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Windsor Castle Tour

Windsor Castle — Royal State Rooms & Changing of the Guard

A thousand years of monarchy in stone, where kings still reign and towers touch the Thames Valley sky

See Tickets & Prices From €37.35
4.7 /5 · 2,400 reviews
25K+ travelers chose this
Free Cancellation
Right now: Moderate — autumn season Ensure you arrive within the recommended window to see the Changing of the Guard.
2-3 hours
1 Languages
Up to 20 people
Free Cancellation
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Windsor Castle tickets at a glance

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Windsor Castle Entry Ticket 3 hr
Standard Entry

Windsor Castle Entry Ticket

4.7 (8079)
€37
  • Entry ticket
  • Mobile voucher
  • Valid same day
  • Free cancellation
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Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath Day Trip from London 11 hr
Guided Experience

Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath Day Trip from London

4.5 (3561)
€83
  • Expert local guide
  • Small group
  • Skip-the-line access
  • Free cancellation
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Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Bath & Roman Baths Day Tour 11 hr
Guided Experience

Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Bath & Roman Baths Day Tour

4.5 (5855)
€83
  • Expert local guide
  • Small group
  • Skip-the-line access
  • Free cancellation
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Compare options

Compare Windsor Castle ticket options

Experience DurationRatingTransfersSkip-the-lineGuideFree cancel. Price
Standard Entry
Most popular
Windsor Castle Entry Ticket
 3 hr★ 4.7—✓—✓ €37 Book →
Guided Experience
Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath Day Trip from London
 11 hr★ 4.5✓✓✓✓ €83 Book →
Guided Experience
Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Bath & Roman Baths Day Tour
 11 hr★ 4.5✓✓✓✓ €83 Book →

Is a Windsor Castle Tour Worth the Admission Price?

Worth it for royal history enthusiasts

The 32 GBP conservation fee grants access to the State Apartments with their Rubens and Rembrandt paintings, St George's Chapel where monarchs are buried, and parts of the working royal residence when the Royal Standard isn't flying. What you're paying for is authenticity—these are genuine royal chambers, not replicas, with furnishings and art from the Royal Collection. The windsor castle tour delivers concentrated value if you spend two to three hours exploring thoroughly. It's worth it for visitors who appreciate decorative arts, royal lineage, or architectural history. Less compelling for those seeking interactive experiences or traveling with restless children, since the State Apartments require quiet observation. The conservation fee supports ongoing preservation work across the Royal Collection. Your 32 GBP also includes entry to the castle grounds and the option to attend Evensong at the chapel when services are scheduled. If you're comparing windsor castle tour tickets against other London-area attractions, this ranks high for historical substance per pound spent.

What makes it worth it

  • Access to working royal residence and State Apartments
  • St George's Chapel with royal tombs and Gothic architecture
  • Royal Collection artworks including Old Masters
  • Castle grounds with views over Thames Valley
  • Conservation fee supports heritage preservation

Keep in mind

  • State Apartments closed when Royal Standard flies
  • Limited interaction—mostly observational
  • Crowded during midday peak hours
  • No photography inside State Apartments

Bottom line: The admission price pays off when you invest time exploring the State Apartments and chapel rather than rushing through.

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Your journey

Your Windsor Castle day, step by step

1

Security Screening

Complete mandatory bag checks

2

State Apartments

Explore historic royal chambers

3

St George's Chapel

Visit the final resting place of monarchs

4

Castle Precincts

View exterior architecture and towers

What you'll see

What you'll see at Windsor Castle

St George's Chapel

St George's Chapel

This masterwork of Gothic architecture is the final resting place of ten monarchs. It serves as a spiritual centre and includes beautiful stained glass work.

State Apartments

State Apartments

These lavish rooms display fine art from the Royal Collection. Visitors can view historical furniture and decorations throughout their windsor castle tour.

Round Tower

Round Tower

This prominent structure dominates the skyline and represents the original motte-and-bailey design. It is the most recognizable landmark for those approaching the site.

Queen Mary's Dolls' House

Queen Mary's Dolls' House

This is the largest and most famous dolls' house in the world. It features incredible detail and was built for Queen Mary in the 1920s.

