Windsor Castle: Tickets, Opening Times, and Essential Visiting Tips

Visit Windsor Castle, the world’s oldest occupied castle, and explore the royal apartments, St George’s Chapel, and more. Buy tickets ahead of time to secure your spot.

Windsor Castle remains the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, with it being home to 39 monarchs over the centuries.

Originally built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, the castle is a favorite weekend retreat for Britain’s royal family, and it welcomes no less than 1.5 million visitors yearly.

Here’s everything you need to know before booking your Windsor Castle tickets.

Top Tickets

# Skip the line Windsor Castle tickets
# Windsor Castle entry + Transport from London
# Windsor Castle, Bath, and Stonehenge tour

It’s highly recommended to book your Windsor Castle tickets in advance. These tickets sell out quickly, so securing your spot early ensures you don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.

Key Takeaways

Booking your Windsor Castle ticket online and in advance helps you avoid long wait times and gain faster access to the attraction. You can also choose the best timeslots when you book online

The cheapest and most popular way to explore the castle is by buying a Windsor entry ticket. You can also opt for a guided tour ticket that comes with two-way luxury transportation from London

Windsor Castle is open from 10 am to 5.15 pm from March to October, and 10 am to 4.15 pm from November to February. The last entry is one hour and 15 minutes before closure

The best time to visit Windsor Castle is between 11 am and 11.30 am after the Change of Guard. You can tour the entire castle in 2-3 hours

What’s ahead

Things to know before booking tickets

You can buy your Windsor Castle tickets either at the venue or online in advance. Booking online is always a better option as it offers you the best discounts, helps avoid long wait times at the ticketing counter, and allows you to choose your preferred time slot. Immediately after purchase, your tickets will be emailed to you. On the day of your visit, show your e-ticket and enter the attraction—no need for printouts! Remember to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time.

Did You Know?
English monarchs didn’t just use Windsor as a refuge from war; it also offered them protection from diseases! During the 16th century plague, Queen Elizabeth moved the royal court to Windsor and hid herself away in the castle.

Windsor Castle tickets

There are three ways to explore Windsor castle.

You can either book skip-the-line tickets to Windsor Castle or opt for a guide tour ticket with transportation from London and vice versa.

There are also combo tickets available that include a guided tour of Windsor Castle and visits to Bath, Stonehenge, Lacock, and Oxford. These tickets offer you the best bang for your buck.

Note: Whether it’s a self-guided or guided tour, there’s a lot of walking involved. We, thus, recommend wearing comfortable shoes for an optimal experience.

Skip-the-line Windsor Castle tickets

This ticket provides access to all areas of Windsor Castle and is the cheapest and most popular way to see the royal residence. 

This self-guided tour includes an audio guide available in 8 languages.

With this ticket, you can also visit the State Apartments—the British monarchy’s grand rooms for ceremonial occasions and state visits.

You also get access to Windsor’s St. George’s Chapel, famous for being the final resting place of some of England’s kings and queens, including Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth in recent memory.

Funerals apart, the chapel is also renowned for hosting royal weddings and other regal ceremonies.

Ticket Prices

Adult Ticket (25+ years): £30
Child Ticket (5 to 16 years): £15
Youth Ticket (18 to 24 years): £20

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Windsor guided tour + Transport from London

This roundtrip morning guided tour ticket lets you access everything inside Windsor Castle.

It also includes transportation in an air-conditioned luxury coach from London to the castle and vice versa.

Many tourists prefer this ticket because Windsor Castle is 35 Km away (22 Miles) from central London.

The luxury coach departs from London’s Victoria Coach Station at 7.45 am and returns around 1.30 pm.

Note: This tour is available only on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Ticket Prices

Adult ticket (17 to 59 years): £93
Child ticket (3 to 16 years): £83
Student’s ticket (18 to 27 years with valid ID): £90

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Windsor Discounts
When the castle’s State Apartments are closed to the public, you can get up to a 30% discount on entry tickets! The apartments remain closed on January 7 and 18.

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Image: Rct.uk

Windsor Castle, Bath, and Stonehenge tour

This 11-hour tour is one of the best ways to see the famed English countryside.

Boarding starts at 7.30 am from 164 Buckingham Palace Road, and the first stop is Windsor Castle, the English Queen’s favorite summer residence. You also get to visit the acclaimed St. George’s Chapel.

The next stop is Bath, where, besides roaming the city, you will also visit Bath Abbey and Pulteney Bridge. When in Bath, don’t forget to explore the Roman Baths.

