Windsor Castle

Today, I took another Grayline tour, tour 17: Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, and Cream Tea. I called their office last night to make sure that they had the right hotel down to pick me up at. No problem being picked up this time. It was another hot English day again, I think even hotter than previously. But I really was so excited about seeing Windsor Castle that I could mostly ignore the heat. I took this photo on the cross bridge near the train station (where the buses park). The British flag is no longer flying at half–mast. But I think that the best view is on the approach to the castle and quite a distance from it but I was on the wrong side of the bus to be able to take it. Windsor Castle is southeast of London, not too great of a distance away.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Walking up to the castle after our bags were X–rayed and/or searched. The castle is on a hill above the town of Windsor. One of the first things that you notice when you arrive at Windsor Castle is how noisy it is here. It is right under the flight path of planes leaving Heathrow Airport, so about every few minutes, there is the noise of a jet overhead. Quite surprising as the Queen often stays here.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle was founded in 1070. Kings Henry II and Edward III built most of the castle and King George V remodeled it. This photo is of the Round Tower––year 1170.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Light fixture with crown on top.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

We entered what is called the Upper Ward through the Norman Gate.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Upper Ward courtyard.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Other side of this courtyard.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

From the right–hand side of this courtyard, through an iron fence, you can view the Queen’s quarters.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Close–up of the statue. It is of King Charles II.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Walking back through the Norman Gate.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Queen Anne’s Dolls House and the State Apartments are in these buildings. The dollhouse was give to Queen Anne in 1924. It was interesting to view (no photos allowed). We also visited the State Apartments which were also interesting––also on photos allowed.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

View walking back to the entrance to the Lower Ward. The first building on the right is the Albert Memorial Chapel, built in 1240 and rebuilt in 1485. The building in behind it is St. George’s Chapel. This was where the prayer service for Prince Charles and Camilla was held after their wedding. St. George’s Chapel was built between 1475 and 1528 and 10 British monarchs are buried here.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Another view of the Albert Memorial Chapel.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Another view of the Lower Ward.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Looking backward.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Guard in the Lower Ward.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

The Changing of the Guards ceremony here was canceled today due to security concerns. The guards marched to make the change without any fanfare. They were going into St. George’s Chapel, which was under heavy scaffolding––hence no full photo of it.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

I asked these British bobbies if I could take their photo––they said yes and seemed pleased that I had asked them.

Windsor Castle

Windsor

These girls were dressed up in period costumes across from the castle entrance. It was an advertising gimmick for a local shop.

Windsor

Windsor

Pretty restaurant on Church Street.

Windsor

Windsor

There was a 2–minute silence today at 12 p.m. in honor of the London bombing victims of a week ago. Cars stopped and office and shop people lined the sidewalks. Your news of the 2–minute silence was probably better than mine was, but I heard that all of Europe also observed this silence. It was very moving.

Windsor

Windsor

Ancient well in front of a castle gate.

Windsor

Windsor

British Postal Service near the well. You can buy postage stamps from the red box on the left and mail your letter from one of the other boxes. I don’t know why there are two colors of boxes, but I think that the blue is for local mail.

Windsor

Windsor

Another castle gate with a view of Windsor Castle.

Windsor

Windsor

The view that the Queen sees from the castle.

Windsor

Windsor

Some buildings along a Windsor street.

Windsor

Windsor

Another castle view from another street. The statue is of Queen Victoria.

Windsor

Windsor

Close–up of Queen Victoria.

Windsor

Windsor

View of the shops at this intersection.

Windsor

Windsor

The castle wall on a street of lop–sided buildings.

Windsor

Windsor

Another view of these buildings.

Windsor

Windsor

A closer view of the buildings. I ate my lunch at an Italian sandwich and pastry shop (you can find a little bit of Italy all over England). I ate inside––too hot to enjoy an outdoor picnic.

Windsor

Windsor

Another view of Windsor Castle.

Windsor

Windsor

And another view. Instead of spending time walking around Windsor, an option was to walk down the hill to see Eton College. With more time, you can take a boat trip along the River Thames. You could easily spend a whole day here. But we were off soon to visit Hampton Court Palace. On our way there, we traveled past Runnymede, where King John was forced to sign the Magna Cara in 1215. The sight that we saw was of a large meadow. There is a memorial pavillion on top of a hill above the meadow but we didn’t stop there. I didn’t get a photo of the meadow––I wasn’t really aware of what to see in Runnymeade and we were past it before I realized it was only a meadow.

Windsor

Hampton Court Palace

In the early 1500s, the Archbishop of York, Cardinal Wolsey, turned a small manor house into this spectacular residence. He then gave it to King Henry VIII, who extended it in the Tudor and English Baroque style. In the 1690’s, King William and Queen Mary again extended it but in a Classical and Tudor style. Christopher Wren was their architect. As you walk through the palace, you can easily see the different styles of architecture. This is the view of the front of Hampton Court Palace––the older Tudor/English Baroque part.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

Close–up view of the front. Our bags were searched before entering the palace.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

Statues in front of the palace.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

The Clock Court (still King Henry VIII).

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

Close–up of the clock.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

Another view of Clock Court.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

Fountain Court (William and Mary).

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

Another view of Fountain Court.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

View of the yews behind the palace.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

One of the palace’s gardens.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

Another of the palace’s gardens.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

Another palace garden.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

Side of the palace (William and Mary). We had cream tea (tea or coffee, scones, jam, and cream) at the palace’s restaurant. The restaurant also treated us to glasses of ice water––very appreciated. From Hampton Court Palace, we headed back to London. I was to be dropped off at bus stop but I saw that we were going to pass the spot where Priscilla dropped me off two days ago, so I got off there and walked back to my hotel. I had dinner again at the Sushi restaurant across the street.

Hampton Court Palace