Windsor Castle - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:15 PM
About
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Admission tickets
from $38.30
All you need to step foot in the door.
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  • Phil Morris MBE
    Oxford, United Kingdom160 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We saw the King!!
    Went to Windsor castle to receive an MBE from the king. Wonderful castle and the staff where so kind . Definitely book tickets to do a tour. The art work and rooms inside the state rooms are breathtaking . Windsor town is great to, make sure you cross the bridge and walk up towards Eton , some nice little pubs there
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written May 7, 2023
  • wendywoo
    Blackpool, United Kingdom10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Coronation concert
    Thanks Charles, William and family for throwing an amazing concert, your hospitality was top notch. Would highly recommend a Coronation concert at the castle. Big shout to Take That for making my night !
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 7, 2023
  • gohawkers
    Melbourne, Australia113 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    well worth a visit
    we caught the train from paddington and it was well worth it. the opulence of the items in the apartments wqs mind blowing. st george's chappel was wonderful. all the people working there were extremely pleasant and helpful. and the audio guide included with the ticket was excellent and worth listening to. highly recommended.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 11, 2023
  • Erica D
    Salt Lake City, Utah348 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not to be missed
    I pre-purchased tickets online and had no trouble scanning them and going through the security screen. We had the audio guide, which was excellent. I was shocked to see how many people were racing through - not only was the audio guide excellent, but it was too expensive to rush! Excellent explanations and wonderful art work on view. No real wait for anything except a bit of a line for the doll house (less a wait, more a slow walk) and about a 10 minute wait for the late queen's grave at the chapel. This was a weekday. We listened to the whole audio guide, took our time, chatted, walked through the gift shop, and spent about 3 hours on-site.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 29, 2023
  • Christelle F
    Denver, Colorado114 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must-See- Allow more than 4 Hours
    Windsor was one of our top three attractions we visited while in London. We booked a private driver for a half day tour, including admission, from 12-4p. With an hour drive each way, and traffic, a half a day is not enough. We did not have enough time to go through the doll house, or have lunch in town. Windsor is a must-see and my husband and I wished we had a couple more hours in this quaint location.
    Visited May 2023
    Written June 1, 2023
  • Sarah C
    Oxfordshire, United Kingdom15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning!
    The most beautiful castle. Thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Highlight was being able to pay respects to the late Queen in St Georges Chapel which was amazing. State rooms were stunning but a few steps to negotiate to get to them. Witnessed changing of the Guard which was an added bonus. Was very busy but did not detract from a wonderful day out. Glad we took a picnic as the queues for coffee were horrendous and slow. We opted for coffee outside the castle and there was plenty of choice and reasonably priced. Parked very close to the castle which was very expensive , paying ÂŁ21 for over 5 hours but grateful at the end of the day for not having to walk to far back to the car.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written June 9, 2023
  • The Traveling Pierogi
    World193 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    House of Windsor (Castle)
    Windsor Castle is such an awe inspiring place to visit. It is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, housing about 150 people. Windsor Castle has been in the British Royal Family for a milenia. Visiting here was an honor, seeing some of the events that happened here, including the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Prince Harry and Meghan Markle), the funeral of Prince Philip, and the entombment of Queen Elizabeth II. I watched all of these Royal Family engagements on television in the USA, but being here in person was exciting. There was a fire at the Castle in 1992, which was fully restored. Windsor Castle has a unique historical fact, that is if you control the River Thames from the spot Windsor is at, you control 50% of the river. The other 50% is the trade system, charging ships as they pass through to get to and from London.
    Visited May 2023
    Written June 9, 2023
  • Lana M
    Littleton, Colorado24 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Windsor Castle
    The Windsor Castle grounds are spectacular and the views from there are awesome. The audio tour is pretty detailed and easy to follow. We enjoyed the interior, the art, spent quite a while in the room where the gifts to The Queen from around the world are on display. The volunteer staff were very friendly and expertly answered a lot of our questions. After the tour we visited a nearby pub where we discussed the Windsor while sipping on cold beer and enjoying the antique surrounding
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 13, 2023
  • Anant B
    Edison, New Jersey8 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Make it a day trip
    We took a bus tour and so had to come back within two hours. This is enough time to see the castle, but should one want to spend time in Windsor town, then the connectivity by train is also good. Plus, it might turn out cheaper. The state apartments in the castle are definitely impressive but we could not see the castle from the front as it was off limits during our visit.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written June 20, 2023
  • buib7
    Downton, United Kingdom173 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Family day out
    The castle is a great day out. Four excellent shows, especially the jousting & lots of other activities going on, for children of all ages. Plenty of different food outlets to choose from. The staff are all very friendly & helpful.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written July 2, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles14,172 reviews
Excellent
9,956
Very good
3,198
Average
674
Poor
205
Terrible
139

Helen C
Rainham, UK35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Couples
We visited Windsor Castle and had booked our tickets for 11am. There was a queue to get in but we were through the checking in and security by 11:02 - excellent and speedy service.