The last stop of this tour is the ancient Stonehenge, a topic of long-standing public debate.

Ticket Prices

Adult ticket (17 to 59 years): £155
Child ticket (3 to 16 years): £145
Student ticket (with valid ID): £150
Seniors ticket (60+ years): £150
Family ticket (2 adults & 2 children): £590

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A Castle of Clocks!
There are 450 clocks across the Windsor estate and it would take around 16 hours to reset them all! Moreover, the clocks in the castle’s Great Kitchen are always set five minutes fast to ensure the Queen gets her food on time.

Windsor, Oxford, and Stonehenge tour

When you book this tour, you get to visit three of the best tourist spots outside of London—Windsor, Oxford, and Stonehenge.

You must report for this 10-hour-long tour at 8 am in Central London; the tour departs at 8.30 am sharp.

The first stop in this tour’s itinerary is Windsor Castle, where you can explore the fortress, the State Apartments, Queen Mary’s Doll’s House, and St. George’s Chapel.

The next stop is Stonehenge, after which the group stops for lunch (which is part of the package). The final stop is at the University town of Oxford.

Ticket Prices

Adult ticket (17 to 59 years): £81
Child ticket (3 to 16 years): £71
Student ticket (18 to 25 years): £76
Senior ticket (60+ years): £76

Buy This Ticket


Recommended


Windsor Castle, Bath, Lacock, and Stonehenge tour

This tour lasts about 12.5 hours and starts from Gate No. 19-20, Victoria Coach Station in London.

The first stop is Windsor Castle, where you can tour the castle in its entirety. This is then followed by a visit to Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain.

Next, the group stops for lunch at a small village called Lacock. This village is known for its exotic beauty and has featured extensively in the Harry Potter series.

The last stop for the day is Bath, where you will visit Bath Abbey and the romantic Pulteney Bridge over the River Avon.

Note: Due to the tour’s long duration, this ticket might not be suitable for some senior tourists and kids

Ticket Prices

Adult ticket (17 to 59 years): £99
Child ticket (3 to 16 years): £89
Student ticket (18 to 27 with Valid ID): £96
Seniors ticket (60+ years): £96

Buy This Ticket

Did You Know?
Windsor Castle, despite being an iconic British landmark, was never targeted by WWII German bombers. This was because Adolf Hitler was a big fan of the castle and planned to make it his official residence if the Nazis won over Britain!

Windsor Castle hours

Windsor Castle opens at 10 am and closes at 5.15 pm from March to October; likewise, it stays open from 10 am to 4.15 pm between November and February.

The last entry is one hour and 15 minutes before closure, all through the year.

Entrance to the State Apartments and Queen Mary’s Doll House closes 30 minutes after the last admission.

The castle remains closed on these dates: October 11 & 12, and December 25 & 26. The State Apartments, in particular, remain closed on November 2 and between January 7 and 18.

St. George’s Chapel timings

St. George’s Chapel opens at the same time as the castle but closes early at 4 pm; however, visitors can stay back and attend the EvenSong service at 5.15 pm.

The Chapel remains closed for visitors on Sundays as services continue throughout the day.

Get Exploring!
Want to make the best of your time in London? Then Buy the London Pass and get free access to more than 60 of the city’s top tourist attractions.

How long does Windsor Castle take

A tour around Windsor Castle takes about two hours during the winter season as the queues and crowds are at their minimal.

In summer, a Windsor Castle tour takes no less than three hours as most places within the attraction have queues and crowds swelling by the hour.

Best time to visit Windsor Castle

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Image: Pixabay.com

The best time to visit Windsor Castle is between 11 am and 11.30 am – the coach tours start arriving from London at 10 am and the groups leave after the Change of Guard takes place at 11 am.

If you arrive at the attraction around 11 am, you can catch up on the Change of Guard ceremony and also explore the rest of Windsor Castle at peace.

Windsor Castle’s Change of Guard

The ‘Changing of Guard’ is one of the highlights of visiting Windsor Castle during the morning hours.

The ceremony takes place on all days except Sunday between 10.30 am and 11.30 am, wherein the guards march back to Windsor Castle from Victoria Barracks.

It occurs in the lower ward of the Castle, outside the Guard Room.

If you are looking for the best view, we suggest positioning yourself on Windsor High Street or the Corn Exchange under Windsor Guildhall.

During the ceremony, Traffic Wardens and Police control traffic, so your movement can get restricted.

