One of the three official residences of the Monarch, Windsor Castle is the largest occupied castle in the world. Building began in the late 11th Century and almost every monarch since has left their mark on the castle and grounds.

Inside the castle you will visit the ‘State Apartments’ which are the rooms traditionally used by the monarchs. There are displays of art including works by Rubens and Van Dyke and many examples of antique furnishings. Some rooms are still used including St Georges Hall, where State Banquets for up to 160 guests are held. You can also visit 16th Century St Georges Chapel, first and foremost a working chapel, it is also a venue for royal weddings and the final resting place of many Monarchs. A guard change takes place at 11.00am although may not be every day. Note that there will be occasions during the year when the Castle or parts of it are closed to the public. In particular St Georges Chapel is closed on Sundays. Also note Windsor Castle is closed on Tuesdays & Wednesdays.

A visit to Windsor castle takes about 2 – 2.5 hours. Plenty of places to have lunch in Windsor or to save time, a sandwich to take away to eat en-route to Hampton Court. It is about 30 minutes by taxi to Hampton Court.

Hampton Court Palace was used as a royal residence from early the 16th Century until the mid 18th Century. The most famous monarch with whom the palace is associated is King Henry VIII. The oldest part of this palace dates from early 1500s when owned by the very influential and confidant of King Henry, Thomas Wolsey. When Wolsey fell out of favour with Henry, the King took over the palace and developed it further. Sections of the 16th Century palace remain in particular the kitchens and Great Hall.

Much of Henry’s palace was demolished to make way for the new baroque palace for King William III and Queen Mary II in the late 17th and early 18th Century. The rooms of the Palace are magnificent and there furnishings and art works on display as you tour the rooms. In addition to the actual palace, there are beautifully manicured gardens and even a popular maze to get lost in!

From Hampton Court, it is about a 30 minute train ride back into central London.