London
Windsor
Legoland - If you think you have a lot of Lego
at home, see it all at Legoland in Windsor. A big hit with our kids was "Miniland,"
miniature Lego versions of famous monuments in England, Scotland, Holland,
Italy, Denmark, etc. It's fun to see Big Ben, London Eye, Tower Bridge and other London landmarks. This is a great day trip from London for kids.
Visit the Legoland website for more details.
Windsor Castle -
Windsor Castle is English history in a nutshell, and what a majestic nutshell it is. The site has been the official residence of kings and queens from William the Conquerer to the present day. Royals have been born, married and buried in the castle. In 1215, King John stayed at Windsor signing the Magna Carta at nearby Runnymeade. Prince Albert died at Windsor Castle, and both Albert and Queen Victoria are buried in a mausoleum in the Great Park.
Windsor Castle is big. Walking from the Upper Ward, past the Round Tower, across the Lower Ward, to St. George's Chapel will stretch your legs.
In St. George's Chapel, Henry VIII is buried next to Jane Seymour, and the stunning gothic interior is decorated with heraldic banners. Sundays, attend services in the chapel.
Queen Mary's Dolls' House - Queen Mary's Dolls' House is enough to make
Barbie jealous. The dollhouse is a microcosm of British life ca. 1924, from
miniature crown jewels in their own locked room, to a garage with a
Rolls Royce, a kitchen with a coal-burning stove and tins in the pantry, dining table with a
full set of silver dishes, linen cupboard with real hand-woven Irish linen,
and tiny books in the library written for the dollhouse.
In summer, watch the changing of the guard at 11:00am, daily except Sundays.
Windsor Great Park - The park was once a great royal hunting preserve. Head down the Long Walk, lined with old oak trees - you can run for miles. At the southern end, there are gardens with plants from all over the world, and a large artificial lake, Virginia Water. As you walk around the lake, just imagine the royal barge floating on the water. Don't miss the large totem pole, a gift from British Columbia. Grassy areas are great for kite flying.
