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- London To Windsor Castle Tours
- St George's Chapel
- History
- Architecture
- Inside
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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.
Timings: 10am to 4:15pm (November 1 to February 29), 10am to 5:15pm (March 1 to October 31)
Location: Windsor SL4 1NJ | Find on Map
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.
Timings: 9:30am to 7:30pm (July 11 to August 31), 9:30am to 6:30pm (September 1 to 29)
Location: London SW1A 1AA | Find on Map
About Buckingham PalaceMajor differences between Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace
Size
Buckingham Palace is huge (we're talking 108 meters long by 24 meters wide), while Windsor Castle is a more modest 48 meters by 24 meters. Buckingham Palace is a whopping 828,821 square feet, while Windsor Castle comes in at 484,000 square feet.
Gardens
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 has its own East Terrace Gardens, but it’s only 13 acres; impressive, but not quite as grand.
Age
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, 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 is fortified with walls and towers —the whole shebang. 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
Although Buckingham Palace is bigger, Windsor Castle is the one sharing the spotlight year-round. You can visit it any time you like. 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
Buckingham Palace might be the more enormous building, but Windsor Castle is bigger on the inside! Windsor Castle has over 1,000 rooms, whereas Buckingham Palace only has around 775 rooms, including everything from fancy royal apartments to bathrooms and offices.
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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, 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.
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.
- 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
- 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, 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.
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.
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.
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.