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Couple canoeing on the River Thames with Windsor Castle in the distance

Enjoy the River Thames (image Great West Way)

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Things to do when Windsor Castle is closed

Windsor Castle is one of the big reasons for a visit to Windsor. However the Castle is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday and may close at short notice at other times. It may be one of the UK’s top visitor attractions but it is also an official home of King Charles III, a working palace and often the location of private events such as royal investitures.

Fortunately, there are lots of other things to do in Windsor town centre when the Castle is closed and you may just discover a hidden gem! Here are our top things to do when the Castle is closed. Please check seasonal opening times.

1. Self-guided walks of Windsor and Eton

Explore Windsor and Eton at your own pace via the Queen’s Walkway or Eton Walkway by following the circular markers in the towns’ pavements. Or download one of smartphone-based trails such as Go Quest. Wander over Windsor Bridge and stroll down Eton High Street, taking in its historic buildings and enjoy a peaceful coffee in one of Eton’s charming independent cafes.

2. Guided Windsor and Eton town walks

Discover Windsor’s amazing history on a guided walking tour with one of our Blue Badge Guides. You may not be able to go inside the Castle on a Tuesday and Wednesday but our guides will tell you all about its influence on Windsor’s development and will show you around the oldest parts of the town.

3. Escape Room Experiences

Immerse yourself in the interactive world of an escape room! Find puzzles and solve clues in order to escape! We have two escape room companies to choose from in Windsor town centre: Escape in 60 and Windsor Escape Experience.

3. Take to the River Thames

River Thames passenger boat trips run daily subject to river conditions or why not jump on the Windsor Duck, an amphibious vehicle that lets you enjoy both road and river! Check out our Thames Trail page for more inspiration.

4. Open top bus tour

Golden Tours' carefully-designed route journeys through Windsor, Eton and Datchet ensuring visitors see all the must-see sights the area has to offer (runs March to October, but please see schedule for exact dates).

5. Horse-drawn carriage

Slow down the pace, create a bespoke experience and explore the wonder of Windsor Great Park by horse-drawn carriage with Windsor Carriages.

6. Windsor & Royal Borough Museum

Windsor & Royal Borough Museum is a family-friendly museum bursting with interesting facts and interactive displays of East Berkshire (open Tuesdays and Wednesdays only).

7. Guided tour of Windsor Guildhall

Join a guided tour of Windsor Guildhall and walk in the footsteps of royalty to learn more about the history of this Grade I listed building and its importance to Windsor’s local heritage.

8. Theatre Royal Windsor

Windsor's Theatre Royal is a beautiful Edwardian theatre nestled between Windsor Castle and the River Thames. Look out for midweek matinees.

9. Watch the Guard March

This is one of the town’s top sightseeing things to do and watching the King's guard up close is unique to Windsor! The march to and from the Castle takes place in the morning on specific days of the week so make sure you check out the Guard March schedule to avoid disappointment.

10. Windsor Great Park

Access the Long Walk from Windsor’s Park Street and suddenly thousands of acres of Windsor Great Park lie before you: an ancient royal landscape of forests, grasslands, lakes and gardens just waiting to be explored!

Conquer the Long Walk, Windsor’s iconic tree-lined avenue into the Great Park. Will you make it up as far as the famous Copper Horse Statue?

11. Enjoy the tradition of Afternoon Tea

Us Brits love the combination of savoury and sweet treats, accompanied by some of the 165 million cups of tea we drink each day in the UK and there are few traditions more deliciously decadent than Afternoon Tea. Town centre hotels offering Afternoon Tea menus include The Castle Hotel Windsor, Macdonald Windsor Hotel and Sir Christopher Wren Hotel. Or perhaps reserve a table near the window of The Ivy on the Windsor's High Street and you will have a view of Windsor Castle as you spread jam and cream on your scones!

12. Shopping

With two pedestrianised shopping centres, recognised high street brands as well as a sprinkling of independent stores, shopping really is a great reason to come to Windsor and Eton town centres. There are lots of food and drink stops for refuelling too.

13. Walk the 'two bridges loop'

From Windsor town centre, head over Windsor Bridge to Eton, turn left into the common ground area known as ‘The Brocas’ (here you will enjoy some of the best views of Windsor Castle, even though it is closed) continue walking along the towpath with the river on your left until you reach the Queen Elizabeth (traffic) bridge, cross this bridge, turn left again and head back into Windsor passing Windsor Leisure Centre, the Hawker Hurricane, Alexandra Gardens and Bandstand. This loop walk will take approximately one hour, and you’ll have the river next to you all the way. There are lots of stopping points and things to see on the way.

14. Explore our top sculptures and artefacts

Read our guide to some fascinating sculptures, memorials, artefacts and works of art just waiting to be explored in and around the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. There are familiar landmarks such as the Copper Horse in Windsor, as well as hidden gems off the beaten track like Sir Antony Gormley’s Edge II sculpture in Eton.