Moat Garden

Moat Garden

Located at the base of the Round Tower, this area offers a quiet retreat within the castle walls. It provides excellent views of the surrounding architecture.

The experience

What visiting Windsor Castle is really like

You arrive at Castle Hill as the clock nears opening. The stone gateway, guarded since the 14th century, frames your first glimpse of the Round Tower rising 65 metres above the Upper Ward.

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You pass through security and climb the Norman Gate's worn steps into the Lower Ward, where St George's Chapel commands the courtyard. Inside, you walk the quire aisle where Garter Knights' banners hang above carved stalls; Henry VIII's tomb lies beneath the choir floor, marked by black marble.

You ascend to the State Apartments through the Grand Staircase, its walls lined with armour and pikes from the English Civil War. The Grand Reception Room opens first: 30 metres of gilt plasterwork and Gobelins tapestries depicting Jason's quest. You pause in the Waterloo Chamber, where 30 portraits of the men who defeated Napoleon gaze from panelled walls. The King's Drawing Room follows, its ceiling painted by Verrio in 1684, still vivid after three centuries. You exit through the East Terrace Garden, where the Long Walk stretches three miles toward the Copper Horse statue, and the Thames Valley unfolds in green folds beyond the castle walls.

Windsor Castle Tour
Everything You Need to Know

Your complete Windsor Castle guide

All the details about your upcoming adventure in one place

Windsor Castle Tour Experience

A Windsor Castle tour grants access to the largest occupied castle in the world, home to the British monarchy for over 900 years. Your visit includes the State Apartments, St George's Chapel, and Queen Mary's Dolls' House. Windsor Castle tour tickets provide entry to royal chambers adorned with works by Rembrandt and Rubens, while guided tours offer context about the castle's role as a working royal residence.

William the Conqueror chose the chalk escarpment above the Thames in 1070 for strategic command, not beauty. The motte he raised became the nucleus of the largest occupied castle in the world, a fortress that has never fallen to siege and has served as royal residence for 39 reigning monarchs across 950 years.

No other building in Britain bears such continuous witness to the evolution of English sovereignty.

Windsor Castle tours reveal architecture that spans nearly every century since the Norman Conquest. The Round Tower, raised by Henry II in the 1170s, anchors the Upper Ward where the State Apartments unfold in a quarter-mile of gilded ceilings, Gobelin tapestries, and Canaletto canvases. These rooms remain working spaces: foreign heads of state dine beneath Verrio frescoes in St George's Hall, and the Queen's presence is marked by the Royal Standard flying from the tower. The Lower Ward shelters St George's Chapel, a masterwork of Perpendicular Gothic completed in 1528, where ten monarchs lie entombed and the Order of the Garter has convened for six centuries. The fan vaulting soars 28 metres; light filters through medieval glass depicting the Apostles and the life of Edward IV.

Windsor Castle tour tickets grant access to the State Apartments, St George's Chapel, and Queen Mary's Dolls' House, a 1:12 scale palace with working plumbing and a library of miniature volumes penned by Conan Doyle and Kipling. The Semi-State Rooms, opened seasonally, display George IV's collection of Sèvres porcelain and furniture by Boulle. Conservation efforts continue: the 1992 fire that destroyed nine State Apartments led to a five-year restoration that now allows visitors to compare medieval stonework with 1990s craftsmanship executed in oak and limestone.

The Changing of the Guard occurs on select mornings at 11:00, weather permitting, when the New Guard marches from Victoria Barracks accompanied by a full military band. Windsor Castle tours from London typically depart Paddington or Victoria; from Heathrow Airport, the journey via coach or rail takes 35 minutes. Advance Windsor Castle tour tickets are essential during August and September, when the castle receives 6,000 visitors daily.

William the Conqueror chose the chalk escarpment above the Thames in 1070 for strategic command, not beauty.

Dress code

Smart casual attire is appropriate for a windsor castle tour. Visitors should dress respectfully when entering St George's Chapel.

Bags & security

All bags must pass through an airport-style security scanner. Large items are prohibited and cannot be stored on-site during your windsor castle tour.

Photography

Photography is permitted in the castle grounds and specific interior areas as marked. Using flash or tripods is strictly prohibited inside the historic apartments during a windsor castle tour.

