While it’s tricky to pin down the exact number of castles worldwide, estimates suggest there are at least a million still standing. This doesn’t account for ruins or lost castles. However, identifying the world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle is straightforward – and it’s just a stone’s throw from London.
Windsor Castle, nestled in Berkshire, has been the residence of British monarchs for nearly a millennium. The Royal Collection Trust confirms it as the world’s oldest and largest occupied castle, still functioning as a Royal residence today. Its construction began around 1070, shortly after the Norman conquest, under the reign of William the Conqueror.
By 1086, the fortress was complete. Over the centuries, it evolved into a Royal palace and is now one of the globe’s most iconic castles, reports the Express.
Authentic Vacations experts reveal that it boasts over 1,000 rooms, including state apartments, a chapel, a Royal library, and more than 300 fireplaces.
Currently, it houses over 500 residents and staff, ranging from chefs and gardeners to butlers and librarians. At least 40 monarchs have resided there, and many significant Royal events have occurred within its walls, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding at St George’s Chapel.
Delving into its earlier history, Edward III transformed Windsor into a grand Gothic palace in the 14th century. In the 1800s, George IV instigated significant alterations to the castle, including elevating the Round Tower and crafting the Grand Staircase.
The Royal Collection Trust reveals that these renovations alone cost nearly £300,000 – a staggering amount for the era.
The castle was hit by a devastating fire in 1992, causing damage to several rooms, including St George’s Hall and the Grand Reception Room. Restoration efforts took five years, concluding in 1997, with further work carried out in subsequent years.
In 2020, the Inner Hall was reopened as part of a new visitor route. Nowadays, Windsor Castle attracts approximately 1.5 million visitors annually.
As per the Royal Collection Trust, entry fees are £31 for adults, £20 for young people aged 18–24, and £15.50 for children when booked in advance.
These tickets grant access to the State Apartments, St George’s Chapel, and The Semi-State Rooms when they are open. Windsor Castle remains open to visitors all year round.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.
