New look at old attraction

Mar 2 2008 by lynsey richardson, Sunday Sun

A VISIT to the home of one of England’s finest monuments gave LYNSEY RICHARDSON a taste of royal decadence and fine food

THINK of Windsor and you’ll probably picture a typically English town with cobbled streets, antique emporiums, souvenir shops and, of course, the Royal castle.

But the little town is much more than that. Yes, it has old English charm, but it is very much a modern and cosmopolitan shopping district.

However, the castle is still the star turn.

It was built by William the Conqueror at the end of the 11th century and has been enlarged and rebuilt by the 39 monarchs who called Windsor their home.

The castle bears witness to the input by those kings and queens, from the medieval St George’s Chapel to the Tudor Lower Ward, Charles II’s baroque State Apartments and George IV’s gothic private apartments.

We roamed around the grounds armed with our map and audio guide, gasping at the splendour around us. Heading past the round house, we decided to start by seeing Queen Mary’s dolls house . . . and what a house it is!

Designed by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, it was never intended as a child’s plaything and was built to be an accurate record of an aristocratic London home of the time, 1924.

The house has running water and electricity and is filled with thousands of objects made by designers and craftsmen, including tiny books and paintings by leading authors and artists.

Next, we headed for the Grand Staircase, through the Grand Vestibule and on to the Waterloo Chamber, the State Apartments — which included the King’s Drawing Room and Queen’s Ballroom — until we reached the most famous room in the castle . . . St George’s Hall.

The hall was badly damaged by fire in 1992 but has been carefully restored, with a new roof constructed entirely of green oak using medieval carpentry methods.

Coats of Arms of the Knights of the Garter adorn the ceilings and their names are inscribed on panels around the walls.

After a quick peek in the Lantern Lobby, which house’s Henry VII’s armour, we strolled through the semi-state apartments which the Queen uses to entertain.

These are only open to the public during winter so we felt lucky to get to see the Crimson Drawing Room, which has also been lovingly restored since the fire.

Then it was off into glorious sunshine to St George’s Chapel, where no fewer than 10 monarchs are buried, including Henry VIII and Charles I. The church is also home to royal memorials and has hosted a number of Royal weddings.

Having been thoroughly briefed on British royal history, we went back in time again as we checked into our hotel . . . Sir Christopher Wren’s House Hotel and Spa on the riverside in the heart of the town.

Once the family home of the celebrated architect, and built in the 17th century, the hotel holds a unique place in English heritage . . . oozing charm and elegance and mixing classic old English style with a modern twist.

We had an executive double river view room with all the amenities we needed, from Molten Brown toiletries to tea and coffee making facilities, a flat-screen TV and ironing board.

After checking out what our hotel had to offer we decided to head across Eton Bridge to explore yes, you guessed it, Eton.

Of course, we had to make sure we used the cashpoint at Coutts and Co — official bank of the Queen — peer through the window of the official tailors of Eton College, check out the modern art and last, but definitely not least, have a swifty in The George.

The college itself runs guided tours. Unfortunately, we visited in low season so missed out.

That night, the hotel held a Spanish Dinner night, where we indulged in fine wines from the Faustino family vineyards and a delicious four-course meal.

The next day we headed to Wren’s Spa for a bit of pampering. I was booked in for a facial and my partner a massage. Relaxed and rejuvenated we headed into the town centre for a spot of lunch before hopping onto the sightseeing bus to get a more in-depth look of Windsor and Eton. This is an ideal way to learn more about the town’s history and gives you a taste of what there is to see and do.

Bus trip over, we checked out the High Street . . . wandering past the Guildhall where Prince Charles and Camilla were married, and dropping into the Crooked House for a cuppa.

Later, we booked a table at the delightful Bella Italia . . . a traditional family-run restaurant where the food was second to none and the prices very reasonable. A tasty end to a feast of culture.

5 Things to do

1 - VISIT Windsor Castle. For more details and advance tickets, telephone 0207-766 7304 or visit www.royal.gov.uk

2 - HOP on an open-top bus tour. Call City Sightseeing on 01708-866000, or visit www.city-sightseeing.com

3 - TAKE a trip to Legoland Windsor. It offers more than 50 interactive rides. Visit www.legoland.co.uk

4 - JOIN a tour around Eton College Call 01753-671177 or visit www.etoncollege.com

5 - CRUISE down the Thames with French Brothers. Call 01753-851900 or visit www.boat-trips.co.uk

Fact File

• LYNSEY RICHARDSON and her partner stayed courtesy of the Sir Christopher Wren’s House Hotel, Windsor. For more information, call them on 01753-861354, or take a look at their website at www.sirchristopherwren.co.uk

• FURTHER details about the Royal Borough can be found on www.windsor.gov.uk. For a copy of the 2008 Official Visitor Guide, email windsor.tic@rbwm.gov.uk or call the Royal Windsor Information Centre on 01753-743900.