Windsor - The Home of The Queen of England

Windsor Castle, the favorite home of the Queen of England is the largest castle in the world, and completely dominates all lines of sight in the small town of Windsor just to the west of London. Thanks to the presence of the royal family throughout much of the year, this quiet town has developed into being at the center of ceremonial life in the United Kingdom, and no matter when you pay a visit to the town, you will discover a place that offers you the opportunity to get to grips with some of the best museums, art collections, and architecture in the world.

Much of Windsor castle is open to the public, and there are frequent guided tours available. The gardens are absolutely stunning, landscaped to reflect the various areas of the country, and large enough to accommodate a hunting party when required. The interior of the castle is truly exceptional. King Georges Hall in the castle dates back hundreds of years, and is exactly as it was during the middle ages. The modern aspects of the building have been added sympathetically in order not to overshadow the more historic elements of the design and construction.

Within easy reach of Windsor Castle is Hampton Court. While Windsor is at essence a functional building where the glory of empire is created through the fixtures, Hampton Court was designed to be the grandest palace in the world, and every one of the hundreds of rooms in this incredible building is a work of art. Featuring the famous botanical gardens at Kew, the Maze, and one of the most impressive collections of art -- the Royal Collection -- in the world, Hampton Court was built to impress rival heads of state, and it succeeds at every turn. It is possible to spend several days exploring the grounds alone thanks to the number of small perfect gardens that are hidden within the design, while the interior of the palace takes at least three hours to walk around without seeing anything in particular detail.

Windsor itself is one of the most over priced areas in the world when it comes to shopping -- there is nothing that you can't buy for half the price in nearby Reading, but if you want to find authentic souvenirs of your time in one of the great royal towns of Britain, then Windsor is definitely the place to buy them.