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You are here: Home > Things to Do > Windsor Castle

Type: Castle / Fort

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Tel +44 030 3123 7304

Further Information

• Click here for your AccessAble Access Guide

Book Tickets Online

No trip to Windsor could be complete without a visit to Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has been the home of 40 monarchs and is one of the official residences of His Majesty The King.

Windsor Castle is open to visitors throughout the year, five days a week, from Thursday to Monday. We recommend allowing 2.5 to 3 hours to see everything.

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.

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 people from all walks of life are recognised for their achievements. Explore historic rooms, built for Charles II and his Queen, Catherine of Braganza, and view some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Van Dyck and Rubens, fine French furniture, delicate tapestries and impressive armours.

During the winter months, enter the Semi-State Rooms , the richly decorated private apartments. Severely damaged by the fire of 1992, they were completely restored to their 19th-century appearance using the original designs supplied to George IV.  Blending classical, gothic and rococo styles, they also contain some of the best 18th-century English and French works of art.

Celebrate 100 years of Queen Mary's Dolls' House, the largest and most famous dolls' house in the world! Completed in 1924, it's a perfect replica of an Edwardian residence, complete with electricity, working lifts and running water. Its scaled-down rooms range from a fully stocked wine cellar and ‘below-stairs’ spaces to grand entertaining salons, and feature contributions from over 1,500 of the finest artists, craftspeople, and manufacturers of the day. The house went on display at Windsor Castle in 1925 and has been delighting visitors ever since.  Read our blog here .

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 is included as part of a ticketed visit to Windsor Castle. Please note, the chapel is closed to general visitors on Sundays but worshippers are welcome to attend services.

Watch Changing the Guard!  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.

Have a break in the Undercroft Café. Located in one of the oldest surviving spaces of the Castle, Edward III’s medieval Undercroft, which for centuries served as the Castle’s main wine cellar, is now a café open to visitors. Visit the Royal Collection Trust website to see the menu.

Family activities at Windsor Castle

Collect your handset and follow Scorch the dragon on a special tour of Windsor Castle, full of amazing stories. Try spotting mystery objects and other games as you go round.

Discover the Castle and its 1,000-year history with one of the free trails for children aged 5-11. Look out for battlements, towers, arrow loops and murder holes!

During local school holidays, join free activities for children and families including crafts, storytelling and ‘make and takes’.

If you’re looking for a quieter space, toddlers can take time in the Chill Out Zone, with toys, books and lots of bean bags. The Learning Centre is breastfeeding friendly, and has a designated family bathroom with changing table and a handy ‘caught short’ box.

Top Tips for visiting Windsor Castle

• Book your tickets in advance, to avoid any disappointment.
• Get your ticket converted into a one-year pass so you can visit again within 12 months. Speak to a member of staff on the day. Please note that only tickets booked on the Royal Collection Trust website can be converted into a one-year pass.
• 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.
• Make sure to collect a multimedia guide to get the most out of your visit to Windsor Castle – it's available in many different languages.
• Look out for special tours throughout the year including the Great Kitchen and Conquer the Tower tours (these must be booked in advance ).

Book Tickets

Guide prices.

Groups: Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount on ticket prices shown above.

Wednesday, 29th May 2024 - Wednesday, 29th May 2024

Wednesday, 26th june 2024 - wednesday, 26th june 2024, wednesday, 31st july 2024 - wednesday, 31st july 2024.

Saturday, 26th October 2024 - Sunday, 3rd November 2024

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Accessibility

• Accessible Lift - gives access to State Apartments and Semi-State Rooms.
• All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
• Facilities for Hearing Impaired Visitors - Induction loop on audio tour.
• Facilities for Visually Impaired Visitors
• Facility for service dogs - water available on request
• Guide Dogs Permitted
• Ramp/Level Access
• Toilets for Disabled Visitors
• Wheelchair user accessible
• Audio Commentary in Foreign Languages
• French audio guide
• German audio guide
• Italian audio guide
• Japanese audio guide
• Mandarin audio guide
• Portuguese audio guide - Brazilian Portuguese
• Russian audio guide
• Spanish audio guide
• On-Site cafe/restaurant - Undercroft Café serving freshly prepared meals, including sandwiches, wraps, salads and sweet treats and an exclusive selection of teas
• Refreshments Available
• Vegetarians catered for

Children & Infants

• Family Friendly, Children Welcome

Establishment Features

• Gift shop - Step into the Windsor Castle shops and experience a world of exclusive gifts and royal souvenirs, including commemorative chinaware, glittering jewellery, sumptuous homeware, delicious food and drink and charming gifts for children.

Printed Material in Foreign Languages

Parking & transport.

• Green Transport - Green Line from London. Buses and coaches from Slough, Staines, Heathrow and Bracknell.
• Parking (charge) - No car parking on site but follow the signs for LONG STAY PARKING in Windsor town centre; these car parks are better value if you are visiting the castle.

Payment Methods

• American Express accepted
• Approx length of visit - A typical visit lasts between 2 and 3 hours.
• Blue Badge Guides admitted free
• Delta accepted
• Groups Accepted - Only Blue Bage Guides accredited to Windsor Castle are permitted to guide within the precincts of the Castle.
• Maestro Accepted
• MasterCard accepted
• Max group size - 9999
• Min group size - 15
• Special group rates - Reduced admission charges apply to groups of 15 or more visitors
• Sterling Travellers Cheques accepted
• Visa accepted
• French printed material
• German printed material
• Italian printed material
• Japanese printed material
• Mandarin printed material
• Portuguese printed material - Brazilian Portuguese
• Russian printed material
• Spanish printed material

Provider Preferences

• In town/city centre
• No Smoking Attraction

Specialist Features

• Family Fun - In addition to trails and a children's audio guide we now offer an exciting family programme every Saturday throughout the year, linked to the amazing history of Windsor Castle, the magnificent art works on display and the royal residents past and present who have lived here.

Tours and Demonstrations

• Educational Visits Accepted
• Guided Tours Available for Groups
• Guided Tours Available for Individuals

Travel & Trade

• Group discounts available

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

• Excellent 9946
• Very Good 3197
• Average 674
• Terrible 139

Recent Reviews:

Map & directions.

Opening Times

* Last admission 75 minutes before closing. Please check the 'provisional closure' dates listed on the Royal Collection website: rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle

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