Windsor vs. Buckingham Palace: Which one is better?
Trust us, missing one for the other isn’t advisable as both are integral to British history, and so we recommend buying the Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle combo tour ticket for the best London visit ever.

Windsor Castle map

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Map Courtesy: Thamesweb.co.uk

Let’s face it; Windsor Castle is massive, and a map thus becomes an essential when touring the fortress.

If you have booked a Windsor Castle guided tour, you don’t need to buy a map; it will be your guide’s responsibility to provide you with one.

However, if you haven’t booked a guided tour, we recommend taking a printout of the map illustrated above. You can also bookmark this page and use it as a guide during your castle tour.

What to see inside

Windsor Castle takes you back to medieval times and introduces you to the grandeur of royalty in the most beautiful way.

With there being so many things to see and do at Windsor Castle, here’s a list of highlights that you should not miss:

The Grand Reception Room

The semi-state rooms

Rooms built for Charles II and his Queen, Catherine of Braganza, with ceiling paintings by Antonio Verrio

Moat Room (for children)

Changing of the Guard ceremony

State Apartments – ceremonial rooms & historic rooms

Portrait of King Charles I and other paintings of great artists like Hans Holbein, Van Dyck, and Rubens

Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House

St. George’s Chapel

In addition, the Castle has special exhibitions on specific days and even a beautiful cafe called Undercroft to quench your drinking and dining needs.

FAQs about Windsor Castle

Here are some questions tourists frequently ask before visiting the famed Windsor Castle.

Do Windsor Castle tickets offer discounts for children, students, and seniors?

Yes, discounted tickets are available for children, students, and seniors. You will need a valid ID to avail these discounts. Some discounts can only be combined with an adult ticket.

What does the admission ticket include?

The Windsor Castle ticket includes access to the State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel, and the Semi-State Rooms.

Is there a combined ticket for Windsor Castle and other nearby attractions?

Yes, there are a few combined tickets for you with some exciting discounts. These include the Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath, Windsor, Oxford & Stonehenge Full-Day Trip, and Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Bath, Lacock & Pub Lunch tickets.

Can I bring my luggage to the Windsor Castle?

You can bring your handbags and small backpacks; avoid carrying large suitcases or heavy luggage for a seamless experience.

Is there a parking area at Windsor Castle?

There is no visitor car parking at the castle. However, there are there are several public car parking spaces around Windsor.

Is photography allowed inside the Windsor castle?

Yes, photography is allowed inside most places in the castle. However, photography, wearable devices, and filming are strictly prohibited inside the State Apartments and St. George’s Chapel.

Is Windsor Castle wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the castle is fully accessible for wheelchair use and disabled people and their carers can get in for free upon producing a valid ID.

The Widow of Windsor
Queen Victoria loved spending time at the castle with her beloved husband, Prince Albert. When he died of Typhoid at 42, she was devastated and chose to wear black for the rest of her life. This earned her the nickname, ‘the widow of Windsor.’

How to reach Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is in Berkshire, on the River Thames, 32 km (20 miles) west of London. Get Directions.

Oxford is about 65 km (40 miles) NorthEast of Windsor Castle. 

By Train

The fastest and most popular way to get to Windsor Castle is by train from Paddington Station.

You can also catch a train from Waterloo Station to Windsor, but the journey takes 10 minutes longer.

Since there is no reserved seating and the ticket is not specific to a train schedule, you don’t need to pre-book your train tickets.

Trains run very late into the evening and at suitable frequencies.

By Bus

If you have plenty of time and want to save some money, the next best option is the Green Line Bus, which starts from the Green Line Coach Station in Victoria, london.

The Green Line bus trip doubles as a sightseeing tour because it passes through numerous hotels in the Kensington area and the Legoland in Windsor.

Windsor Castle parking

It takes around 45 minutes and approximately 37 km (23 miles) to drive from London to Windsor.

While there is no official parking area at the castle, you can find plenty of car parking near Windsor Castle.

Windsor has a list of parking spaces, and some of the nearest parking lots are River StreetKing Edward VIIAlma RoadRomney Lock, and Eton Court.

These recommended car parks are less than a 10-minute walk to Windsor Castle. 

Note: Since you will be spending time exploring the castle, we suggest opting for long-stay car parks. 

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Researched & written by
Jamshed is a versatile traveler, equally drawn to the vibrant energy of city escapes and the peaceful solitude of remote getaways. On some trips, he indulges in resort hopping, while on others, he spends little time in his accommodation, fully immersing himself in the destination. A passionate foodie, Jamshed delights in exploring local cuisines, with a particular love for flavorful non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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