Windsor Castle

About

Windsor Castle is open to the public Thursday to Monday (closed 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); see details below.

The safety and wellbeing of visitors and staff are the priority. Therefore, in line with Government guidance, Royal Collection Trust has introduced a number of measures to ensure that Windsor Castle can reopen safely and visitors can return with confidence. These include: 

•    The introduction of timed tickets in order to manage visitor numbers. Visitors must book tickets in advance through www.rct.uk/tickets as capacities will be limited.  Tickets for Royal Borough Advantage Card holders are available on the day but are subject to availability; find out more.  From Saturday 5 September 2020 Advantage Card holders will be able to pre-book an admission timeslot by phoning the Ticket Sales and Information Office on 0303 123 7304.  There is a £2 fee for telephone transactions but this will guarantee entry for Advantage Card holders.  Please note the Castle will be open Thursday to Monday (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays).
•    Markers and signs to help visitors maintain social distancing, with staff on hand to manage the flow of visitors in queuing areas and indoor spaces. 
•    The introduction of one-way routes in some areas.
•    Hand sanitiser stations along the visitor routes.
•    Enhanced cleaning regimes. 
•    Perspex screens at all till points, with payment by card only. 
•    All front-of-house staff fully trained in COVID-secure procedures.

With these measures in place, Royal Collection Trust has acquired the ‘We’re Good to Go’ Industry Standard mark, recognised by VisitEngland. 

Please note the safety and wellbeing of visitors and staff are Royal Collection Trust's priority. In order to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit, they have closed the following rooms where social distancing cannot be easily maintained: Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, The Moat Room, The King’s Closet, The King’s Dressing Room, The King’s Bedroom, and The King’s Drawing Room. Precinct Tours will not be available in the short term. They hope to reopen these spaces soon and when it is safe to do so.

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.

The size of the Castle (5.3 hectares/13 acres) is breathtaking, in fact it is the largest and oldest occupied Castle in the world and it’s where Her Majesty The Queen chooses to spend most of her private weekends.

You might even time your visit when she is in residence! Look at the flag flying from the Castle’s Round Tower; if it’s the Royal Standard The Queen will be there too.

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.

Autumn 2020 at Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle’s wartime ‘pantomime pictures’ revealed in Waterloo Chamber

Visitors to Windsor Castle will see some unique pictures as they walk through the castle’s historic Waterloo Chamber.

During World War II, Her Majesty The Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) and her sister Princess Margaret took part in a series of pantomimes in the Waterloo Chamber to raise money for the Royal Household Wool Fund, which supplied yarn to make comforters for soldiers fighting at the Front.

At the start of the war, the portraits by Sir Thomas Lawrence that usually line the walls of the Waterloo Chamber were removed from their frames for safety reasons. To make the space more festive, 16 ‘pantomime pictures’ were commissioned to cover the bare walls.

Teenage evacuee and part-time art student Claude Whatham was asked to recreate fairy-tale characters on rolls of wallpaper. He shared a temporary painting studio in the Garter Throne Room with Sir Gerald Kelly, who was working on King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation portraits.

After the war, the portraits by Sir Thomas Lawrence were returned to their frames in the Waterloo Chamber, and the pantomime pictures remained hidden beneath them. The only other time they have been revealed since the war was following the Windsor Castle fire of 1992.

The portraits by Sir Thomas Lawrence were removed to facilitate essential maintenance work during the recent closure of the Castle. 

Windsor Castle's East Terrace Gardens open to the public for first time in over 40 years

Until the end of September, the East Terrace Garden at Windsor Castle, created by George IV in the 1820s, will open to visitors at weekends for the first time in decades.

The large formal garden, overlooked by Windsor Castle’s famous east façade, features clipped domes of yew and beds of 3,500 rose bushes planted in a geometric pattern around a central fountain. On weekends in August and September, visitors with tickets to Windsor Castle will be able to explore the garden and enjoy the view from its terraces across the surrounding area.  Find out more.

HRH Princess Beatrice of York’s wedding dress to go on display at Windsor Castle 

HRH Princess Beatrice of York’s wedding dress, first worn by Her Majesty The Queen in the 1960s, will go on public display and be part of a visit to Windsor Castle from 24 September to 22 November 2020.

Designed by the renowned British fashion designer Sir Norman Hartnell, the dress was loaned to Her Royal Highness by Her Majesty The Queen for her wedding to Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on 17 July 2020. Sir Norman Hartnell’s original design was altered for Princess Beatrice.  The full-skirted silhouette was softened and the underskirt and petticoats were recreated and bound with silk tulle. Short sleeves of triple organza were added to the straps and embroidered with vintage diamantés to match the original Hartnell embroidery design. Each alteration made to the dress is reversible.

Sir Norman Hartnell (1901–1979) was responsible for designing many of the outfits worn by The Queen for State events, tours and family occasions throughout the first half of her reign, including Her Majesty’s wedding dress in 1947 and Coronation dress in 1953.

The Queen first wore the taffeta gown for a State dinner at the British Embassy in Rome during a State Visit in 1961. Her Majesty wore it again to the London premiere of the film Lawrence of Arabia in 1962 and for the State Opening of Parliament in 1966.

The display at Windsor Castle will also feature Princess Beatrice’s wedding shoes, made by Valentino, and a replica of her bridal bouquet made from artificial flowers.

Windsor Castle Future Programme

Over the past few years the Royal Collection Trust has been busy transforming the experience of visiting Windsor Castle, and visitors are already enjoying many improvements to the visitor experience.