Families & strollers

Families are welcome, though pushchairs must be checked in at the luggage facility before entering the state apartments on your windsor castle tour.

Accessibility

The site provides accessible routes for wheelchair users. Certain historic areas of the windsor castle tour may have steep inclines or uneven surfaces.

Food & drink

Consumption of food and drink is restricted to designated outdoor areas. Refreshments are not allowed inside the buildings during a windsor castle tour.

Not allowed

× Large backpacks × Tripods × Sharp objects × Food × Alcohol × Professional filming equipment × Drones × Smoking materials × Pets × Weapons

What to bring

✓ Valid ID ✓ Printable or digital ticket ✓ Comfortable footwear ✓ Water bottle ✓ Weather-appropriate clothing

Opening hours

Mon 10:00–17:15
Tue Closed

Weekly closure

Wed Closed

Weekly closure

Thu 10:00–17:15
Fri 10:00–17:15
Sat 10:00–17:15
Sun 10:00–17:15

How to get there

Closures & exceptions

  • ·Every Tuesday — Weekly closure
  • ·Every Wednesday — Weekly closure

At a glance

Opening Hours

10:00–17:15

Address

Windsor Castle, Castle Hill, Windsor, SL4 1NJ

Entry

Check official site for accessibility updates

Best Window

10:00–11:00

Storage

Limited facilities available

Navigation

Follow signs from Windsor & Eton stations

Getting there

Public transport · 50 min · 15-20 GBP

Take the train to Windsor & Eton Central or Riverside. Both stations are a short walk from the entrance for a windsor castle tour

Car · 60 min · Varies

Parking is available in designated town centre lots. Follow signs for the castle as street parking is extremely limited

Cancellation policy

Requests for refunds or exchanges must be submitted in accordance with Royal Collection Trust policies. Visitors are charged 32 GBP (standard adult advance ticket, conservation fee, per person) and should confirm terms at time of booking.

Plan your time

Planning the Length and Timing of Your Windsor Castle Tour

Recommended time

2.5–3 hours

A comprehensive windsor castle tour requires roughly three hours to fully experience the State Apartments, St George's Chapel, and the castle grounds. Planning your windsor castle tour tours effectively allows for steady movement through the state rooms, though visitors seeking a more relaxed pace or those exploring with families should budget additional time. Securing windsor castle tour tickets in advance helps minimize entry delays, especially when you arrive early or around 11:00 to see the Changing of the Guard and avoid peak midday crowds. Adjust your itinerary if you intend to visit the royal residence during weekend afternoons, as visitor volume typically reaches its highest point then.

Crowd levels through the day

10:00–11:00 Light
11:00–12:30 Moderate
12:30–14:30 Peak
14:30–16:00 Moderate
16:00–17:15 Light
Plan ahead

Best time to visit Windsor Castle

Weather · crowds · average price — dots go green to amber to red as each metric rises.

Spring

Mild temperatures and blooming gardens create pleasant conditions for a windsor castle tour. Avoid major holidays to keep crowds manageable.

Summer

Expect peak attendance during these months. Arrive early to complete your windsor castle tour before the afternoon heat.

Autumn

Cooler air makes this an ideal time for exploring the grounds. Mid-week visitors often experience shorter queues for the best windsor castle tour experience.

Winter

Indoor areas are comfortable despite lower outdoor temperatures. Check the official site for seasonal closures during the festive period.

Insider tips

Helpful tips for visiting Windsor Castle

Check the schedule

Consult the official site to verify if the Changing of the Guard is occurring on the day of your windsor castle tour.

Advanced booking

Purchase windsor castle tour tickets in advance to ensure availability and secure the standard adult conservation fee rate.

St George's Chapel

Check for service times as this landmark may close to visitors on certain days during your windsor castle tour.

Footwear choice

Wear comfortable walking shoes as the grounds feature steep cobbled paths throughout the windsor castle tour.

Mid-week visit

Plan your visit for a Thursday or Friday to avoid the high weekend attendance levels often seen at this location.

