Windsor is a suburban town in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. The town is situated 21 miles (34 km) west of Charing Cross. It is immediately south of the River Thames, which forms its boundary with Eton. Windsor and the surrounding areas contain some of the most expensive and desirable housing in the UK. The village of Old Windsor, just two miles to the south, predates what is now called Windsor by around 300 years; in the past Windsor was formally referred to as New Windsor to distinguish the two.
The early history of the site is unknown, although the site was almost certainly settled many years before the medieval castle was built. Histories of the town note that the combination of the navigable river and the strategically-placed hill point to the likelihood of continuous human settlement from early times. Evidence includes archaeological finds from Windsor, such as palaeolithic hand-axes, neolithic flint picks, Bronze Age swords and an Iron Age brooch. Although Roman remains are few, there is ample evidence of Anglo Saxon settlement in the area.
Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and the Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen. It has a rich history dating back 1,000 years to the time of William the Conqueror in the 11th century and covers an area of about 13 acres (5 hectares). It contains the magnificent State Apartments furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection, St George's Chapel (one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in England, the burial place of 10 monarchs and the place where the Knights of the Garter ceremonies take place), and Queen Mary's Dolls House, a masterpiece in miniature craftsmanship. Windsor Castle and is one of the most popular attractions in the UK and the town of Windsor is also charming and well worth a trip.
Queen Elizabeth II spends many weekends of the year at the castle, using it for both state and private entertaining. As Windsor Castle is a working royal palace, opening arrangements may change at short notice.