Windsor Castle
For individuals and groups up to 14 please see our "Visiting" pages
|
 |
|
|
Welcome to the group information page for Windsor Castle. Here you will find everything you need to plan a visit.
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.
Top of page |
|
|
|
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.
To appreciate this exhibition in more depth, groups may book a talk by a member of the Royal Collection staff. Talks are available from May 2010 to February 2011. For further information or to book, please telephone +44 (0)20 7766 7333.
Explore the exhibition online in the exhibition microsite.
Top of page |
|
|
|
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. 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).
Top of page |
|
|
|
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
Top of page |
|
|
|
Admission prices (for groups 15+)
Windsor Castle
Adult £14.40
Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £13.05
Under 17 £8.55
Under 5 Free
Windsor Castle (Admission prices when the State Apartments are closed)
Adult £7.65
Over 60/Student (with valid ID)£6.75
Under 17 £4.95
Under 5 Free
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
Top of page |
|
|
| Booking your visit
Book online or telephone +44 (0)20 7766 7321. All major credit cards are accepted.
Groups are not required to book in advance for Windsor Castle.
Any guides or group leaders must be included within your application unless they are a Windsor Accredited Blue Badge Guide. Guiding is permitted in the Castle Precincts. View more information about the Windsor Accredited Guide Scheme.
Top of page |
|
 |
|
Combined visit
Windsor Castle and The Savill Garden
Combine your visit to Windsor Castle with a visit to the Savill Garden, England's finest woodland garden, part of The Royal Landscape in Windsor Great Park.
Enjoy two remarkable and very different buildings - Windsor Castle, which has been shaped by the tastes of kings and queens over 1000 years, and the eye-catching Savill Building, runner-up for the 2007 RIBA Stirling Award.
Availability
April to October
Windsor Castle 09:45-17:15 (last admission 16:00)
The Savill Garden 10:00-18:00 (last admission 17:30)
Combined-ticket price
Adult £19.50
Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £18.00
Under 17 £13.75
Under 5 Free
Price includes an audio tour and admission to the special exhibition of Windsor Castle and entry to The Savill Garden.
For further information or to book a tour, please telephone +44 (0)20 7766 7333 or e-mail specialistsales@royalcollection.org.uk |
|
|
|
How to get there
By rail: Direct from London Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside, or London Paddington to Windsor Central via Slough. (National Rail Enquiries 0845 7484950 (UK)).
By coach: Green Line. Daily services from London Victoria. (0870 608 7261).
By road: M4 Exit 6, M3 Exit 3.
Address: Windsor Castle, Windsor, SL4 1NJ
Top of page |
|
|
| Coach parking and travel information
Coaches are not allowed to set down or pick up visitors outside the Castle. All coaches must park in Royal Windsor's Coach Park, which is located in Alma Road and is clearly signed from all approach routes. There are coach-parking spaces available on a pay-and-display basis. A lift is available that takes visitors from the Coach Park into the Windsor Royal Station, from where visitors have a 5 to 10-minute walk to the Castle entrance.
Click here for further information on Coach parking in Windsor
Top of page |
|
 |
|
Visitors with disabilities
Windsor Castle is accessible to visitors with disabilities. Please note that the Castle is on a hill, and there is a fairly steep walk up to the State Apartments. Seating is available along the visitor route. 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.
Top of page |
|
 |
| Audio 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.
Top of page |
|
|
|
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.
Top of page |
|
 |
|
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)
Top of page |
|
|
Download visitor leaflet (815 KB)
|