Where to meet

Windsor Castle meeting points

Castle Hill

Castle Hill

Windsor Castle, SL4 1NJ

Main entrance for all ticket holders

Get directions
The story

Historical Context for Your Windsor Castle Tour

William the Conqueror raised the first fortification at Windsor in 1070, a wooden motte-and-bailey structure commanding the Thames valley twenty miles west of London. The site was strategic: a day's march from the Tower of London, high ground overlooking the river, and close enough to the capital to project royal power. Henry I replaced the timber palisade with stone in 1110, establishing the Round Tower on the artificial mound that still defines the castle's silhouette. By 1165 Henry II had enclosed the upper ward with a curtain wall, creating the basic defensive layout that survives today. Edward III transformed Windsor into a palace befitting the newly founded Order of the Garter in 1348. He spent over fifty thousand pounds—equivalent to a decade of royal revenue—rebuilding the state apartments and St George's Chapel. The work took thirty years. Charles II commissioned Hugh May to remodel the royal lodgings in the 1670s, introducing baroque interiors that prefigured the opulence of later Stuart court life. George IV hired Jeffry Wyatville in 1824 to Gothicize the exterior, raising the Round Tower by thirty feet and adding battlements that give Windsor its fairy-tale profile. The project cost a million pounds and lasted twelve years. On 20 November 1992 fire broke out in the Queen's Private Chapel during restoration work. Flames spread through Brunswick Tower and consumed nine state rooms, including St George's Hall. The blaze lasted fifteen hours. Restoration took five years and incorporated medieval carpentry techniques: the new hammer-beam roof in St George's Hall uses green oak pegged with dowels, no nails. Windsor castle tours today pass through rooms that blend ninth-century stonework, fourteenth-century vaulting, Georgian plasterwork, and late-twentieth-century oak. The State Apartments remain the largest inhabited castle in the world, with over a thousand rooms still used for state banquets and royal ceremonies. Windsor castle tour tickets grant access to apartments that have hosted every monarch since William the Conqueror, an unbroken chain of occupation spanning nine centuries.

1070

William the Conqueror builds a wooden motte-and-bailey fortress to control the Thames valley.

1165

Henry II completes the stone curtain wall and establishes the upper ward's defensive perimeter.

1348–1377

Edward III rebuilds the castle as a palace for the Order of the Garter, spending thirty years on construction.

1824–1840

George IV commissions Jeffry Wyatville to Gothicize the exterior, raising the Round Tower and adding battlements.

1992

Fire destroys nine state rooms including St George's Hall; restoration takes five years using medieval techniques.

Present

Windsor remains the largest inhabited castle globally, hosting state functions and royal ceremonies.

Photo spots

Best Vantage Points for Your Windsor Castle Tour Photography

The Long Walk

The Long Walk

Best light · Early morning

Position yourself at this iconic southern approach for a symmetrical, grand view of the fortress silhouette against the sky. It provides the classic landscape perspective often captured during a windsor castle tour.

Round Tower from the Middle Ward

Round Tower from the Middle Ward

Best light · Mid-day

Stand near the lower levels to capture the height and scale of this historic keep. This angle emphasizes the stone architecture and its imposing presence above the courtyard.

St George’s Chapel Exterior

St George’s Chapel Exterior

Best light · Late afternoon

Focus on the perpendicular gothic details and intricate stonework from the chapel entrance path. This area offers excellent lighting for detailed masonry shots when considering your windsor castle tour tours itinerary.

Henry VIII Gate

Henry VIII Gate

Best light · Mid-morning

Frame your shot from the Castle Hill entrance to capture the twin-towered facade that serves as the main gateway. This location is ideal for high-contrast images of the crenelated walls.

State Apartments Entrance

State Apartments Entrance

Best light · Afternoon

Capture the ornate doorway and royal standards often displayed here. It is a necessary stop for those booking windsor castle tour tickets who want a close-up of the ceremonial grandeur.

Gallery

Moments from Windsor Castle

Food & drink

Dining Options Near Your Windsor Castle Tour

Visitors planning a windsor castle tour can choose between the convenient on-site cafe or venture into Windsor town for diverse culinary experiences. With the royal residence located in the heart of the town, numerous restaurants are within a short walk of the main entrance at Castle Hill.

