Windsor marked the beginning of our UK road trip. After picking up the rental car in Slough, it was a short drive to a place that feels inseparable from British history — familiar, iconic, and quietly imposing.
Arriving in Windsor, the presence of the castle is immediate. It rises above the town, impossible to ignore and clearly the center of gravity.
Walking toward the entrance, the scale of the walls and towers becomes more apparent, built for permanence rather than display.
Windsor Castle feels less like a monument and more like a living place — one that has evolved continuously over centuries.
Inside the grounds, the sense of history is everywhere, layered into stone paths, courtyards, and fortified walls.
The view outward from the castle hints at its strategic importance, overlooking the surrounding countryside and the town below.
The architecture balances strength and refinement — defensive in form, but unmistakably royal in detail.
Walking through the complex, it’s easy to lose track of time, moving between open spaces and enclosed interiors.
St. George’s Chapel stands out for its elegance, quieter but no less powerful than the rest of the castle.
The contrast between the chapel’s intricacy and the castle’s heavy stone walls adds to the sense of depth and history.
Outside again, the Long Walk stretches away from the castle, creating a striking sense of scale and symmetry.
From different angles, Windsor Castle feels both massive and carefully composed.
As the afternoon passes, the light shifts across the stone, softening its edges and changing the mood.
Windsor works perfectly as a first stop — grounded, historic, and unmistakably English.
Leaving Windsor behind, the road trip truly began, with the castle setting a strong and fitting opening note.