It was relatively quiet due to the limited number of guests they were allowing in (which was great for us but obviously not so great for the Castle)

A very well organised system which meant we felt safe all the time.

The only times we had to queue was at the state apartments and then again for the cafe but this was well managed (and expected)

We spent a total of 4 hours there and made use of the free audio guide (although I had to change mine twice at the start as there were faulty connections) - we were reassured that the headphones had been sanitised before and after use (but you could also use your own if you wanted to) they appeared very clean so we used theirs.

I think it is good value for money (ÂŁ23.50 each for adults)

No idea how busy it would be at full capacity (I think they are running at approximately a third of their normal visitors

Thankyou for a lovely day (the weather helped)

Written August 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

wendi a
Paris, France67 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
I really enjoyed this visit more than I thought I would! First of all because we went in February which is normally a quieter time and more rooms are open for viewing in the winter. And secondly because of the fear of the Coronavirus the place was empty, so we could really see everything. These were quite a few people, mostly Asian who were whipping through the place without headphones but that to me would be a shame, the audio guide is very well done and it enriches the visit immensely (and it’s free, included in your purchase price) and when you return your headphone you can have your entrance ticket stamped once you fill in your name and sign it, in case you want to come back within the year. Nice perk. I would recommend the visit
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

M G
Arlington, VA95 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
This is one of the residences of the royal family. From central London, it’s only about an hour away by train (our route was from Paddington to Slough to Windsor & Eton Central), and the from the station in Windsor it’s only a minute or two to the castle grounds.

The ticket allows entrance to the grounds, and from there you can visit the castle and St. George’s Chapel. There are several “routes” through the castle, but probably the most impressive is the “ceremonial” route, where the queen receives visitors and performs states functions. The other routes highlight rooms built by Charles II and George IV. The chapel is a beautiful church filled with royal tombs, artwork, and other items relating to the monarchy. Photography was not allowed in any of the interior spaces, but we did receive an audio guide that was very well done.

You can also walk around and explore the grounds. The castle is elevated over the town, so there are nice views of the surrounding area. You can also peek at the green spaces of the upper and middle wards. On the western side of the grounds is the Horseshoe Cloister, which is lined with pretty houses where the staff live. There were no issues with taking exterior photographs.

Our trip here took up most of the day. It was all rather busy, but that’s to be expected from a major site, and fortunately the crowds were not suffocating. After visiting the castle, we explored the surrounding neighborhood. (N.B. The Windsor and Royal Borough Museum has toilets outside the building.) We then walked north and crossed the river to visit Eton College, less than a 20 minute walk from the castle grounds.

Highly recommended.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anne Hassell
Jersey, UK24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The Castle is truly magnificent and dominates every aspect of Windsor. A ticket to look around means that you have access for a year to the Castle and the Chapel, but please note that the Chapel is only open to the public on a Sunday if they are attending a service. Any other day you are free to walk around at any time. The narrative is excellent, a brief overview followed by a detailed talk if it is a section that particularly is of interest to you. The narrative guides you around the castle and the Chapel ensuring that all parts are well covered. The Doll’s House is not to be missed, the gramophone player with the accompanying records works. The Chapel is breathtaking, from the statue of Princess Charlotte, the crypt of King George V and the alms box that is still in use.
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kevin D
Binfield, UK914 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Good value for money and includes a free guided tour or the use of headsets and a mobile device that gives commentary as you move around. The building is fantastic and steeped in history as a building but also the valuable collection of paintings, furniture and historic weapons. The areas that were damaged but the fire in 1992 have been fully restored to an excellent standard. A 3 hour+ experience walking around the fine grounds and buildings that are still in use today. The staff are very knowledgable and willing to engage to share their knowledge. Visiting St George’s church is a must and if you are lucky, as we were, you can hear the organ being played. Your access can be endorsed for no extra cost to return free of charge as many times as you like for up-to 12 months. Would definitely recommend. One of the only few 5 stars I have ever given on Trip Advisor.
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Laura R
111 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Would recommend checking on opening times before travelling or booking as the castle is only open certain days.

We pre-booked tickets online for a date and time plus the guidebook and on arrival to the castle we could bypass people in the queue and were though the airport style security in about 15 minutes. The staff were very friendly, the queues were well managed.

