Windsor Berkshire A Town Of Historical Significance
Windsor is located in the county of Berkshire England and is home to about 30,000 people and a very famous castle. The town is in close proximity to the Thames and is considered one of the better places to live in the UK. The name of the town was New Windsor to differentiate it from the older settlement of Old Windsor that originally was the home of the king. It was moved to its current location in 1086 by Henry I and the change of the town name just happened in 1974. Windsor Berkshire is home for the Queen today but there is much more to see too.
Windsor has always been a rather rich town where the privileged gathered and this was because of the large taxes of those that lived there. By 1332 it was one of the wealthiest towns in all of England. Because of the wealth many construction projects were planned and brought in many workers who made a good deal of money and this enabled merchants to locate in town.
Many stores still line the streets today. There are the many souvenir and gifts shops especially situated around the castle. Department stores, toy stores, clothing stores and other larger stores can also be found in town. Peascod Street is know most for its shopping experiences but it is also one of the oldest streets in town dating before the castle was even built. You can shop to your hearts content just on this one street.
Of course Windsor Castle is the main tourist attraction in town. This is still a royal residence to this day and allows the town to have many things a small town would never have like 2 railway stations and large hotels. The castle is the oldest and the biggest occupied castle in the world. In the castle are the State Apartments, St. Georges Chapel where 10 kings and queens are buried, and Queen Marys Dolls House a miniature doll house built for Queen Mary. Visitors can tour the castle March to October and November to February. This is a working castle so it may be closed at the last minute.
Windsor is also the home of LEGOLAND. Take kids aged 3 to 12 there and the whole family will have a great time. You can ride amusement style rides or self propelled rides. You can see all kinds of shows and even build from LEGO blocks. LEGOLAND is open March to November and check for hours because they tend to vary.
Because the castle is the home of the queen there is a Changing of the Guard Ceremony that can be viewed from inside the castle. The Guard begins marching up High street about ten fifty am and proceeds to the lower ward guardroom in the castle where the ceremony lasts about thirty minutes. From April to July the ceremony takes place every day but Sunday as long as the weather is nice. From August to March it occurs every other day except when inclement weather threatens.
There are several other tourist sites that you should not miss and they include Windsor Great Park, Savill Garden and Eton College. If you get hungry you are sure to find a great restaurant in town and when you get tired you can stay in one of the many hotels. If you visit during the end of September you may be in for a treat. Windsor hosts a nice arts festival where you can take in films, see dance recitals, hear a concert and many other activities. Often times popular celebrities from all over the world participate.
