Experience the life of royalty in Windsor If you go
British royalty has been calling Windsor Castle home since the days of William the Conqueror almost a thousand years ago, and it’s still a favored castle of Queen Elizabeth. And while commoners can’t stay at her digs, the town of Windsor is a cozy spot for a peaceful and charming last night in England before flying out of London.
Windsor, which is just under the landing path of planes coming into London’s Heathrow Airport, is a delightful town at night. It has inexpensive B&Bs (compared to London prices), a wonderful pedestrian zone along the Thames River and in the shadow of the hulking castle and an enticing array of small restaurants and pubs. It also works as a day trip from London, only 20 miles away and accessible by train in under an hour.
Day or night, the castle dominates the town. William built the first fortification in the late 11th century for himself and his occupying Norman forces. Meant for defense more than comfort, it was basically just an earthen mound surrounded by a stockade with a lookout tower. Back then, castles were crude, cold, damp and dark, with little privacy. (I’ve stayed in youth hostels like that.) But with easy access to London and a handy hunting forest nearby, it was only a matter of time before later royals began enhancing the site as a sumptuous palace.
Nowadays, the castle’s lavish state apartments are open whenever the queen isn’t in residence (she flies her standard from the castle’s Round Tower when she’s home — usually on weekends). Dripping with chandeliers, finely furnished and strewn with history and the art of a long line of kings and queens, these royal rooms are the best I’ve seen in Britain.
You’ll view a grand vestibule decorated with exotic items seized by British troops as they colonized various corners of the world, plush rooms wallpapered with heroic portraits, and some of the finest works from the royal art collection.
The spectacular (and huge) St. George’s Hall is decorated with the colorful emblems of the knights of the chivalric Order of the Garter. For state banquets, the queen sets a single table stretching the length of the hall, seating 160 guests. (The cooks in the kitchen keep their clocks set five minutes fast to be sure that the queen’s meal is never late.) You know you’re important if you’re invited for a “dine and sleep” — dinner followed by a sleepover.
Besides the lavish state rooms, visitors can have a look at Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House. Made for the current queen’s grandmother in 1924, this miniature masterpiece is executed in astonishing detail. Each fork, knife and spoon on the expertly set banquet table is made of real silver, and the tiny pipes of its plumbing system have running water.
The castle grounds are also home to St. George’s Chapel, one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. Dating from about 1500, it holds the tombs of 10 sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his favorite wife, Jane Seymour (perhaps because she was the only one who died before he could divorce or behead her).
During World War II, then-Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, spent much of their time at Windsor, safely away from the bombing in London. The castle survived the war years unscathed, but 50 years later, on Nov. 29, 1992, a catastrophic fire destroyed some of its finest spaces. It took 15 hours
Qand 1.5 million gallons of water to put out the blaze, and five years and about $55 million to restore it.
For another view of British privilege, head across the Thames from Windsor to the neighboring village of Eton, home to the most famous private high school in Britain. Eton College has molded the characters of 19 prime ministers, as well as members of the royal family (most recently Princes William and Harry).
Today, this exclusive enclave educates about 1,300 boys (ages 13 to 18). A guided tour gives visitors a glimpse of the schoolyard, chapel, cloisters and a museum dedicated to “Eton life” (whose artifacts include the birch whips once used to discipline students).
Even if you’re not touring the school, it’s worth the few minutes it takes to wander up Eton’s High Street, a mix of antique shops, boutiques and restaurants. Architecture buffs will appreciate some finely preserved shop fronts with typical 15thcentury timber framing.
While 99 percent of visitors come to Windsor just to tour the castle and go, overnighters have the added pleasure of attending evensong in St. George’s Chapel, with a glorious fan-vaulted ceiling overhead, Henry underfoot and the banners of the knights of the Garter all around. Consider this as a royal send-off for your last night in Great Britain.