Top 10 things to do at Windsor Castle

Start your day with a 30-minute tour of the Castle Precincts. Learn about its past as a fortress and palace, from 1070 when William the Conqueror first built a castle here, to its role as an official royal residence.

Pick up a free audio guide for a tour introduced by King Charles III. The commentary guides you throughout the castle. There’s also a family multimedia tour for the little ones, and guides for blind and partially sighted visitors.

Admire the intricate gothic architecture of St George's Chapel, where the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Harry and Meghan) took place. Inside the chapel lie the tombs of 10 monarchs, including Charles I, Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour. 

Explore the glorious State Apartments, which are used to host official visits. Don't miss the lavishly decorated Grand Reception Room, complete with glittering chandeliers. You can also see the rooms built for Charles II, who hoped to rival the grandeur of Versailles.

This colourful ceremony marking the changeover of duties doesn't only take place at Buckingham Palace. Enjoy the same pageantry during the Changing the Guard at Windsor Castle. The ceremony doesn't take place every day, so make sure to check in advance for dates and times.

The Royal Family uses these incredibly lavish rooms for official entertaining, so they are only open to the public between September and March. George IV commissioned the rooms, which are an example of some of the finest late-Georgian interiors in the country. 

Marvel at the incredibly detailed doll house built for Queen Mary in the 1920s. It is a perfect replica of an aristocratic home and even has electricity and running water. A starring feature is the library of 700 miniature books.

See how Windsor Castle developed with three largescale bronze models showing how the castle looked at different moments in time. The Moat Room also gives an overview of the castle's 950-year history.

The castle is full of amazing artwork. Be awed by paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Canaletto in the State Apartments and see changing selections from the Royal Collection in the Drawings Gallery, including major works by Leonardo, Holbein, Michelangelo and Raphael. 

Examine beautiful pieces of porcelain that Queen Mary chose to display in the corridor in the 1920s. Among the collection are beautiful Chinese and Japanese pieces from the 17th and early-18th centuries and two Sèvres sets.