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Windsor Castle vs Buckingham Palace | Contrasting Royal Icons
Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace lead the United Kingdom’s iconic landmarks. The former, situated in Berkshire, is nine centuries old and the oldest occupied castle globally. Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace in London is the British monarch's official residence. However, both are owned by the Crown, the executive arm of the State and not by the monarch personally. Read on to learn more about these historic monuments.
Windsor Castle vs Buckingham Palace
Windsor Castle
Located in a ceremonial southeast county called Berkshire, Windsor Castle remains the foremost symbol of royalty worldwide. It is over nine centuries old and used for ceremonial visits from monarchs and presidents.
Major highlight: The Grand Reception Room is adorned with real gold and chandeliers.
Timings: 10am to 4:15pm (1 November to 29 February), 10am to 5:15pm (1 March to 31 October)
Location: Windsor SL4 1NJ | Find on Map
About Windsor Castle
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the grand and royal London residence of the British monarch. It is the UK’s most valuable building and a testament to the country’s culture, history, and ethos.
Major highlight: Buckingham Palace’s Throne Room bleeds luxury. Each element in the room, including the raised platform and red and gold chairs, ooze grandiosity.
Timings: 9:30am to 7:30pm (11 July to 31 August), 9:30am to 6:30pm (1 to 29 September)
Location: London SW1A 1AA | Find on Map
About Buckingham PalaceMajor differences between Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace
Size
Buckingham Palace is much bigger than Windsor Castle, measuring 108 meters by 24 meters compared to Windsor’s 48 meters by 24 meters. While Buckingham Palace measures 828,821 square feet, Windsor Castle measures only 484,000 square feet.
Gardens
Buckingham Palace beats Windsor Castle when it comes to gardens. The former has the largest private garden in London, spread over 39 acres. However, the East Terrace Gardens in Windsor cover 13 acres. The Buckingham Gardens are only open in summer while the latter is open all year.
Age
Windsor Castle is the older of the two. It is over 900 years old, built by William the Conqueror in 1070 after the Norman Conquest in 1066. On the other hand, Buckingham Palace’s history can be traced back to the early 18th century, built in 1705.
Fortification
One other difference between Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace is that the former is fortified but Buckingham Palace isn’t. This is mainly because Windsor was built with the strategic purpose of defense while Buckingham serves a residential purpose.
Open to public
Though Windsor Castle is significantly smaller, it is open to public all through the year to the public. However, Buckingham Palace is open to public only between July and October. Only the Queen's Gallery and the Royal Mews in Buckingham are open all year.
Rooms
Although Windsor Castle is smaller than Buckingham Palace, the castle has more rooms. Windsor Castle has over 1000 rooms whereas Buckingham Palace only has 775 rooms. This includes the state rooms and royal apartments, bathrooms, and offices.
Highlights 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 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.
Know before you go
Rules
Facilities
Eat
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. Store them in the cloakroom in the China Museum.
- Animals other than assistance animals are not allowed inside.
Buckingham Palace
- Photography is prohibited inside the State Rooms.
- It is prohibited to eat and drink 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
- Service animals allowed
- Free multimedia guides in English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and British Sign Language (BSL) with subtitles
- Family multimedia tour in English
- Audio-descriptive tour in English for blind and partially-sighted visitors
- Breastfeeding allowed anywhere within the Castle
- Accessible toilets
- Baby-care facilities
- Wheelchair accessible
Buckingham Palace
- Toilets
- Baby-care facilities
- Service animals allowed
- Baby carriers and hip seats available
- Breastfeeding allowed anywhere within the Palace
- Free multimedia guides in English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and British Sign Language (BSL) with subtitles
- Family multimedia tour in English
- Descriptive audio guide in English for blind or partially sighted visitors
- Wheelchair accessible
Windsor Castle
Undercroft Café: Sandwiches, wraps, salads, exclusive selection of teas and sweet treats.
Note: Eating and drinking is not permitted in the State Apartments or 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.
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. The former is open for a longer period than Buckingham Palace.
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.
Which one 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 are 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 and Balmoral Castle in Scotland over Buckingham Palace. Windsor Castle, in fact, was the Queen was based out of since 2011 until her death in 2022.
Can I see the Changing of the Guard at both Windsor Castle and Buckinhgam 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 for about 45 minutes. The ceremony takes place at 11am at Windsor Castle grounds on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.