Windsor Castle

About

Windsor Castle is open to the public five days a week, remaining closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

Tickets must be booked in advance.  Tickets for Royal Borough Advantage Card holders are available on the day (subject to availability) or can be prebooked by telephone only (transaction fee payable).  Visit Windsor Castle's Practical Information page to find out more.

No trip to Windsor could possibly be complete without a visit to amazing Windsor Castle, the family home to British kings and queens for over 1,000 years and today one of the official residences of His Majesty The King.

The size of the Castle (over 10.5 hectares) is breathtaking, in fact it is the largest and oldest occupied Castle in the world.

Windsor Castle offers something for everyone, and with so many areas to explore please allow at least 2.5 to 3 hours to see it all.

What to see and do at Windsor Castle (all included in your ticket price)

Visit the magnificent State Apartments to see ceremonial rooms that are used today by the Royal Family for official visits by Heads of State from other countries, investitures, and awards ceremonies, where British men and women are recognised for their achievements. 

You will also be able to explore historic rooms, built for Charles II and his Queen, Catherine of Braganza, which follow the pattern established in English palaces over hundreds of years; a series of rooms getting smaller as they get closer to the most private spaces.

The State Apartments are furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Holbein, Van Dyck and Rubens.

Take in the splendour of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, 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. St George’s Chapel will continue to be included as part of a ticketed visit to Windsor Castle.  Please note, worshippers are welcome to attend the Sunday services at St George's Chapel but the chapel is closed to general visitors on Sundays.

Imagine being entertained by royalty in the Semi-State Rooms, the spectacular private apartments open to visitors during the winter months.  Richly decorated, they served as the private rooms of George IV in the 19th century. The additional five rooms that make up the Semi-State Rooms are included in the visitor route in the autumn and winter months and will reopen 1 October 2023 to 24 March 2024.  Please note that the Semi-State Rooms are closed when the State Apartments are closed.

Stand to attention whilst watching the Changing of the Guard!  A colourful spectacle of British Pageantry (see below for schedule).

Top Tips for visiting Windsor Castle

• Tickets must be booked in advance as a timed tickets system is in operation in order to manage visitor numbers.
• Tickets booked on the Royal Collection Trust website can be converted into a one-year pass so you can visit again within 12 months. Please speak with a member of staff on the day to have your tickets stamped.  More information here.
• Windsor Castle is a working palace and can close fully or partly at short notice for any reason; always check the provisional closure dates on a regular basis.
• Check which flag is flying from Windsor Castle’s round tower – if it’s the Royal Standard then The King is in residence when you’re visiting.
• Consider the winter months as a great time to visit; you’ll see the Semi-State Rooms at no extra charge and the State Apartments are beautifully decorated for Christmas.
• Visit the Moat Room display which explores Windsor Castle’s 1000-year history, from simple fort to one of the greatest medieval palaces in Europe. One length of the Moat Room features a timeline illustrated with reigning kings and queens.
• If the State Apartments are busy on the day you visit, why not explore beautiful St George’s Chapel first?  The chapel is closed to visitors on Sundays (but open to worshippers).
• Visiting with children? You’ll find a whole range of family activities taking place each month at Windsor Castle.
• Don’t forget to pick up a multimedia guide to help you get the most out of your visit to Windsor Castle – it's available in many different languages and there’s a family tour too, led by Scorch the dragon!
• Look out for special tours throughout the year including private evening ‘behind the ropes’ tours (these must be booked in advance).
• For ease, you can also book your Windsor Castle tickets alongside your accommodation, from one of our RBWM Concierge Service Partners. They have a wealth of knowledge about the local area and have access to a variety of other tickets for other attractions and events too, so why not let them assist you in planning the perfect stay?

