A Masterpiece of Miniature Art and Design
Queen Mary’s dolls’ house is perhaps the most famous dolls’ house in the world, and certainly one of the largest, most beautiful and most detailed.
Built for Queen Mary, consort to George V, the dolls’ house was designed by renowned architect Edward Lutyens and features contributions from around 1,500 leading artists, craftspeople and manufacturers of the early part of the 20th century.
Incredible attention to detail
The dolls house is an intricate replica of an English country mansion, complete with every detail imaginable. It has a working elevator, running water, and even electric lights. The dolls house is also home to a collection of miniature art, furniture, and household items, all of which were created by leading craftsmen over the course of four years, between 1921 and 1924.
The house is a world in miniature, depicting life below stairs in the servants’ quarters and upstairs in the opulent surroundings of the royal chambers, saloon and dining room.
Each room is filled with exquisite, hand-made items of furniture, from scale replica four-poster beds to Singer sewing machines and children’s toys. It’s even fitted with electricity, working lifts and hot and cold water.
One of the most impressive features of the dolls house is its library. The library is fully stocked with miniature books, all of which were specially written and bound for the dolls house. The books cover a wide range of subjects, including history, literature, and science, and they are all fully legible, despite being no larger than a postage stamp.
Another impressive feature of the dolls house is the wine cellar. The cellar is fully stocked with miniature bottles of wine and spirits, all of which were created to exacting standards. The bottles are so small that they can only be opened with a special tool, which is also provided in the cellar.
The dolls house is also home to a fully equipped kitchen, complete with a range cooker, a sink, and even a bread oven. The kitchen is stocked with miniature pots and pans, as well as tiny loaves of bread and cakes.
Skill and Craftsmanship
Queen Mary's Dolls House is a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the artisans who created it. The attention to detail and the sheer scale of the project are truly impressive, and the dolls house has become a much-loved treasure of the British monarchy.
This magnificent piece has to be seen in person to be fully appreciated, as the craftsmanship and sheer attention to detail are second to none and make it one of the finest examples of its kind in the world.
The dolls’ house manages to capture a very specific period in the history of the Royal Family, at a time when the world was changing rapidly.
Visitors to Windsor Castle can view the dolls house as part of their tour of the castle. The dolls house is housed in a specially designed room, which is decorated to resemble a miniature art gallery. Visitors can spend as much time as they like admiring the intricate details of the dolls house, and marveling at the sheer scale of the project.
Few items within the Windsor collection hold such charm and can capture the imagination so effectively, making this treasured heirloom well worth a visit.
Travel to Windsor
Visiting Windsor Castle by Train, Bus or Car?
Information below. View Opening Times and Closures
Visit by Train
Windsor is accessible from both Waterloo and Paddington stations.
Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside Station depart half hourly and hourly on Sundays.
Paddington to Windsor Central depart every 10 to 15 minutes changing once at Slough.
Visit By Bus
National Express: Operates direct coach services from London to Windsor. The journey typically takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
The Green Line 702 bus service: Runs between London Victoria and Windsor, stopping at various points along the way. This is a convenient and scenic route, taking approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
Visit By Car
Windsor is accessible via the M3, M4, M25 and M40 Drive time from London is 40 minutes.
Consider long stay parking as a 20-minute walk saves 30% of normal short stay fees.
Park and Ride services are located at Legoland Windsor (free parking) or Windsor Home Park (pay and display).
