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 Windsor & Eton
The twin town of Windsor and Eton (combined pop.60,000) are located in Berkshire, just west of London's ring. Windsor is famous for its castle, which is one of the official residences of the British royal family, while Eton holds its fame from its college. Windsor CastleThe construction of Windsor castle began in 1075 and continued in the following centuries. It is now the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world.Although the castle was built as a stone fortress intended for war, Windsor became a residential palace for the Royal family and its interior is sumptuously decorated. The State Apartments are furnished with magnificient pieces of arts, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto, Gainsborough, Holbein, Van Dyck and Lawrence, tapestries, porcelains, sculptures and armours. On 20 November 1992, a fire ravaged about one fifth of the castle. Restoration works took five years and were completed six months ahead of schedule on 20 November 1997 at a cost of £37 million (US $59.2 million), £3 million below budget. From September to March, visitors can access the richly decorated Semi-State Rooms (George IV's private apartments). St George's Chapel's 15th century Gothic style contrasts with the older Romanesque castle. It contains the tombs of ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII and Charles I, and is also considered the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the most prestigious order of British Chivalry, established in 1348 by Edward III and still existing. The Changing of the Guard takes place at 11am (except on Sundays), weather permitting. The castle is open from 9:45am to 5:15pm (last admission 4pm) from March to October, and closes one hour earlier the rest of the year. The castle and chapel are closed several days of the year. Please check Windsor Castle's official website for the exact dates, which vary year by year. Admission is £12 for adults, £10 for students and people over 60, £6 under 17 years old and free under 5 years old. Eton CollegeFounded in 1440 by Henry VI as a charity school. Eton has become one of the UK's most elitist secondary school. It is attended mainly by the children of the upper-class. Contrarily to most British schools, Eton is fee-paying, and the annual cost per student is £23,000.Famous alumni include John Maynard Keynes, Arthur Wellesley (1st Duke of Wellington); several Prime Ministers such as Robert Walpole, William Pitt (1st Earl of Chatham) and William Ewart Gladstone; several kings of Nepal; King Leopold III of Belgium; and many members of the British Royal family, including Princes William and Harry of Wales. More information is available on Eton College's official website. How to get thereThe twin towns have two train stations served by different train lines. Windsor & Eton Riverside station is connected to London Waterloo station (50min), while Windsor & Eton Central has shuttle trains to/from Slough station, with connections to Reading and London Paddington.By car, take the M4 (London-Bristol). is about an hours drive from central London.
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