Windsor Castle history

Windsor Castle as it appears today is the result of almost a thousand years of development but four monarchs in particular have left their mark: William the Conqueror, who founded the castle and established its outline plan and extent; Edward III (r.1327-77), who rebuilt it in a magnificent Gothic style and established the royal apartments in the Upper Ward; Charles II (r.1660-85), who transformed the Upper Ward of the medieval castle into a baroque palace; and George IV (r. 1820-30) who restored the exterior to conform with romantic ideals of castle architecture and created sumptuous and richly furnished palace interiors within the ancient fabric of the building.

Christmas at Windsor Castle

This year’s Christmas display at Windsor Castle will celebrate the 675th anniversary of the Order of the Garter, the oldest order of chivalry in Britain which was founded in Windsor in 1348.

A magnificent 20-foot-high Nordmann Fir tree in St George's Hall, grown nearby in Windsor Great Park, is the highlight of the Christmas display. This year it will be topped by a specially commissioned sparkling Garter Star to commemorate the anniversary, alongside Coronation-themed decorations to celebrate this special year.

Other seasonal highlights will include festive menus in the Undercroft Café, family craft activities and workshops, and local choirs singing carols on selected dates.  Read more under 'Events' below or follow this link.

Changing the Guard at Windsor Castle

The privilege of guarding the Sovereign has been carried out since 1660. Weather permitting, the ceremony begins at 11am and lasts approximately 30 minutes.  Please check the Royal Collection Trust website for latest information.  There is a link to the British Army website from here too with confirmation of the full schedule.

Family activities at Windsor Castle

• Free family multimedia tour (for children aged 7-11)
• Free family Activity Trail
• Family Saturdays and school holiday events and activities.

Windsor Castle offers an exciting family programme every Saturday throughout the year, linked to the amazing history of the Castle, the magnificent art on display and the royal residents past and present who have lived here.

The programme includes storytelling and dressing up in replica historic costume and armour, and art and craft workshops where families can get creative together.

Undercroft Café

The first café for visitors to Windsor Castle is located in Edward III’s medieval Undercroft, which for centuries served as the Castle’s main wine cellar and is one of the oldest surviving spaces in the 1,000-year-old royal residence.

Visitors can enjoy freshly prepared meals, including sandwiches, wraps and salads, served alongside an exclusive selection of teas. Sweet treats range from vanilla mille-feuille and vegan chocolate cake to fruit scones and Victoria sponge. During the summer, the Café serves ice cream produced using milk from the Jersey herd at the Royal Farms, Windsor.

The Undercroft is on the ground floor of the Castle beneath St George’s Hall, where State Banquets take place, and dates back to Edward III’s major renovations during the 1350s and 1360s. 

Opening arrangements for Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is a working royal palace so opening arrangements may change at short notice. 

Access to Queen Mary's Dolls' House and St George's Chapel may be limited on busy days.

To avoid the disappointment of finding part or all of Windsor Castle closed, please check before planning a visit by checking the Provisional Closure Dates by visiting https://www.rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle or by telephoning the Ticket Sales and Information Office on +44 (0)30 3123 7304.

St George's Chapel closes at 16:00, although visitors are welcome to attend the Evensong service at 17:15.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CASTLE CLOSES 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES AFTER LAST ENTRY TIME SHOWN UNDER OPENING TIMES.

Attending a service in St George's Chapel

St George’s Chapel is closed to visitors on Sundays as services are held throughout the day. Visitors to the Castle on Sundays will not be able to enter the chapel or view the burial place of Queen Elizabeth II.  Access to St George’s Chapel may be limited on busy days.  Worshippers are welcome to attend the services which include Holy Communion, Mattins and Sermon, Sung Eucharist and Evensong.  You can find out more about attending a service at St George's Chapel by visiting the St George's Chapel Diary.

Special tours for pre-booked groups at Windsor Castle

There is a range of tours available for pre-booked groups to Windsor Castle including ‘behind-the-ropes’ private evening tours of the State Apartments and themed talks such as ‘Royal Weddings at Windsor’ and ‘Restoring Windsor: The Castle after the fire’.  Find out more by contacting the Ticket Sales and Information Office at Buckingham Palace on +44 (0)30 3123 7322.