Windsor Castle
Home to royalty and 1,000 years of royal history.
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It is open to visitors throughout the year.
Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has since been the home of 40 monarchs.
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Prices
Book in advance for the best value
| Advance | On the day | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £28.00 | £30.00 |
| Young Person (18-24) | £18.00 | £19.50 |
| Child (5-17) | £15.50 | £16.50 |
| Disabled | £15.50 | £16.50 |
| Under 5 | Free | Free |
| Groups (15 people or more) | View group prices | |
Family Offer
Families visiting Windsor Castle can save up to £21.00 when booking with us direct.
The family discount is automatically applied at checkout to bookings of at least 1 adult and 2 children, up to 2 Adults and 4 children.
Your ticket includes a multimedia tour.
Admission to the Castle is free for Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Advantage Card holders.
Enjoy free re-admission for a year by asking us to treat your ticket purchase as a donation.
At the end of your visit, ask a Warden to stamp your ticket to convert it into a 1- Year Pass.
Find out more.
Opening times
The Castle is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
| Opening time | Last admission | Closing time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 March - 31 October | 10:00 | 16:00 | 17:15 |
| 1 November- 28 February | 10:00 | 15:00 | 16:15 |
Access to St George’s Chapel may be limited after 14:30, particularly on Saturdays. Please arrive earlier to avoid disappointment.
Entrance to the State Apartments closes 30 minutes after the last admission time.
The Semi-State Rooms usually open from autumn-spring each year. They are currently closed and will reopen in autumn 2023.
Windsor Castle closures
As Windsor Castle is a working royal palace, sometimes the entire Castle or the State Apartments within the Castle need to be closed at short notice.
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Sunday, 11 June - the Castle is open, but please be aware that the Royal Windsor Triathlon is taking place so road closures may make it more difficult to reach the Castle entrance.
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Sunday, 18 June 2023 - The State Apartments in the Castle will be closed. A reduced admission price applies.
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Monday, 19 June 2023 – Castle closed.
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Thursday, 22 June 2023 - Castle opens at 12:00.
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Monday, 25 December 2023 - Castle closed.
St George's Chapel
Please note St George’s Chapel is open on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday but it is not part of the visit on Sunday, when it is only open for worship. More details are available on the Chapel website.
Access to St George’s Chapel may be limited after 14:30, particularly on Saturdays. Please arrive earlier to avoid disappointment.
- Friday, 16 June - St George's Chapel closing at 13:00
- Friday, 7 July - St George's Chapel opening at 11:00
- Saturday, 22 July - St George's Chapel closing at 13:00
- Monday, 4 December - St George's Chapel closing 13:00
- Friday, 8 December - St George's Chapel opening 11:00
- Saturday, 23 December St George's Chapel closing 13:00
Practical information
- We suggest you allow 1½ to 2 hours for your visit. The Castle is at the top of a steep hill and the visitor route covers long distances. We recommend you wear comfortable shoes.
- As you approach the Castle, please be aware there are roadworks taking place to improve pedestrian safety on Castle Hill. We are working hard to ensure that this does not impact your experience. Please do arrive for the start of your ticket timeslot (not before), and follow the instructions of the Visitor Services team, who will endeavour to get you admitted as soon as possible.
- Your ticket includes a complimentary multimedia guide, available in English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish. The English-lanugage guides feature versions tailored for families (children) and D/deaf and hard of hearing visitors.
- When you arrive, you will pass through an airport-style security check. Read more about security & luggage.
- Toilets, Changing Places and baby-care facilities are available.
- You can take photographs outside the Castle buildings, but not inside the Castle or within St George's Chapel. Read about photography, filming & mobile phones.
- The undercroft café in the Castle serves food and drinks, however eating and drinking are not permitted inside the State Apartments or St George's Chapel.
Map & directions
Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1NJBy car
There is no visitor car parking at the Castle, so we recommend you use public car parks in the town centre. Details about parking can be found on www.windsor.gov.uk
By train
The nearest stations are 'Windsor & Eton Central' or 'Windsor & Eton Riverside'. Visit National Rail Enquiries for times and fares.
By coach / bus
Green Line 702 service operates daily services from Greenline Coach Station which is near Victoria station, London.
Tour companies operate excursions to Windsor Castle from many London hotels. For details, please ask your hotel concierge.
Your visit to Windsor Castle ©
Highlights
Top things to see and do at Windsor Castle
With so much to see and do, take a look at our list of recommendations to make your visit extra special.
See the listWhat's on
Shopping and eating
Windsor Castle Shop
Visit the Castle shop with plenty of luxury gifts available to purchase.
Refreshments
Make time for tea and cake in the Undercroft Café at the Castle. The café is situated in one of the oldest surviving spaces in the 1,000 year old Castle.
Children and families
Try our online games
How much do you know about Henry VIII?
Download a family activity trail
Download one of our free trails for children aged 7 – 11 to learn more about the Castle.
Top five things to look out for
Find the place where 10 kings are buried, including Henry VIII and Charles I.
Things to do
Pick up a family multimedia guide and learn about the Castle with Scorch the dragon as your guide.
What's on for children and families
About the Castle
Who built the Castle
William the Conqueror chose the site for Windsor Castle, high above the river Thames.
Who lived at the Castle
Queen Victoria spent most of the year at Windsor.
Fire at the Castle
In 1992 fire destroyed many rooms at the Castle. The award-winning restoration took 5 years to complete.
Visitors over the centuries
Windsor Castle has welcomed visitors for hundreds of years.
Access and mobility
Windsor Castle is accessible. Concessionary rates are available if you have a disability and a free access companion ticket can be obtained by contacting the Specialist Sales Team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or by emailing [email protected].
The Castle is situated at the top of a steep hill, long distances have to be covered and much of the site is outdoors. You may wish to download a photo journey (PDF) to help you plan your visit. For travel information, see the section on our mobility page.
An accessible café, toilets, and a Changing Places are available.
Registered assistance dogs are welcome and a number of Wardens are Dementia Friends, please ask staff for any assistance.
The multimedia guide is available in British Sign Language (BSL) and with subtitles.
General information on visiting is available on our Practical Information page.
For detailed access information, please select one of the options below. For any other information, you can contact the Specialist Sales team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or by emailing [email protected].
For detailed access information on visiting the local area please see AccessAble's guide to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Access events
Schools
Bring the curriculum to life with a visit to Windsor Castle. We offer a range of interactive workshops, tours, learning activities and resources for nursery, primary and secondary pupils. If you are a teacher or group organiser, our schools visit information will help you plan your day.
Groups
Group prices
We offer a groups discount for bookings of 15 people or more.
Group bookings
It is essential to pre-book your group visit. Buy your tickets online or over the telephone.
Coach parking
There's coach parking in Windsor town centre. Unfortunately coaches can't drop off or pick up directly outside the Castle.
Guiding
Windsor Castle-authorised Blue Badge Guides are welcome to guide within the Precincts, but not inside the Castle.
What's on for groups
Book tickets
Windsor Castle Standard Admission
Book a ticket to Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and home to 1,000 years of royal history.
Windsor Castle Admission and a Conquer the Tower Tour
Book your ticket to Windsor Castle and include a Conquer the Tower Tour to climb to the top of Windsor Castle's iconic Round Tower and enjoy breath-taking views across Windsor. Visitors must be 1.3m tall to participate in this tour.
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