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.

It takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to Oxford but en-route we recommend lunch in a nice riverside pub in Henley Upon Thames.

Oxford is home to the oldest University in the English speaking world. The University comprises of different colleges which are essentially communities of students. Most of the colleges are enclosed by a large wall within which you can see, dormitories, a dining hall, library and chapel. In terms of architecture and arrangement, the colleges are very similar so we will visit one, usually New College. If you are interested in the Harry Potter movie series, then a few scenes were shot at this college. In addition to the colleges, there are the libraries and schools to visit and, of course, time for souvenir shopping.About 1.5 – 2 hours in oxford is enough and then it is about 1 hour 30 minutes back to central London.