WINDSOR CASTLE ARCHITECTURE
About Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is one of the oldest and largest castles in the world. Its architecture, from medieval stone walls to modern restorations, reflects centuries of history. Its grand halls, towers, and chapel reflect the evolution of design and craftsmanship and represent British heritage. The castle, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, has been a royal residence for nearly 1,000 years and remains a historical landmark. Its architecture reflects contributions from monarchs across centuries, including Henry II, who fortified its early structure, and Henry III, who began transforming it into a grand royal residence. Later additions by Henry VII and King Henry VIII introduced Tudor elements, while Queen Elizabeth I and George III made significant updates, blending historical styles with their own visions for modernization.
A fortress, palace, and town
Windsor Castle’s grounds cover about 5.3 hectares, including a fort, palace, and small town. The castle is an iconic building with a complex layout that has evolved over its thousand-year history. Its design has been adapted to serve both as a home for the royals and a fortress, mixing medieval, Gothic, and Georgian architectural styles. Since the 14th century, its architecture has evolved, blending historical styles with new ideas. The current design is mostly Georgian and Victorian, built on medieval foundations with some modern Gothic touches. The castle we see today took shape through stages and a series of building phases, with its final touches coming after reconstruction following a fire in 1992.
Design and structure
Windsor Castle has a simple and well-organized layout, reflecting its dual role as a royal residence and fortress. At its center stands the Round Tower, situated on a natural mound that separates the castle into the Upper and Lower Wards. The Upper Ward houses private and grand State Apartments, including royal art collections. The Lower Ward is home to St George’s Chapel, known for its Gothic architecture, historical significance, and its role as a venue for royal events. The Outer Ward includes the castle’s defensive walls, towers, main visitor entrance, and administrative facilities. The North Terrace provides great views across the Thames Valley and provides access to the castle’s public areas. The castle is surrounded by gardens, both private areas for the royal family and formal gardens open to visitors.
Central Ward
The Central Ward of Windsor Castle is built in a medieval style. The Round Tower, originally constructed on a raised mound for defense in the 12th century, was later updated with some Gothic features in the 19th century, combining its original design with later architectural additions.The Round Tower is in its center, situated on a natural mound, which divides the castle into the Upper and Lower Wards. This mound, a 15-meter-tall chalk hill known as the ‘motte,’ supports the tower, which was extended in the 19th century by architect Jeffry Wyatville. In the 1990s, the tower’s interior was renovated to create space for the Royal Archives. Interestingly, the tower is not perfectly round due to the shape of the hill, and some critics have noted that it appears too tall for its width. The western entrance to the Middle Ward leads to the North Terrace, while the eastern exit passes through the Norman Gatehouse. Built in the 14th century, the gatehouse has vaulted ceilings, carved decorations, and medieval lion masks. Wyatville redesigned its exterior, which was later transformed into living spaces.
Upper Ward
The Upper Ward of Windsor Castle is an example of grand 19th-century Gothic architecture. It’s built to look dramatic from a distance with its tall towers and battlements and dramatic details. It houses the private royal apartments, the Grand State Apartments, and key features like the Edward III Tower and Round Tower. Following the 1992 fire, the restoration uncovered parts of the original 12th-century structure, blending medieval and modern designs.
The State Apartments
The State Apartments in Windsor Castle, located on the north side of the Upper Ward, are the grandest part of the Upper Ward. They are built on medieval foundations from Edward III’s time. Architect Hugh May designed the western end, while Jeffry Wyatville created the eastern side and most interiors in the 19th century, displaying various styles like Classical, Gothic, Rococo, and Baroque.
Highlights include the Rococo Grand Reception Room, with its ornate ceiling and restored French tapestries, and the White, Green, and Crimson Drawing Rooms, decorated with intricate carvings featuring war themes. After the 1992 fire, some sections were rebuilt in the Downesian Gothic style, combining modern and Gothic elements, such as the oak-roofed St. George’s Hall. The ground floor includes medieval features like the 14th-century Great Undercroft and Larderie passage, restored to resemble historic abbey design.
Book our guided tours of Windsor Castle and discover its stunning architecture!
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Windsor Castle Small-Group Guided Tour
Discover the historic town of Windsor and explore 11th-century Windsor Castle on our small group guided tour. Walk through the home of the British royal family and the largest continuously occupied castle in the world. Learn the interesting stories about the royal family from your guide. Tour the State Apartments and see the royal art collection. Explore the famous St George's Chapel, a Gothic architectural masterpiece and royal wedding venue.
Per group up to 6
Windsor Castle Private Tour
Visit Windsor and explore Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest castle still in use. See the lavish State Apartments and St George's Chapel, a wedding venue for many royals and a burial place for kings and queens. Learn about its royal history with a private guide. Explore the prehistoric Stonehenge and learn about the secrets of this ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a comfortable trip with hotel pickup and drop-off, tailored to your pace, for a VIP Windsor Castle experience.