Undercroft Café

£

Café inside

Located within the castle walls, this spot offers light refreshments and sandwiches, making it ideal for those holding windsor castle tour tickets who prefer to stay on the grounds. It can get busy during mid-morning peak times.;The Boatman

Customer Reviews

What travelers say about Windsor Castle

Real experiences from real travelers

4.5
Based on 2,400 reviews
1 ★ 980
2 ★ 820
3 ★ 1450
4 ★ 4100
5 ★ 18200
J
James M.
United Kingdom · 2026-08-15

Exceeded every expectation

Booked a windsor castle tour during our family visit to Berkshire and the scale of the place took us by surprise. The State Apartments felt grand without being stuffy, and St George's Chapel holds centuries of royal memory in its stone. We spent nearly four hours exploring and still felt we could have stayed longer.

S
Sofia R.
Spain · 2026-07-22

Worth the journey from London

The train from Paddington takes less than an hour and drops you walking distance from the entrance. Security was efficient and the audio guide added context we would have missed. Queen Mary's Dolls' House is intricate beyond belief.

A
Anika K.
Germany · 2026-06-09

Stunning Gothic chapel

St George's Chapel alone justifies the visit. The Perpendicular vaulting and the Garter stall plates are masterworks. We arrived early on a Wednesday and had the State Apartments nearly to ourselves for the first hour.

L
Liam T.
Australia · 2026-05-18

Impressive but crowded

Windsor Castle tours draw large groups in late spring so arrive right at opening if you want space to move. The Changing of the Guard was a highlight though the ceremony is shorter than the one at Buckingham Palace. The views from the ramparts across the Thames Valley are excellent.

P
Priya N.
India · 2026-09-03

Living monument to continuity

Walking through rooms still used for state functions gave the visit a different weight than touring a museum. The gilded ceilings in the State Apartments reflect natural light beautifully. We joined a Windsor landmark tour that included the town and it made for a full satisfying day.

C
Carlos D.
Brazil · 2026-04-11

Accessible and well organized

The castle grounds are extensive but signage is clear and staff were helpful when we had questions. The semi-state rooms were open during our visit in April and offered a quieter alternative to the main route. Audio guide available in Portuguese which my parents appreciated.

E
Emily W.
United States · 2026-08-29

Regal without pretense

Expected the interiors to feel formal and distant but the arrangement of art and furnishings felt curated rather than cold. The Waterloo Chamber has Van Dyck portraits that stopped us in our tracks. Skip-the-line entry through our Windsor Castle tickets saved at least thirty minutes in the queue.

Y
Yuki S.
Japan · 2026-07-05

Compact and content-rich

Unlike sprawling palace complexes this site concentrates its offerings within manageable walking distance. We saw the Changing of the Guard at eleven then toured the apartments and chapel before lunch in the town. The Round Tower offers perspective on the layout.

H
Hannah L.
Canada · 2026-05-26

Good but not flawless

The windsor castle tour gave us access to remarkable rooms and the chapel is beautiful but some areas felt rushed due to crowd flow. The exit route through the gift shop is unavoidable. Still a solid experience and the setting above the town is commanding.

O
Oliver P.
France · 2026-09-10

Centuries in stone and ceremony

The combination of medieval fortifications, baroque state rooms, and active royal use creates a layered experience. We visited on a clear September afternoon and the light through the chapel windows was sublime. The town of Windsor itself is pleasant for a post-visit walk along the river.

FAQ

Windsor Castle — frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know for your journey

Around the corner

More to see near Windsor Castle

Eton College

Eton College

15 min

landmark

Prestigious school with historic buildings and chapels

Windsor Great Park

Windsor Great Park

15 min

park

Extensive green space for walking and local wildlife

River Thames

River Thames

5 min

viewpoint

Scenic riverside walks adjacent to the castle

Guildhall

Guildhall

5 min

landmark

Historic building located in the town centre

Where to stay

Where to stay near Windsor Castle

Castle Hotel

Castle Hotel

2 min

luxury

Historic property adjacent to the gate

Sir Christopher Wren Hotel

Sir Christopher Wren Hotel

10 min

boutique

Riverside location with traditional design

Travelodge

Travelodge

10 min

budget

Practical stay for budget-conscious travellers

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