The Moat Room, a new introductory space, now tells the story of the Castle’s 1,000 years of history.  Windsor Castle’s Inner Hall, created by George IV in the 1820s as a space to receive official guests, has been restored and opened to the public. Now, for the first time since its closure by George’s niece, Queen Victoria, the Inner Hall serves its original purpose as a magnificent welcome area for visitors to the Castle.  

The medieval Undercroft has now been transformed into the Castle's first permanent café.

Step-free access will be introduced throughout the visitor route. In 2020, improvement works on the Admission Centre and visitor facilities are due to be completed, together with a new dedicated Learning Centre within the Castle’s precincts.

Find out more about the Royal Collection Trust's £27 million investment in the visitor experience at Windsor Castle. 

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

[Please note that in order to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit, Windsor Castle has closed the following rooms where social distancing cannot be easily maintained: Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, The Moat Room, The King’s Closet, The King’s Dressing Room, The King’s Bedroom, and The King’s Drawing Room.  Precinct Tours are also unavailable in the short term.]

Visit the magnificent State Apartments furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Canaletto.

Take in the splendour of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, location of the wedding of Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle, the burial place of 10 monarchs including Henry VIII and Charles I, and one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. 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.

See Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, a masterpiece in miniature built by Sir Edwin Lutyens.  Including contributions from over 1,500 of the finest artists, craftsmen and manufacturers of the early 20th century, it is safe to say that no detail was forgotten!

Join a free 30-minute Precinct Tour with one of the Castle’s wardens when you first arrive and get the most out of your visit to Windsor Castle.  Learn about the Castle's 1,000-year history as fortress, palace and official residence of The Queen.

Imagine being entertained by royalty in the Semi-State Rooms, the spectacular private apartments open to visitors during the winter months.  Richly decorated, they are used by The Queen for hosting her guests. The additional five rooms that make up the Semi-State Rooms are included in the visitor route from autumn to spring each year.  They will open from September 2020 to March 2021.  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

• Book your tickets in advance and avoid the queues! Visit the official Royal Collection website then print your tickets at home before you arrive.  You can bypass the tickets queues by joining the ticketholders line in the Castle’s Admissions Centre. 
• Check if your accommodation provider is part of RBWM’s Concierge Scheme and book your Windsor Castle ticket in advance courtesy of your hotel or guest accommodation.
• Don’t forget to convert your Royal Collection ticket into a one-year pass so you can visit again within 12 months – there’s always something new to see (don’t forget to bring some ID with you).
• Check which flag is flying from Windsor Castle’s round tower – if it’s the Royal Standard then The Queen is in residence when you’re visiting!
• Windsor Castle is a working palace and can close fully or partly at short notice for any reason; always check the provisional closure dates below on a regular basis.
• 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 newly-opened Moat Room display which features three bronze models of how the Castle looked in 1080, 1216 and 1377 – moments in time when the development of the castle expanded considerably – and showcases 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 brand new 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!  The new multimedia tours mean you can choose which route you take to discover the treasures of Windsor Castle.  The Ceremonial Route will guide you through the ornate rooms that The Queen uses for official entertaining.  Opt for the Historic Route to see the suite of rooms created by Charles II, featuring many of the greatest works of art in the Royal Collection.
• Look out for special tours throughout the year including private evening ‘behind the ropes’ tours (these must be booked in advance).
• With so much to see and do in Windsor Castle, visitors wishing to leave the Castle to go into Windsor town centre may obtain re-entry permits from the Castle shops or the audio return point.

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.

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 has opened 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 now 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 will serve 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.

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

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 below, by visiting https://www.rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle or by telephoning the Ticket Sales and Information Office on +44 (0)30 3123 7304.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CASTLE CLOSES 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES AFTER LAST ENTRY TIME SHOWN BELOW:

Please note the Castle is open Thursday to Monday (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays).  1 Mar 2020 - 31 Oct 2020 10:00 to 17:15.  1 Nov 2020 - 28 Feb 2021 10:00 to 16:15.  Last admission 75 minutes before closing. 

Provisional closure dates at Windsor Castle 2020

Please note Windsor Castle reopens on 23 July Thursday to Monday only (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays).

​DECEMBER 2020
23 December 2020 - St George's Chapel closed from 13:00
24 December 2020 - St George's Chapel closed from 13:00
25-26 December 2020 - CASTLE CLOSED

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. Worshippers are welcome to attend the services. These occur at the following times:
08:30 – Holy Communion
10:45 – Mattins and Sermon
12:00 – Sung Eucharist                                
17:15 – Evensong

Special tours for pre-booked groups at Windsor Castle

Private Evening Tours – In the company of an expert guide, guests will enjoy an exclusive ‘behind-the-ropes’ experience in the magnificent State Apartments.  The tour ends with a glass of champagne.

Restoring Windsor: The Castle after the fire – This special visit begins in the Castle's Winchester Tower with refreshments and an expert talk recounting the dramatic story of the battle to stop the flames and save irreplaceable works of art from the Royal Collection.  The visit continues with a self-guided multimedia tour around the State Apartments. Dates from March – October 2020.

Royal Weddings at Windsor – This special talk will show how royal weddings at Windsor Castle have evolved into the moving ceremonies followed by magnificent celebrations that have been shared throughout the country and across the world. The visit continues with a self-guided multimedia tour of the State Apartments. Dates from March – October 2020.  

The above tours are available to pre-booked groups on selected dates only by appointment with the Ticket Sales and Information Office at Buckingham Palace on +44 (0)30 3123 7322.