Top 10 Royal attractions

With everyone getting excited about the imminent arrival of a new Royal (we’re very excited about what names Harry and Meghan are going to choose!) we thought we’d jump on the Royal bandwagon and tell you some of the best attractions associated with the house of Windsor for you to explore.

If you ever wondered what the actual royal residence looks like or where King Henry 8^th slept during his reign, you might want to take some notes and head to some of these amazing places. While the majority of them are centred around the capital, you won’t have to spend all your time in London to enjoy these beautiful national homes.

Buckingham Palace

Let’s start with the obvious one, Buckingham Palace can be found in the centre of London and is the Queen’s official residence and place of work. For a few months every year, the palace is open for visitors, but if you don’t happen to be in town then, you can still get involved by seeing the palace from Pall Mall and gazing on it from various points in St James’ Park. Of course, you’ll be able to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony which takes place every day in the summer and on alternate days for the rest of the year.

Sandringham House

This home in Norfolk is where the Royal family usually spend Christmas and other holidays. It has been the private home of the British Monarchy since the 1800s and much like Buckingham Palace, is open to the public for certain months of the year. Apparently it’s the Queen’s favourite property, so be sure to visit to see what you think!

Edinburgh Castle

You’ll find Edinburgh Castle on top of a now extinct volcano at the end of the Royal Mile, one of the most beautiful streets in the UK. It’s a popular tourist attraction and is open to the public all year around. While the Royal family don’t spend much time in the castle, it is still included on this list because it was the chief Royal Castle for the Scottish and is now home to a museum, as well as the Scottish Crown Jewels. Plus, you’ll get an idea of the history of the Royal family and the difference between the Scottish and English crowns.

Tower of London

Heading back to London for a moment here, the Tower of London is one of the cities most popular attractions and has been everything from a Royal palace, a zoo, a prison and an armoury. It’s a World Heritage Site these days and home to the Crown Jewels, as well as many other artefacts from British history. The Tower is a fascinating place to go if you’re a history fan, you can see the site where two of Henry 8^th’s wives were executed, the cell where Guy Fawkes was held and the staircase that was allegedly the place where two princes met their grizzly end. It is also home to the famous Beefeaters and Yeoman Warders and of course, the palace ravens.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Buckingham Palace is the Queen’s official residence, but what’s the point of being a monarch if you don’t have more than one palace at your disposal? The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the Queen’s official Scottish residence. It is best known as the home of Mary, Queen of Scots and its open to the public. The tours take you around the Queen’s gallery where you can see exhibitions from the Royal Collection, as well as various apartments. If you’re in Edinburgh, make sure to add the Palace of Holyroodhouse to your itinerary!

Hampton Court Palace

You’ll find Hampton Court in the Richmond area of London and is a popular attraction for families, the maze and gardens are particularly well known. In fact the gardens are among the most beautiful in the world. It is said that Hampton Court was Henry 8^th’s favourite royal residents and the palace is themed around Tudor décor to reflect this.

Balmoral Castle

Balmoral Castle has been in the royal family since the 1800s when it was bought by Queen Victoria. It is mostly used in the summer months by Queen Elizabeth and her family, so you won’t be able to explore then, but the estate and gardens are open to the public at other times of the year.

Westminster Abbey

One of London’s most interesting buildings, Westminster Abbey has been the venue for every English monarch since 1066, as well as playing host to a number of Royal Weddings, including the Queen and Prince Philip’s and of course, Prince William and Kate Middleton, aka the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The Abbey has over 1,000 years of history to be explored and is worth snapping for your Instagram feed if nothing else.

Kensington Palace

Yes, we’re back in London now, Kensington Palace is another Royal home based in the capital. Over the years, Kensington Palace has been home to several members of the Royal family including Queen Victoria, Princess Diana, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and even the Queen herself briefly. Kensington Palace is also open to the public at various times of the year and has exhibitions on Queen Victoria as well as some magnificent art and a display of some of Princess Diana’s famous dresses.

Windsor Castle

We’re ending with Windsor Castle, the site of Harry and Meghan’s wedding because this whole list is inspired by them and their imminent parenthood! Windsor Castle is a great place for a daytrip, not only because of the connection to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex but also because it is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world. It is said that it is a favourite of the Queen’s and is a visitor attraction that is open for most of the year. You’ll know if the Queen is home or not because of the flags flying outside, if you’re lucky enough to be in Windsor while the castle is open to visitors, be sure to check it out, there are a number of events and activities going on all year around and you can also explore the state apartments, St George’s Chapel which is the final resting place of ten monarchs, the regularly changing exhibitions and it is also the home of Queen Mary’s Dolls House, supposedly the most famous doll’s house in the world!

Are you planning to hold a Royal party for the new prince or princess? Or perhaps you’re thinking of heading to one of these properties, either way, let us know! Get in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!