Windsor Castle
Windsor is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen. Its rich history spans almost 1000 years. The Castle covers an area of about 5 hectares (13 acres) and contains magnificent State Apartments furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection, St George's Chapel (one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in England and the burial place of 10 monarchs), and Queen Mary's Dolls House, a masterpiece in miniature. During the winter months an additional five rooms, known collectively as the Semi-State Rooms, are included in the visitor route. Standard admission charges apply. The Semi-State Rooms are open to the public until Thursday 26 March 2009, then reopen again on Saturday 26 September 2009.
Current exhibition in the Drawings Gallery: HRH The Prince of Wales - An exhibition to celebrate his Sixtieth Birthday. Selected from the Royal Collection and from His Royal Highness’s personal archive, the exhibition illustrates key moments in The Prince’s life and reflects his many interests, particularly music, theatre and the arts. Family photographs, favourite books and childhood memorabilia are shown alongside a small group of watercolours painted by His Royal Highness.
The Christmas Tree arrives in St George's Hall on 8 December. On 9 December Queen Victoria's winter sleigh will go on public display for the first time at Windsor.
Henry VIII: A 500th Anniversary Exhibition, 3 April 2009-21 March 2010. To mark the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession to the throne, some of the most important and beautiful treasures to survive from the King's reign will be brought together from the Royal Collection and St George's Chapel archives. Windsor Castle played host to Henry VIII and his court on many occasions and the monarch is buried in St George's Chapel with his third wife Jane Seymour. Through paintings, drawings, miniatures, printes, books and manuscripts, the exhibition will explore the life of a king who had a profound impact on British history and whose fascinating story continues to generate widespread interest today.
Please note that the Castle closes 1 hour 15 minutes after last entry time (shown under Opening Times).
As Windsor Castle is a working royal palace, opening arrangements may change at short notice. Please check before planning a visit.
Please note the following remaining provisional closure dates during 2008:
6th December 2008: St George's Chapel closed from 1pm.
12th December 2008: State Apartments closed.
23rd December 2008: St George’s Chapel closed from 1pm (other than to worshippers attending services).
24th December 2008: St George’s Chapel closed (other than to worshippers attending services).
25th-26th December 2008: CASTLE CLOSED (St George’s Chapel open to worshippers).
Opening Times
Open New Year
| Low Season 2008 (01/11/2008 - 31/12/2008) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 09:45 | 15:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:45 | 15:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:45 | 15:00 |
| Thursday | 09:45 | 15:00 |
| Friday | 09:45 | 15:00 |
| Saturday | 09:45 | 15:00 |
| Sunday | 09:45 | 15:00 |
| Bank Holiday | 09:45 | 15:00 |
Ticket Information
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
|---|---|
| Family - 2 adults/up to 3 children (2009) | £40.00 |
| Family (2008) | £38.10 |
| Family - 2 adults/up to 3 children during closure of State Apartments (2009) | £22.50 |
| Family during closure of the State Apartments (2008) | £21.00 |
| Adult (2009) | £15.50 |
| Adult (2008) | £14.80 |
| Concession - Senior/Student (2009) | £14.00 |
| Groups of 15 people or more (2009) | £13.95 |
| Concession (2008) | £13.30 |
| Concession Group of 15 people or more (2009) | £12.60 |
| Child (2009) | £9.00 |
| Adult during closure of State Apartments (2009) | £8.50 |
| Child (2008) | £8.50 |
| Group of 15 or more children (2009) | £8.10 |
| Adult during closure of the State Apartments (2008) | £8.00 |
| Groups of 15 people or more during closure of State Apartments (2009) | £7.65 |
| Concession (Senior/Student) during closure of State Apartments (2009) | £7.50 |
| Concession during closure of the State Apartments (2008 | £7.00 |
| Concession Group of 15 people or more during closure of the State Apartments (2009) | £6.75 |
| Child during closure of State Apartments (2009) | £5.50 |
| Child during closure of the State Apartments (2008) | £5.00 |
| Group of 15 or more children during closure of the State Apartments (2009) | £4.95 |
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
Road Directions
Nearest major road is M4. Alternatively M3 jct 3 or A4. Signposted.
Public Transport Directions
Nearest station is Windsor and Eton Riverside and Windsor and Eton Central.
Facilities
Accessibility
- All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
- Facilities for Hearing Impaired Visitors - Induction loop on audio tour.
- Guide Dogs Permitted
- Ramp/Level Access
- Toilets for Disabled Visitors
Parking & Transport
- 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
- 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
- Sterling Travellers Cheques accepted
- Visa accepted
Establishment Features
- Audio Commentary in Foreign Languages
- Printed Material in Foreign Languages
- Toilets
Specialist Features
- Family Fun - Christmas Family Activities in the Moat Education Room - A Victorian Christmas. Family activities will take place on 20 and 21 December from 11am to 3pm. Follow the Victorian Christmas activity trail through the State Apartments and discover how Queen Victoria and Prince Albert celebrate at Windsor Castle. The Education Team will be demonstrating Victorian Christmas crafts in the Moat Education Room and children will be able to make their own whizzy wigs and peg dolls to take home. All family activities at Windsor Castle are run on a drop-in basis, no pre-booking is required and all materials are included in the standard admission charge.
Tours and Demonstrations
- Educational Visits Accepted
- Guided Tours Available for Groups
- Guided Tours Available for Individuals
Audio Commentary in Foreign Languages
- French audio guide
- German audio guide
- Italian audio guide
- Japanese audio guide
- Spanish audio guide
Printed Material in Foreign Languages
- French printed material
- German printed material
- Italian printed material
- Japanese printed material
- Mandarin printed material
- Russian printed material
- Spanish printed material