Would highly recommend the multimedia guide as it packed with content and makes the visit worth the time. Plus they were tailored for adults and children. Make sure you know the schedule for St. George's Chapel to give yourself the time to see it before you leave as it only open between 10am and 4pm.

We timed the Changing of the guard with the way how we were going to tour the castle.

We entered the chapel at around 10ish and was finished for the changing of the guard ceremony. It was so good to see the services on the television such as Prince Phillip’s funeral but to actually see where the coffin went down is something else. It is also surprising how the television makes the chapel seem bigger than it actually is. There is a no photo policy inside the chapel although that did not stop some people from ignoring the rules.

We were lucky to be there for the changing of the guard at 11am on the Thursday morning. The pomp and ceremony is something unrivalled for the UK and it was awesome to see in person.

After this we queued for the dollhouse, certainly worth the thirty minute queue. To see the how tiny and detailed the rooms with their furniture in. They look like actually real lived in rooms but on a miniature scale. To think that this dollhouse has been around for over 90 years is amazing.

Following on from there we viewed the staterooms and the great hall........one word, awesome! There was also an exhibition for the Queens jubilee and the highlight of that was the display of the dress she wore and the cloak. So very small and dainty with fabulous detail. Also the different broaches she wears to represent different countries.

Would also advise to be aware of your surrounding especially when exiting the castle and queuing for the doll’s house/State apartments as the guards march through these particularly areas. You will either get trampled on or shouted at to move out of the way.

There is a no photos policy inside the castle but you can take as many as you want in the grounds.

We were at the castle for 4 hours so the admission charge of ÂŁ26 is very good value for money.
Written August 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Justin E
Speyer, Germany111 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Have not been since I was a small child, recently on a “trip home” in England and my German girlfriend had always dreamed of visiting the castle. The whole castle is well laid out with lots to see and included a free audio guide which stupidly we declined and I regret that as I saw other people using them and it looked liked you could select the info you wanted to hear not just a boring rambling tape like some other places. Would highly recommend this, jus a shame all the local car parks charge silly prices for parking which makes it an expensive day out! But no photos allowed to be taken inside which is a shame but not the end of the world!
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Captainnajork160
Cheshunt, UK362 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
This was my second visit in 4 years as I really needed to take more time around St George's Chapel to appreciate the architecture and the Order of the Garter heraldry within. Once satisfied there was plenty to see passing through the State Apartments. Maybe the ÂŁ 23 odd price of admission is a bit steep but you can ( if you remember) get the ticket stamped as you leave so that you have a year's worth of free admission.
Written February 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jane C
Emu Park, Australia98 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Having lived in the area for many years before relocating overseas we are amazed that we hadn’t visited before. The historic town of Windsor is great on its own but the Castle really is the highlight. We had a very knowledgeable guide called Holly for the first part of the tour and despite having a good knowledge of the history she was able to add many snippets of information previously unknown by us. The State rooms are breathtaking and we could have doubled or time there, thankfully our entry ticket which was very reasonable allows us to return as many times as we wish in the next 12 months. Great value for money. The gift shops are expensive and not too impressed by some of the range but will probably fi lol most peoples needs. I would recommend you visit and this time of year is great because it was not too busy
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AndyRuffian
London, UK43 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Pre booked through ticket agency. Cost is around ÂŁ21-23 per adult.
There is a parade from the Guards who garrison the castle. The guards march from Victoria Barracks on Sheet Street, up the High Street and into Windsor Castle. The best places to watch just before 11:00AM is Windsor High Street or on the Corn Exchange under Windsor Guildhall. Get there early to get best view.
They do this I believe three times a week. It’s seasonal. We were there Friday and Saturday in February and they did not march on the Friday.
When entering castle look out for the free tour guides. Ours was funny and informative and took us on external tour. We then entered and relied on the audio. Headphone guides.
The castle is full of gold, drapes and glitz, with historic furniture and large airy court rooms, ante chambers, and dining rooms.
Beautiful portraits abound from classic painters such as Rubens and Van Dyck. There is the day it’s dolls house to see, along with displays of arms, armour, crockery, and lots of gifted artefacts in the royal collection.
The chapel is a great visit too with many kings buried therein including a reinterred Charles I and of course the understated tomb of Henry XIII. The queens parents George VI and the Queen mother also lie in a private chapel.
Great day out and of course if the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom flag flies, the Queen is home!!
Written February 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Windsor Castle - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost $38.14, while a popular guided tour starts around $17.80 per person.

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