Windsor and Eton, Berkshire

London Underground, Windsor Castle
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While visiting Windsor, you can take a trip on the River Thames which divides Windsor from Eton. There is a good choice. Trips vary from just 30 minutes to all day. You can hire a boat and take it out yourself or you can go on a pleasure boat in the company of others. In winter, the service is not always available if the river is running too fast for safety but on a beautiful summer day, nothing could be nicer than seeing the countryside around Windsor from a boat on the Thames.

Back of Guard, Windsor Castle
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Windsor is a shopper's paradise with designer stores, boutiques, department stores and many small specialist shops.

If you want to see a real Victorian railway station, visit Windsor Station in the town centre, just across the road from the castle. Although still a working station with a line to Reading, there are also exclusive boutiques and attractive cafés.

Building of the distinctive Windsor Guildhall, in fact the the Town Hall, started in 1687. It was designed by Sir Thomas Fitz and, after his death, was completed by Sir Christopher Wren. It is built on arches and a corn market was held within them. Look at the top of the internal columns that supposedly support the building above and you will see that there is actually a space between them and the ceiling. Legend has it that the town's councillors were worried the building would collapse if it was unsupported. Sir Christopher Wren, it is said, deliberately installed columns that did not touch the structure above to prove that he was correct and the building did not need extra support. As it is still standing, over 300 years later, I think we can conclude that he was right.

It was here in April 2005 that Prince Charles married Camilla Parker-Bowles followed by a blessing in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. You can see the Guildhall in the High Street, very close to the Castle.

Windsor Castle
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Windsor Castle dominates the town. It was described by Samuel Pepys as "the most romantique castle that is in the world".

Originally, there was a Saxon palace at Old Windsor but William the Conquerer decided to build a castle on top of a hill overlooking the river about two miles away. By 1086 the castle was listed in the Domesday Book. Since then it has continued to play its part in the history of the country.

At nearby Runnymede, in June 1215, King John, who is said to have loved the castle above all others, put his seal to the Magna Carta. Although the barons, who had forced this on him, were principally concerned with their own interests, Magna Carta enshrined, for the first time, a citizen's rights before the law. The 39th article stated:

"No free man shall be arrested or imprisoned or dispossessed or outlawed or harmed in any way save by the lawful judgement of his equals under the law of the land. Justice will not be sold to any man nor will it be refused or delayed."

The castle continued in royal use. Edward III made it his principal residence, building the Round Tower in 1348 and making alterations in other parts of the castle. As well as the residence of the Kings of England, Windsor Castle was used for keeping eminent prisoners, for example, David Bruce, King of Scotland, and John, King of France in the 14th century. During the Civil War, the castle was held by Parliament and many of its treasures were melted down. The Parliamentarians also used the castle for prisoners including the most famous of all, Charles I, kept here just before his execution and returned to the castle in his coffin.

The King's Audience Chamber, Windsor Castle Giclee Print
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After the Restoration, Charles II did much work to restore it to its former glory as it had deteriorated badly in the years of the Commonwealth (Cromwell's time). The Sovereign Apartments were rebuilt and redesigned in lavish style with wood carvings by Grinling Gibbons and twenty ceiling paintings by Antonio Verrio, only three of which survived George IV's redecoration unfortunately.

George III was the first king to die at Windsor Castle. He was the monarch who suffered from porphyria which made people think he was mad. One of these 'mad' episodes occurred in the grounds of the castle when he stopped the carriage he was in and got out to shake an oak tree's branch, thinking he was shaking the hand of the King of Prussia.

George IV made many great changes to the castle including restoring its medieval splendour using the architect Jeffry Wyatville. Although some of Wyatville's work, particularly Gothic additions and alterations to the Upper and Middle Wards, have not been greatly admired, he did bring a sense of unity to the castle.

One of the more recent dramatic episode's in the castle's long history occurred in 1992 when 0n 20 November 1992, a fire which began in the Queen's private chapel and spread quickly. The fire lasted for 15 hours during which time it had destroyed nine of the principal state rooms, and severely damaged over 100 more-in all the larger part of the upper ward.

After the fire, government and perhaps the Royal Family appeared to assume restoration would be paid for by the government, ie from general taxation. This provoked a furious debate with public opinion coming down firmly against this plan, particularly because Royalty did not pay tax at that time. In fact, 70% of the cost, 37 billion pounds, was raised by opening Buckingham Palace to the public.

The restoration has been very successful and the difference between old and new is now hard to distinguish although some of the most damaged rooms were completely redesigned to bring them up to date.

It is the world's biggest inhabited castle and the oldest to be continuously occupied. The home of the monarch for 900 years, today, Windsor Castle is one of the Queen's three official residences.

Edward Prince of Wales Weds Alexandra of Denmark in St. George's Chapel Windsor Castle Giclee Print
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Some areas of the castle are open to the public:

* The magnificent State Apartments (only when the Queen is not in residence). They contain superb furniture, paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Holbein, tapestries, porcelain, armour and sculpture. More beautiful art may be found in the Drawings Gallery where a variety of work from the Royal Library is shown.

