Windsor Castle
For groups of 15 or more please see our "Group Visits" pages
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Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, is one of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen. The Castle's dramatic site encapsulates 900 years of British history. It covers an area of 26 acres and contains, as well as a royal palace, a magnificent chapel and the homes and workplaces of a large number of people.
Find out more about the history of Windsor Castle and how it is used today on the British Monarchy Website
What there is to see
The magnificent State Apartments are furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto and Gainsborough.
In 1992 fire destroyed or damaged more than 100 rooms at the Castle. By good fortune the rooms worst affected were empty at the time, and as a result, few of the Castle's artistic treasures were destroyed. The highly acclaimed restoration work, completed in 1997, is a testament to the extraordinary skills of some of the finest craftsmen in Europe.
From October to March visitors can also enjoy George IV's private apartments (the Semi-State Rooms), among the most richly decorated interiors in the Castle.
St George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. It is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the senior order of British Chivalry established in 1348 by Edward III. Within the chapel are the tombs of ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I.
Among the highlights of a visit to Windsor is Queen Mary's Dolls' House, the most famous dolls' house in the world.
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The Drawings Gallery, Windsor Castle
The Drawings Gallery shows changing exhibitions of material from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. The special display below is shown alongside a selection of treasures from the Royal Library.
Current exhibition:
Marcus Adams: Royal Photographer
24 April 2010 – 6 February 2011
Marcus Adams (1875-1959) photographed four generations of the Royal Family between 1926 and 1956.
The son of the photographer Walton Adams, he established a reputation as a leading child photographer through his ability to capture the personality of his young sitters. The 57 images in the exhibition span a period of 30 years and include vintage prints from almost all the royal sittings, many from the collection of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a charming group of photographs of the very young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret taken in the late 1920s and 1930s.
Explore the exhibition online in the exhibition microsite.
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Guided Tours to the Great Kitchen
For a special day at Windsor Castle, add a guided tour of the Great Kitchen to your visit. The tour takes you to areas not normally open to the public and provides a fascinating insight into the behind-the-scenes life of the Castle.
A combined ticket giving standard admission to the Castle, plus a Great Kitchen tour, can be booked online or by telephone (020 7766 7304).
Price for a combined ticket for Windsor Castle, plus a Great Kitchen tour
Adult £20.50
Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £18.50
Under 17 £10.50
Under 5 Free
Family £53.50 (2 adults and 3 under 17s)
Visitors registered for 1-Year Pass complimentary re-admission and Advantage Card holders may purchase tickets for the Great Kitchen tour by telephone (020 7766 7304) or from the Castle's Admission Centre.
Great Kitchen tour price (for those registered for 1-Year Pass complimentary re-admission and Advantage Card holders)
Adult £5.00
Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £4.50
Under 17 £3.50
Under 5 Free
Family £12.50 (2 adults and 3 under 17s)
The tour lasts approximately 30 minutes and is available on selected dates from 2 August to 3 October 2010. Tours are in English only and may not be suitable for young children.
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Exclusive Evening Tour
In the comany of an expert guide, this exclusive evening tour offers the opportunity to go 'behind the ropes'.
The cost per person is £50.00 and includes a copy of the official guidebook, 20% discount in the Royal Collection Shop, a glass of champagne and mince pies.
11, 17, 18, 20 and 21 December
The tour lasts for approximately two and a half hours. There is limited availability, with a maximum number of 30 places on each tour.
Book online or telephone +44 (0)20 7766 7333.
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| Opening hours
Open daily
March to October
09:45-17:15 (last admission 16:00)
November to February
09:45-16:15 (last admission 15:00)
Timing your visit
A typical visit lasts between 2 and 3 hours.
The Castle is closed
26 October 2010
25-26 December 2010
The State Apartments closed
5 October 2010
24-28 October 2010
15-17 November 2010
The Semi-State Rooms
The Semi-State Rooms will re-open on 25 September 2010.
Please note that when the State Apartments are closed the Semi-State Rooms will not be open.
St George's Chapel
St. George's Chapel is open daily but closed to visitors on Sundays as services are held throughout the day. Worshippers are welcome to attend the services. An evening service is held everyday at 17.15, and visitors are welcome to attend. For more information please telephone 01753 865538.
