifts and souvenirs.
- The Royal Mews Shop: Shop a range inspired by coaches, carriages, and horses used by The King and members of the Royal family.
- The Garden Shop: Shop for luxury cakes and tea at the café on the West Terrace and discover a range of Royal gifts.
Frequently Asked Questions about Windsor Castle vs Buckingham Palace
Are Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace open to the public?
Yes, both Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace are open to the public, but the former is open for a longer period than Buckingham Palace. Windsor Castle and its gardens are open all year round, whereas Buckingham Palace is open only in the summer.
What events take place at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace?
Ceremonial and state visits, family-guided tours, and coronations happen at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.
Can I see the Changing of Guard at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace?
Yes, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace are the only two places where the Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place. The Changing of the Guard takes place at Buckingham Palace Forecourt every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 10:45am and lasts 45 minutes. The ceremony takes place at 11am at Windsor Castle grounds on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Which is the official residence of the British monarch: Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace?
Windsor Castle is the official residence of the British monarch. Buckingham Palace is the administrative headquarters. However, both are currently unoccupied by royalty.
Who owns Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle?
Contrary to popular belief, neither is owned by the monarch. Both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle are owned by the Crown, the executive arm of the State.
Which one did Queen Elizabeth II prefer?
Queen Elizabeth II preferred Windsor Castle in Berkshire and Balmoral Castle in Scotland over Buckingham Palace. Windsor Castle is where the Queen was based from 2011 until she died in 2022.