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Go Quest Adventures Windsor

Windsor

Explore the streets of Windsor's town centre and unlock a hidden trail by finding clues, solving puzzles and completing challenges, earning points along the way all self-guided through the Go Quest Adventures app.
Trunks across the Thames

Follow the “Trunks across the Thames” art trail summer 2026, featuring 60 individually designed elephants reflecting a vibrant tapestry of community and creativity, weaving together businesses, artists, schools and local groups in powerful…
External Links
- Download the Trunks across the Thames brochure here
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
2813 reviews
St George's Chapel

Windsor Castle, Windsor

Take in the splendour of St George's Chapel, the burial place of 11 monarchs including Queen Elizabeth II, Henry VIII and Charles I, and one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England.
Fairmont Spa & Wellness

Englefield Green, Egham

The award-winning Fairmont Spa & Wellness offers the ultimate approach to wellness, inspired by nature. Setting an unprecedented standard in UK wellness, the experience extends beyond the spa to create a sense of tranquillity across the retreat. Our…
The Cliveden Spa

Maidenhead

Join us and discover the true meaning of bliss at Cliveden House and unwind and indulge in our unparalleled spa services, curated just for you. Immerse yourself in a world of tranquillity and let our expert therapists guide you through a journey of…
Other Space Arts

Windsor

Other Space Arts (OSA) is a grassroots live music and arts venue with a plant-based café, restaurant and bar, open Thursday to Sunday. Located just a short walk from Windsor town centre, OSA hosts original performances, live music and DJs in a…
Bray Lake Watersports

Maidenhead

Join in the fun at Bray Lake Watersports! Take part in stand-up paddle boarding, windsurfing, kayaking, dinghy sailing, winging and open water swimming. Hire and tuition available. Visit our café for hot and cold refreshments.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
97 reviews
Ascot Carriages

Horse-drawn carriage rides in Windsor Great Park, departing The Savill Garden Visitor Centre, The Savill Garden, 4 miles from Windsor Castle. Enjoy this beautiful area from a different perspective.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
541 reviews
Escape In 60 Escape Rooms Windsor

Windsor

Escape in 60, Windsor offers three 5-Star TripAdvisor award-winning physical escape rooms and a mobile escape room game. So choose your team and get ready for mind blowing excitement, exhilaration and laugh-out-loud moments.
Utopia Retreat at Great Fosters

Egham

At the heart of Utopia Retreat is our art-deco heated outdoor pool & hot tub (open May to September), with treatment rooms (available year round) spread across the Estate. When you're feeling run down, fatigued and stressed or just because you…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
36 reviews
The Old Court

Windsor

The Old Court is a vibrant arts centre with an event programme that features an eclectic mix of live music, drama, comedy and film, and a bar run by Windsor & Eton Brewery.
External Links
- Click here for your AccessAble Access Guide
The Spa at Coworth Park

Ascot

Nestled in the grounds, the beautiful Spa at Coworth Park is an oasis of calm overlooking the wildflower meadow and polo fields, with The Spatisserie serving light bites and drinks. Eight treatment rooms, a relaxation room, state-of-the-art gym and…
Guards Polo Club

Windsor Great Park

The best place in the world to watch the fast-paced sport of polo is Guards Polo Club, situated in the heart of Windsor Great Park and founded by HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, in 1955.
Windsor Great Park One to One Photography Workshops

Egham

Photographer Gill Heppell has spent the last 15 years photographing Windsor Great Park and her work can be seen in The Savill Garden Visitor Centre and the Virginia Water Pavilion. Join Gill for a one-to-one bespoke photography workshop. You set…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
31 reviews
The Boat Hire Company

Bray, Windsor

The Boat Hire Company provide luxury, skippered boat hire and boat tours between Windsor and Maidenhead; accommodating 2 to 12 passengers. Our vintage river boats can be hired by the hour or for a full day and are a great way to see some of the…
Windsor Carriages

Windsor

For over 170 years, Windsor Carriages has been a cherished symbol of Windsor’s heritage, offering Victorian-style horse-drawn transport on The Long Walk with the majestic Windsor Castle as its backdrop. Today, we honour this storied past by crafting…
WE Tourist Guides

Windsor

WE Tourist Guides is run by professional Blue Badge Guide Debbie Keenan MITG who offers relaxed, informative and fun walking tours of Windsor, Windsor Castle, Eton, Henley, Marlow and Winchester; filming location tours of Oxfordshire for the…
Taplow House Hotel & Spa

Taplow

Calm the mind, soothe the senses at Taplow House Hotel & Spa. From tension-melting massages to tranquil steam sessions, our spa is a sanctuary for doing as little as possible. Pause, breathe and let our spa do the rest. Because sometimes, the best…
Braywick Nature Centre

Maidenhead

Set on the edge of a stunning local nature reserve, Braywick Nature Centre offers memorable, immersive experiences for schools, families and volunteers.
5-day Classic Windsor Itinerary

Windsor

5-day Classic itinerary exploring Windsor and some of England's historic cities.