St George's Chapel is closed
1 September 2010 (St George's Chapel open from 13:00)
4 September 2010 (St George's Chapel closed from 13:00)
13 October 2010 (St George's Chapel closed from 13:00)
17 December 2010 (St George's Chapel open from 10:30)
23 December 2010 (St George's Chapel closed from 13:00)
24 December 2010
As a working Royal palace, the Castle is used frequently by The Queen for State ceremonies and official entertaining and opening arrangements may change at short notice. Please check opening arrangements before planning a visit (24-hour information line 01753 831118).
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1-Year Pass - terms and conditions
Enjoy free re-admission for a year if you buy your ticket directly from us. Simply ask us to stamp your ticket on your first visit.
The benefit of 1-Year Pass complimentary re-admission is always subject to ticket availability and cannot be used on the following dates in 2010:
Sunday 4 April (Easter Sunday)
Monday 5 April (Easter Monday)
Monday 3 May (May Day Bank Holiday)
Monday 31 May (Spring Bank Holiday)
Monday 30 August (August Bank Holiday)
Learn more about 1-Year Pass
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Admission prices
Windsor Castle
Adult £16.00
Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £14.50
Under 17 £9.50
Under 5 Free
Family £42.00 (2 adults and 3 under 17s)
Windsor Castle (Admission prices when the State Apartments are closed)
Adult £8.50
Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £7.50
Under 17 £5.50
Under 5 Free
Family £22.50 (2 adults and 3 under 17s)
By asking us to treat your purchase as a donation, you enable us to claim gift aid tax relief on your payment. Tickets purchased directly from the Royal Collection can be converted into a 1-Year Pass, giving 12 months' complimentary admission to the site(s) you have visited.
Learn more about 1-Year Pass
* Admission to the Castle is free to residents of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead with an Advantage Card *
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Visitors with disabilities
Most public areas are accessible for wheelchair-users, including the State Apartments.
Wheelchairs can be borrowed, free of charge, from the Visitor Centre. However, they cannot be pre-booked and must remain in the Castle grounds.
More detailed information about access is available by telephoning +44 (0)20 7766 7324.
Download Access information (83 KB).
If you are unable to download this PDF document please contact our Specialist Sales team on specialistsales@royalcollection.org.uk or +44 (0)20 7766 7324.
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How to get there
By train: To Windsor from London Waterloo or London Paddington. (National Rail Enquiries Service 08457 484950 (UK)).
By coach: Green Line operates daily services from Victoria Coach Station, London.
Tour companies operate excursions to Windsor Castle from many London hotels. For details ask your hotel concierge.
By road: M4 to Exit 6. M3 to Exit 3.
For more information on Windsor and parking visit www.windsor.gov.uk.
Address: Windsor Castle, Windsor, SL4 1NJ
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| Audio tours, guided tours and guidebooks
Tours of Windsor Castle and St George's Chapel are self-guided. An audio tour, which lasts approximately 2 hours is included in the ticket price. A family audio tour and family activity trails are also available in English. The audio tour and Official Guidebook are available in the following languages:
English
French
German
Spanish
Italian
Japanese
Chinese
Russian
Guided tours of the Castle Precincts are available at regular intervals throughout the day. Precinct tours last approximately 30 minutes and depart from the Admissions Centre. The tours are included in the ticket price.
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Visitor information
Lavatory and baby-care facilities are available immediately through the security area.
Please note that due to access restrictions, pushchairs are not allowed within the State Apartments.
Photography and filming (for private use only) are permitted in the Castle Precincts. Mobile phones must be switched off inside the State Apartments and St George's Chapel.
Bottled water and ice-cream are available for purchase on the North Terrace.
If you would like to leave the Castle for refreshments in the town’s many cafés, wine bars, pubs or restaurants during your visit, a re-entry band can be obtained from the Middle Ward or Lower Ward Shop (free of charge).
There are three shops, all selling merchandise exclusive to Windsor Castle.
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| Family resources
Use our free family activity trails to explore the Castle and learn more about its history.
Families can follow an interactive audio tour to discover more about the oldest castle in the world and the characters who live there.
In addition, a programme of family workshops and activities are available during school holidays and at weekends. Click on the link below to check for forthcoming events or to download our activity trails.
More information about family activities at Windsor Castle.
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Changing of the Guard
Changing the Guard takes place at 11:00 daily from April until the end of July and on alternate days for the rest of the year, weather permitting.
Changing of the Guard does not take place on Sunday
Provisional Schedule for 2010 (please note that this schedule is set by the British Army and is subject to change. Please check this site prior to a visit)
August - even numbered dates (2, 4, 6, etc)
September - odd numbered dates (1, 3, 5, etc)
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Download visitor leaflet (815 KB)
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