* Queen Mary's Doll's House, a perfect little mansion designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, on the scale of 1 to 12 of normal size.

* St George's Chapel, finished in the early 16th century, is a building of particular note with a magnificent perpendicular structure displaying fine fan vaulting. As the chapel for the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Britain's highest order of chivalry founded by Edward III in 1348, the choir contains stalls and brasses of Garter Knights. There are also many royal tombs including those of Henry VIII, Charles I and Edward VII. More recently, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret were buried here too.

*Also nearby is the Albert Memorial Chapel, originally built by King Henry VII but now used to commemorate Queen Victoria's beloved Albert.

Prince Philip of England Drives a Coach Toward Toward the Long Walk, Windsor Castle, England
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There are other areas of the castles open to visitors including:

* Exhibition of the Queen's Presents
* Exhibition of Royal Carriages

If you want to see the Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle, this ceremony takes place daily, except Sunday, at 11am between April to June, the rest of the year, it only occurs on alternate days.

In the Home Park of Windsor Castle stands Frogmore House, also open to the public at certain times (check before visiting). Built in the latter part of the 17th century, it was the home of Queen Charlotte and Queen Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent. Now it has been restored and many of the original contents returned.

Show Jumping Photographic Print
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Taking place in the grounds of Windsor Castle, the Royal Windsor Horse Show is a very prestigious event which, as its name suggests, is regularly attended by royalty.

It began during the Second World War in 1943 as a means of raising money in the Wings for Victory campaign. It was just one of many events held in Windsor during the campaign and the town raised nearly £400,000 that year to buy aircraft for the RAF (Royal Air Force).

At this time it was called the Windsor Horse and Dog Show but the young Princess Elizabeth (now Queen) and her sister Princess Margaret took part in the first show as competitors. In fact, Princess Elizabeth won the horse and dogcart event at the first show. Since then, the Queen's daughter, Princess Anne (now the Princess Royal) has competed in the show jumping and the Duke of Edinburgh (the Queen's husband) has competed in the carriage driving events which he has won on a number of occasions.

When it started the show was a one day event but now it covers four days. It takes place annually in May and tickets go on sale in November. During the four days there are many classes of show jumping, carriage driving and dressage. The show climaxes at the end of the final day with the famous Musical Drive of The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.

Eton School Room, from "History of Eton College" Giclee Print
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This small town is best known for Eton College, founded in 1440 by Henry VI, surprisingly nowadays, for the education of 70 poor scholars. Now Eton is synonymous with privilege and the upper classes. Over the centuries, Eton has provided the nation with some of its most powerful men including Prime Ministers William Pitt, the Duke of Wellington, William Gladstone and Harold MacMillan. The 'old boys' are not limited to politicians, though. It numbers Shelley and George Orwell amongst its alumni, as well as Ian Fleming and Captain Oates, famous polar explorer who left the tent to give his companions a better chance of survival.

Statue of Henry VI, the Founder, and Lupton's Tower, Eton College, Berkshire, England, UK Photographic Print
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Some of present buildings have survived from the 15th century including the kitchen, College Hall and part of the cloisters. The impressive Lupton's Tower was built in 1520. One of its most striking 15th century buildings is the chapel. Its wall paintings took eight years to complete but were whitewashed over in the mid 16th century and were only rediscovered in 1847 and cleaned and restored in 1923.

While in the area, visit Dorney Court, about 2 miles north west of Eton, a beautiful rose-pink, 15th century manor house, described by Country Life as one of the finest Tudor manor houses in England. Built in 1440, successive owners have resisted the urge to drastically alter this lovely house. It was given to Sir James Palmer by Elizabeth I and has remained in the same family ever since. The Palmer family kept strong links with royalty for Sir Roger Palmer stayed loyal to Charles II before the Restoration and was made Earl of Castlemaine afterwards. The King was also close to Sir Roger's wife, Barbara, who was his mistress for 10 years and bore him several children.

Legoland, Windsor, Miniland at night, all constructed from Lego bricks.
By courtesy of Legoland, copyright © 2008 The LEGO Group

Legoland stands on the site of the former Windsor Safari Park which went into receivership in 1992. That same year Lego choose the 150 acre site for the first Legoland outside of Denmark. Planning, construction, landscaping and other preparations take four years and it opens in 1996 having used an incredible 25 million Lego bricks to construct the model buildings and other structures.

The Jungle Coaster
By courtesy of Legoland, copyright © 2008 The LEGO Group

A visit to the park offers children a unique educational adventure. Lego like to call it 'Discovery Based Education' and Legoland combines all the elements of an exciting theme park with a total learning experience. The park offers a series of Active Learning Programmes, all of which are National Curriculum relevant and especially designed to support the learning needs of children aged 3 to 13 years old.

Above all, though, Legoland is fun - it has over 50 interactive rides, attractions, live shows, building workshops and driving schools.

New for 2008, guests can explore the brand new Land of the Vikings, featuring the park's biggest and wettest ride to date, the Vikings' River Splash. Another exciting addition is the Longboat Invader that defies guests to test their sea worthiness as they sway back and forth on a Viking Longboat that sits on a 'U-shaped' track and rotates in two directions.