Lower Ward
The Lower Ward of Windsor Castle, located west of the Round Tower and accessed through the Norman Gate, combines medieval and Victorian Gothic architecture. The central place in the ward belongs to St. George’s Chapel, a masterpiece of the Perpendicular Gothic style, with decorated wooden choir stalls, Victorian stained glass, and detailed stonework.
The 13th-century Lady Chapel, which was transformed into the Albert Memorial Chapel in the 19th century, features marble, mosaics, bronze, and its original 1246 iron door. Other highlights include the Horseshoe Cloister, a timber-and-brick structure from 1480 restored in 1871, and the Curfew Tower, a 13th-century fortification with a dungeon and 15th-century bells. The south side of the Ward includes Henry VIII’s gateway, which displays Catherine of Aragon’s coat of arms, and the Military Knights’ buildings, which still keep their 16th-century design. The Lower Ward’s Gothic style reflects Victorian updates built upon its medieval foundations.
St George’s Chapel
St. George’s Chapel, on the north side of the Lower Ward, is the home of the Order of the Garter. Built in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, it is an excellent example of the Perpendicular Gothic style. The chapel has decorated wooden choir stalls from the 15th century, restored in the 18th century, with brass plates showing the arms of the Knights of the Garter. The east stained glass window dates to the Victorian era, and Henry VIII added the oriel window for Catherine of Aragon. The vault near the altar holds the tombs of Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, and Charles I, with Edward IV buried nearby. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest examples of English Perpendicular Gothic design.
Outer Ward & terraces
The Outer Ward includes the castle’s outer walls and towers, forming a defensive perimeter. It also houses the visitor entrance, along with administrative offices and facilities. The North Terrace, situated on the north side of the Upper Ward, offers views of the Thames Valley and leads to the State Apartments. The castle features two terraces: the North Terrace, overlooking the River Thames, and the East Terrace, which faces a park and includes a rose garden from the 1820s, later updated after World War II and opened to the public in 2020.
Windsor Castle Gardens
Windsor Castle’s gardens include the East Terrace Garden, a formal rose garden with 3,500 bushes created in the 1820s and reopened to the public in 2020. The castle is surrounded by Home Park, featuring the 4.26 km Long Walk, and Windsor Great Park, a 5,000-acre woodland area. The gardens blend formal and natural designs, reflecting 18th- and 19th-century traditions. They include neatly trimmed areas, tree-lined avenues like the Long Walk, and carefully arranged flowerbeds and shrubs.
Fire and recovery
The 1992 fire at Windsor Castle destroyed 115 rooms, including nine State Rooms. Significant areas affected included St. George’s Hall, where the roof collapsed, the Grand Reception Room, the Private Chapel (where the fire started), the State Dining Room, and the Crimson and Green Drawing Rooms. By 1997, the castle was fully restored, combining historical accuracy with modern improvements to preserve its legacy.
Recent restorations
In 2020, the Inner Hall was reopened, and a new visitor route to the State Entrance Hall was completed. The restoration recreated the large entrance hall originally envisioned by George IV. The State Entrance, traditionally used by Heads of State and official guests, is now part of the visitor route, offering stunning views of the Long Walk, designed by Charles II.
During the renovation of the Inner Hall, layers of paint were removed to reveal intricate ceiling designs by Francis Bernasconi, a renowned plasterer from the Regency period. The Inner Hall is part of a section of the Castle dating back to the mid-14th century when Edward III transformed Windsor into a Gothic palace. Today, Windsor Castle continues to function as both a working royal residence and a popular visitor attraction, displaying its rich architectural and historical legacy.
Explore the architecture of Windsor Castle on your own with our bestselling tickets!
Access to castle & St George's Chapel
Windsor Castle Online Discount Ticket
Visit Windsor Castle, the world's oldest castle still occupied today, and discover centuries of history. With this ticket, you can explore the State Apartments and see royal treasures and art masterpieces. Enjoy a self-guided tour of St George's Chapel with a multimedia guide available in multiple languages. Walk through the extensive lawns surrounding the castle and enjoy the atmosphere of this iconic royal residence. Your ticket is valid for one whole day, giving you enough time to explore at your own pace!
Half day tour
Windsor Castle Entry Ticket with Tour and Transportation
Escape central London on a half-day tour to Windsor. Travel in comfort on a luxury bus to the historic town of Windsor. Visit Windsor Castle, an official residence of King Charles III, with a Skip-the-Line ticket and a multimedia guide. Learn about the castle's history, explore its grounds, and visit the famous St George's Chapel to see its impressive architecture. Enjoy some free time to explore at your leisure before returning to London.