The Long Walk at Windsor
There are iconic facades all over the world, some of which conjure up a mental image immediately. If I said the Taj Mahal, you'd probably think of a white building with pillars and a long pool in front of it. If I said Buckingham Palace, you'd think of a huge palace with soldiers dressed in red standing guard.
This is a photo of Windsor Castle. Perhaps not quite as iconic as Buckingham Palace, but famous in its own right for the many royal weddings that have taken place here. The most recent was, of course, the wedding of Harry and Megan who were married in St. George's Chapel here on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
If you, like me, got up at 4:00 a.m. to watch the wedding, you probably remember this "pathway" lined with people waving flags and shouting their words of congratulations to the happy couple. I had never seen "the Long Walk" before and really didn't know much about Windsor Castle, but Harry and Megan's wedding made me curious.
And you know what happens when I get curious? I figure out a way to go see the thing I'm curious about, which I did in 2019 with my youngest daughter.
On our day in Windsor (which we absolutely fell in love with, by the way) we visited the castle, its grounds, and St. George's Chapel. Yes, it was thrilling to see St. George's because standing in the spot where the famous wedding photos were taken, just at the top of the stairs, was incredibly cool.
But more than that, I was surprised (AND THRILLED) when, inside the chapel near the quire, I looked down and saw that I was standing on the tomb of Henry VIII!!!! I had no idea that that's where he was buried! And in my eyes, Henry VIII is just as much a celebrity as Harry, so I wondered why he had such an unimpressive tomb that I very nearly tripped over it. (That question is answered in this article.)
[As a side note, I recently read this book about Henry’s 6th wife, Katharine Parr, and found it REALLY interesting. If you’re in to Tudor history like I am, definitely check it out.]
After our tour of the castle, we strolled through the grounds of Eton College, the famous prep school where William and Harry attended. Yes, the boys really do wear top hats and tails to class!
Finally, after our own "long walk," we found the actual "Long Walk" and plopped ourselves down on the grass for a while. Lots of people were there, resting or picnicking. And what a view! I can see why it's the Queen's favorite residence.
Here are a few facts about Windsor Castle and the Long Walk:
Windsor Castle is over 900 years old and the longest occupied castle in Europe.
There are over 1,000 rooms in the castle!
It's larger than Buckingham Palace.
Over 150 people reside in the castle or its grounds today.
The Long Walk is 2.6 miles long.
No motorized vehicles or bicycles are allowed on the Long Walk.
Only two people can drive their vehicle on the Long Walk--the groundskeeper and the Queen who often uses this path to church on Sundays.
Getting There
A day trip to Windsor from London is surprisingly easy by train and definitely worth a visit.
Simply get on a train at Paddington heading to Windsor (be sure to buy a “return” ticket—it will cost you about $30). You’ll have to change trains at Slough, but even that is super easy—you just get off one train, walk across the platform and get on another. The second ride is less than 10 minutes and takes you straight into central Windsor. From there, it’s about a 5 minute walk to the castle.
Visiting Windsor Castle
Tickets to the castle cost about $30 and can be purchased online here. This includes an audio tour of the castle and some of the grounds, including St. George’s Chapel. Plus, you can convert your ticket to a one-year pass by which, when you print out and sign your ticket you receive free admission for one year after your first visit. So if you’re going to be in London more than once in a year, you can visit Windsor Castle for FREE!
A day, or even a half day, in Windsor is really worth the 30 minute trip outside of London. You’ll see a gorgeous castle and a beautiful town. You may even trip over Henry VIII’s tombstone!
