Castles in UK (England). Directory of castles in UK (England)

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Castles in UK

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, by Elisabeth Gaj

Buckingham Palace
Town: London Address: Buckingham Palace Road, Phone: +44 20 7766 7300 e-mail: bookinginfo@royalcollection.org.uk

The 775-room Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of Britain's rulers since 1837. Initially, the palace was a town house belonging to the dukes of Buckingham at the beginning of the 17th Century, and today is home to the Queen of England. In 1761, King George III purchased the family house from the duke of Buckingham for his wife Queen Charlotte. The Buckingham House, close to St James's Palace, where many court functions were held, became known as the 'Queen's House', where 14 of George III's 15 children were born. The present forecourt of the palace, where the 'changing of the guard' takes place, was built in 1911 as part of the Victoria Memorial plan. Buckingham Palace is also the administrative headquarters of the monarchy and boasts one of the most famous façades in the world.

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Clarence House
Town: London Address: Clarence House, St James's Palace Phone: +44 20 7766 7303 e-mail: bookinginfo@royalcollection.org.uk

Clarence House, located next to St James's Palace, is the London residence of the duchess of Cornwall and the prince of Wales. John Nash completed construction of the house in 1827 for the duke of Clarence, Prince William Henry, who lived here as King William IV from 1830 until 1837. The house has been renovated through the course of time to reflect the tastes of its occupants for nearly 200 years. Clarence House is open to the public during the summer months.

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Hampton Court Palace
Town: London Phone: +44 16 28 82 59 25	Price: 0 - 55 EUR

Hampton Court Palace, located in the southwest London borough of Richmond-upon-Thamse, is one of the most popular palaces in the world. The palace was built in 1514 by the archbishop of York and acquired by the king of England, when it fell in, and out, of monarchial favour. It became home to the world's oldest tennis court, as well to the impressive hedge maze of Hampton Court and priceless art collections. It was also known to house popular ghosts, as is the case with many English palaces.
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Kensington Palace
Town: London Address: High St Kensington, Queensway Phone: +44 844 482 7777 e-mail: kensingtonpalace@hrp.org.uk

Kensington Palace was the residence of Princess Diana and birthplace of Queen Victoria, and continues to be home to London's royalty. In 1689, King William III purchased the palace from the earl of Nottingham and had it remodeled by Sir Christopher Wren. The palace was the residence of a successive line of monarchs until 1760. Today, Kensington Palace houses the offices and apartments of the royal family.

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St. James's Palace
Town: London Address: Pall Mall

Construction of St James's Palace, on the site of a former leper hospital, was commissioned by Henry VIII to be the residence of London's monarch in 1698, after a fire destroyed Whitehall Palace. As the Palace of the Sovereign, the palace boasts a long history of housing members of the royal family and their offices. Today, St James's Palace is often used for official purposes and is not open to the public.

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The Banqueting House
Town: London Address: Whitehall Palace, Whitehall Phone: +44 844 751 5178? e-mail: banquetinghouse@hrp.org.uk

The Banqueting House, built by architect Inigo Jones in 1622 for James I to replace a previous one destroyed by fire, is the only part of London's Whitehall Palace in tact. In 1649, Rubens was commissioned by Charles I to paint the house's huge ceiling panels, which depict kingship and the Stuart reign. As once the principal residence of London's monarch, the last majestic ceremony at the house included the coronation of the prince and princess of Orange (William III and Mary II) in 1689.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle, by Sabinche Reuss

Windsor Castle
Town: London Address: Windsor Phone: +44 20 7766 7304 e-mail: bookinginfo@royalcollection.org.uk

The 900-year-old fortress Windsor Castle, the largest occupied castle in the world, is one of the official residences of the queen of England. The castle was founded by the Norman king William the Conqueror in 1705 above the river Thames, near a Saxon hunting ground. British monarchs who are buried in the castle's St George's Chapel include Charles I, Edward IV and VII, George III, IV, V and VI, Henry VI and VIII, and William IV. Today, the queen often uses the castle as a weekend home and as a royal residence where she performs formal duties. The sections of Windsor Castle which are open to visitors include the precincts, the state apartments, the Albert Memorial Chapel and St George's Chapel. Queen Mary's doll house, designed in 1924 by Sir Edwin Lutyens and master craftsmen, is also on display for the public.