Windsor Castle

The Castle's dramatic site encapsulates 900 years of British history and its magnificent State Rooms and works of art reflect the tastes of successive kings and queens.

Daily

March to October 9.45am - 5.15pm (last admission 4pm)
November to February 9.45am - 4.15pm (last admission 3pm)
(Windsor Castle is open daily throughout the year, with a few exceptions when the Castle is in use for official functions)

Castle Completely  Closed
6 April 2012
8 April 2012 (Closed until 13:00)
18 June 2012
25 - 26 December 2012

State Rooms Closed
2 March 2012
3 April 2012
16 - 19 June 2012

Please note that when the State Apartments are closed the Semi-State Rooms will not be open.

St George's Chapel Closed
22 February 2012 (open from 10:30)
7 April 2012 ( open from 11:00)
5 May 2012 (closed from 13:00)
15 - 18 June 2012
6 July 2012 (open from 10:30)
19 July 2012 (closed from 13:00)
14 November 2012 (closed from 13:00)
14 December 2012 (St. George’s Chapel open from 10:30)
24 December 2012 

Please note: St George’s Chapel is also closed to visitors on Sundays as services are held throughout the day. Worshippers are welcome to attend the services.

The Drawings Gallery
The Queen: 60 Photographs for 60 Years
(4 February – 28 October 2012)

Treasures from the Royal Library
(2 November 2012 – 3 February 2013)

Semi-State Rooms
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.

Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, is the home of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Castle's dramatic site encapsulates 900 years of British history and its magnificent State Rooms and works of art reflect the tastes of successive kings and queens. In 1992 a devastating fire destroyed or damaged more than 100 rooms at the Castle. The highly acclaimed restoration work, completed in 1997, is a testament to the skills of some of the finest craftsmen in Europe.

HM The Queen and her family spend most of their private weekends at Windsor Castle. The Queen is also officially in residence throughout April and June, when the annual Garter Service is held in St George's Chapel.

The State Apartments, the heart of the working palace, are regularly used for ceremonial and official occasions. They are furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck. During the winter months the Semi-State Rooms, among the most richly decorated interiors in the Castle are added to the visitor route.

Queen Mary's Dolls' House is the most famous dolls' house in the world. It took three years to complete and involved the work of 1,500 tradesmen, artists and authors. The house is unusually well equipped for its day with modern comforts and labour saving devices. It has electric lighting, an electric vacuum cleaner, hot and cold running water, and even flushing lavatories.

St. George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of gothic architecture in England. It has been the setting for many royal weddings and is the burial place of ten sovereigns. The Chapel is dedicated to the patron saint of the Order of the Garter. Britain's highest Order of Chivalry.

The Changing of the Guard takes place at 11:00am, weather permitting, from Monday to Saturday between April and the end of June, and on alternate days for the rest of the year, with the exception of Sundays.

The Castle is open to visitors everyday, including when The Queen is in residence, except for 25 and 26 December.
As the Castle is a working royal palace opening arrangements may be subject to change at short notice.

Due to the heightened security alert, visitors will not be allowed to take any form of liquid into Windsor Castle.

Venue Information:
Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1NJ
Nearest Train Station: Windsor and Eton Central or Windsor and Eton Riverside

Golden Tours act as an official agent for these activities, as such you are subject to the terms and conditions of the supplier.