l o n d o n f o r r e s t

While Corey was in Milan for his quarterly trip with the boys, I figured I could still get out and about to do some touring on my own. Why not travel to the vacation spot where the queen hosts her family Christmas?

Beautiful gardens within the walls of the castle.

The image on the left is Queen Elizabeth’s first Christmas broadcoast in 1952, and the image on the right was her broadcast from 2014.

When she is no longer the Queen, all of the placards, signs, and emblems will be changed.

Windsor Castle is only about a 45 minute train ride away from our flat, so last Sunday, I ventured out to see the grounds.  The castle was actually more of a small community rather than one large castle, and along the paths to each building, there were large placards showcasing the Queen’s reign over time. She is now the longest standing monarch in this country. I also learned about jubilees- celebrations to honor the Queen’s 25th year (Silver Jubilee), her 50th year (Gold) and her 60th year (Diamond) as a ruler.

This caption reads “The Queen of Scots, Sovereign of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle and Chief of the Chiefs, Balmoral 2010”. That is power.

This round tower has an underground water tank in the ‘likely’ event of a siege?

The view of Windsor Castle when you arrive at the Windsor & Eton train station.

An inside look at the castle grounds- this area was gated off to the public.

See that wee little crown?

The best parts of the tour were the opulent State Apartments where royalty has hosted huge feasts, where some kings have painted the ceilings in their liking, and where an entire room was dedicated to elaborate porcelain tea sets.  Some of the rooms are decorated to reflect a specific reign, such as King George IV’s crimson room, while others honor the collection of the crown’s artwork, or the crown’s defense.  I really enjoyed the extra touches during this holiday season as many of the rooms were decorated with Christmas trees, lights, sweetmeats, and wreathes.

No pictures were allowed inside of the State Apartments, but that would make for a boring post, so please enjoy the few that I snatched while the guards weren’t looking.

The Crimson room where everything is decked out in a rich velvety red.

This banquet room might be longer than a football field, and the ceiling holds the crests of many families that protected the crown.

The artwork given to royalty was incredibly crafted or designed. One story I heard on the audio guide was that a porcelain maker spent so much time on a royal tea set that he went broke.

Initially supposed to honor fallen military leaders or heroes, this room became a space that presented weaponry as art.

After my time on the castle grounds, I wandered through the quaint neighborhoods, and discovered a road called the Long Walk (see below). I honestly didn’t feel a call to action for this one as it was three miles one way.

The Long Walk.

He’s got you covered.

The chapel at Windsor Castle is supposed to be amazing with its stained glass, but it’s not open to the public on Sundays since they use it for mass.

A little lane near the castle.

A neighborhood church.

Overall, I enjoyed my visit to Windsor castle,  and I have a year long pass to return with my validated ticket from the Royal Collection Trust. But if you’ve got limited time in London, then I might suggest visiting another landmark that has more culturally interesting surrounding areas.  After the castle tour, I felt pretty underwhelmed with the number of outdoor shopping malls filled with people doing their holiday shopping at the base of this historic site.

Oh wait…maybe this shop would lure some friends out to Windsor? Another reason to come visit me in London?