Hi friends, welcome back to my Paris and London Anniversary series 🙂 We started our second full day in London getting coffee at Watch House, our favorite coffee shop of the trip. I will say the coffee in Paris seemed pretty weak, so it was nice having stronger coffee in London. We also stopped by the bakery Buns from Home for a delicious tiramisu cinnamon bun. They specially made this flavor for me and it was delicious! I’d definitely recommend sharing this treat because it’s very rich.
After enjoying our treat, Â Jon and I boarded the train to Windsor to see the queen! I was very excited to visit Windsor Castle, especially because the queen was there. The train there was quite empty and we had a short walk from the train station to the castle entrance. We got there around 12:30 pm and had our tickets purchased so we could walk right in. I was trying to time our visit for after the tour groups leave and I think it worked out nicely.
Windsor Castle has been a royal home for more than 900 years and is Queen Elizabeth’s favorite place to reside. Construction began on the castle in 1071 by William the Conqueror and each monarch added on to create the massive 951-room palace.
The Royal Standard flies from the Round Tower to say the queen is at Windsor. She was there while we were in Windsor, but we didn’t get a glimpse of her or her beloved corgis
In 1992 an accidental fire engulfed one fifth of the palace. To help fund the restoration costs, Queen Elizabeth opened Windsor to visitors and now over one million people file through each year. We toured the State Apartments and saw Queen Mary’s Doll House, complete with working electricity and plumbing. Depending on the events the queen is hosting, some areas might be closed so it’s worth double checking ahead of time.
Pictures are prohibited inside, but touring Windsor Castle was awesome. Sometimes it’s nice not being allowed to take pictures so I can focus on being present instead of getting the perfect shot. There was a free audio guide that I thought was well done and gave a good, organized tour. I blocked off the whole day to visit so we could take our time and see it all.
Jon and I also got to see St. George’s Chapel where Meghan and Harry got married. This elaborate church was built in the gothic style in the 1500s. Pictures aren’t allowed inside like at Westminster, but the interior was beautiful!
Queen Elizabeth II’s father George VI, Queen Mum, and her sister Princess Margaret are all buried in here as well as Prince Phillip. Henry VIII and Charles I (with his head sewn back on) Edward IV, and Mad King George III are also buried in this spectacular church.
The Lower Ward is where about 150 staff of the Queen live and offers a great view of the entrance to St. George’s Chapel.
I picked up this cute ornament at the gift shop to celebrate the Jubilee 🙂
After finishing up at Windsor Castle, we walked through town and around to the Long Walk front gates to get a different view. We really enjoyed seeing Windsor and would highly recommend visiting if you have time in your schedule!
For dinner we made it back to Pilgrim Pizza and it was delicious! They had wood fired pizza and we also got some yummy garlic bread.
I hope you enjoyed our day in Windsor! Next up is our final day of the trip starting in the picturesque Notting Hill neighborhood.
Posts in my Paris and London Anniversary series:
Paris
- Day 1 – Saint Chapelle, the Concierge, and Notre Dame
- Day 2 – Palace of Versailles
- Day 2 – Versailles Garden
- Day 2 – Touring the Versailles Summer Homes
- Day 3 – Louvre Museum
- Day 3 – Champs Elysees & Arc de Triomphe
- Day 4 – Montmartre & Sacre Coeur
- Day 4 – Musee d’Orsay & Crepes
- Day 5 – Luxembourg Gardens & Eglise Saint-Eustache
- Day 5 – Going up the Eiffel Tower
- Day 6 – Rodin Museum
- Day 6 – Palais Garnier & Galleries Lafayette
London
- Day 7 – Westminster Abbey
- Day 8 – Tower of London
- Day 8 – Tower Bridge & St. Paul’s Cathedral
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