Windsor Castle is open all year round and can easily be visited on a day trip from London. The spectacular castle was rumoured to have been Queen Elizabeth II's favourite residence and was also the venue for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018.
Book Windsor Castle tickets and tours.
Please note: Windsor Castle will close early on 3 Oct and 16 Dec.
As working royal residences, Royal Collection Trust sites are subject to closures, which may occur to all or part of them at short notice.
Make sure your visit to Windsor Castle includes these top 10 highlights:
1. The Precincts tour
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.
2. Audio tour with King Charles III
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.
3. St George's Chapel
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.
4. The State Apartments
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.
5. Changing the Guard
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.
6. The Semi-State Rooms
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.
7. Queen Mary's Dolls' House
Marvel at the incredibly detailed dolls' 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.
8. The Moat Room
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.
9. Fine art
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.
10. The China Museum
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.
How much time should I spend at Windsor Castle?
It is recommended to spend at least two to three hours at Windsor Castle to make the most of your visit. This will give you enough time to explore more than 1,000 years of royal history, the lavish State Rooms, St George's Chapel and the castle grounds at a leisurely pace.
