The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, Windsor Castle in Reading is the official residence of the Queen of England. It has served as a royal home and fortress for well over 9000 years and will continue to do so in the future.

The castle houses State Apartments that are housed with furnishings from the Royal Collection which includes paintings by Rubens, Holbein, Lawrence and Van Dyck. Furnishings also include fine porcelain, tapestries and sculptures and pieces of armour.

Besides the exterior view and the lavish interiors of the castle, visitors who proceed inside can view several of the other attractions that include the Drawings Gallery, St George’s Chapel and Queen Mary’s dollhouse.

The Drawings Gallery features artwork that depicts various events about individual royals’ lives. Exhibits have included collections dedicated to the Prince of Wales and Henry VIII.

St George’s Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. Besides being the spiritual home of the Order of Garter the rich architecture that is presented here should not be missed.

When visiting the castle during the winter months (October to March) another 5 additional rooms which are known collectively as the Semi-State Rooms, are open to the public. The overall castle features extremely lavish interiors but despite this the interiors that are found in the state rooms are on a level of their own.

The castle is open all year around from 9:45 in the morning till 3:00 in the afternoon. Tickets vary in their offerings depending on the size of the group various tickets can be bought that provide a better deal for those who are visiting. Special prices are available based on age as well.

Staying in a hotel near Windsor Castle in Reading such as Millennium Madejski Hotel Reading allows guests to conveniently access this attraction. In addition, guests of this hotel will be privy to a range of amenities and facilities that ensures a comfortable stay.