FAQs About Windsor Castle: Your Questions Answered

Adult tickets cost approximately £32 in advance or £36 on the day. Children aged 5–17 pay approximately £16 advance / £18 on the day. Under-5s enter free. Young persons aged 18–24 pay approximately £21 advance / £24 on the day. Disabled visitor tickets are approximately £16, with a free access companion ticket. Family tickets are available exclusively through the official website at rct.uk. For a full price breakdown, see our Windsor Castle Ticket Prices & Passes guide.

The official booking site is rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle. Third-party platforms also sell standard admission with the same pricing but typically offer free cancellation. Family tickets, £1 benefit tickets, and disabled visitor rates are only available through the official website. See our How to Buy Windsor Castle Tickets guide.

Advance booking is strongly recommended. Windsor Castle operates timed-entry and can sell out, especially on weekends and in summer. Advance tickets are also £4 cheaper per adult than walk-up tickets. See our Official Website guide for step-by-step booking instructions.

Tickets booked through the official Royal Collection Trust website are non-refundable. For flexible bookings, use a third-party platform that offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before your visit.

After your first visit, you can convert your admission ticket into a 1-Year Pass — giving you unlimited free re-admission for 12 months. Sign and print your name on the reverse of your ticket before leaving, and ask a member of staff to validate it. Only tickets purchased directly from rct.uk are eligible. See our Windsor Castle One Year Pass guide. —

Thursday to Monday throughout the year. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with an exception in July, August, and September when the castle also opens on Tuesdays (closed Wednesdays only in summer). See our Opening Hours & Seasonal Closures guide.

March–October: opens 10:00, closes 17:15, last admission 16:00. November–February: opens 10:00, closes 16:15, last admission 15:00. The State Apartments close 30 minutes after last admission.

Generally yes, unless they coincide with a listed closure date. Always check the provisional closure calendar at rct.uk before booking on bank holidays.

Confirmed 2026 closures include: 8–12 January, 19 March, 14–15 June, and 25–26 December. The castle also opens late (13:00) on 5 April 2026. Always verify at rct.uk as this list can change. See our Opening Hours guide.

Yes. As a working royal palace, it can close at short notice for state occasions and royal events. Check rct.uk before your visit, particularly if you are travelling specifically for Windsor. —

Standard admission covers the State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel (except Sundays), Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, the castle precincts and grounds, and a free multilingual multimedia audio guide. The Semi-State Rooms are added from approximately October to March at no extra charge. See our Windsor Castle Entry Ticket guide.

Yes. The multimedia audio guide is included with every standard admission ticket at no extra charge. It is available in ten languages and includes a dedicated children’s version (Scorch the Dragon, for ages 7–11). See our Windsor Castle Audio Tours guide.

Yes, on all days except Sundays when it is closed to general visitors for worship. St. George’s Chapel also closes at 16:00 on weekdays — visit it first to avoid missing it. See our St. George's Chapel guide.

No. The Semi-State Rooms are open from approximately October to March only. They are due to reopen in autumn 2026 after restoration works. Check rct.uk for the confirmed reopening date. —

Allow 2.5 to 3 hours for a complete visit covering the State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, and the castle precincts. A minimum of 2 hours is needed for the highlights. Add 45 minutes if the Changing of the Guard is taking place. See our What to Expect on Arrival guide.

St. George’s Chapel — it closes at 16:00 on weekdays and is the most time-critical element of the visit. Visit it immediately on arrival, before the State Apartments.

No. Photography and filming are not permitted inside the State Apartments, Semi-State Rooms, or St. George’s Chapel. Photography is permitted outdoors in the castle precincts. Drones are prohibited everywhere. See our Photography & Filming Rules guide.

Large bags can be stored in the cloakroom near the State Apartments entrance. Suitcases are strongly discouraged — use left luggage at the airport or train station if visiting in transit. The walk to the cloakroom is approximately 10 minutes uphill. See our What to Expect on Arrival guide.

Pushchairs are permitted in the castle grounds but must be checked in at the cloakroom before entering the State Apartments. Baby carriers and hip-carriers are available to borrow free of charge. See our Visiting with Children guide.

Yes — the Undercroft Café, located beneath St. George’s Hall, serves sandwiches, salads, cakes, and barista coffee. Eating and drinking are not permitted inside the State Apartments or St. George’s Chapel. See our Food, Drink & Shopping guide.

Yes — obtain a re-entry permit at any castle shop or the audio guide return point before leaving. —

The fastest route is by train from London Paddington, changing at Slough, to Windsor & Eton Central — approximately 22–28 minutes, then a 5-minute walk to the castle. A direct train from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside takes approximately 55 minutes. The Green Line 702 bus from Victoria takes approximately 95 minutes. See our Getting to Windsor Castle guide.

No. Windsor Castle has no visitor car parking. Use public long-stay car parks in Windsor town centre (Romney Lock, King Edward VII, Alexandra Gardens). See our Windsor Castle from London guide.

Yes. The Green Line 703 bus from Heathrow Terminal 5 takes approximately 60 minutes. By train (Elizabeth Line to Slough, then GWR to Windsor Central) takes approximately 30–35 minutes. See our Heathrow to Windsor Castle guide. —

Yes. The full visitor route is accessible by wheelchair, with staff assistance at lifts and steps. Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge. The castle is on a steep hill and involves long distances. A free access companion ticket is available for all disabled visitors. See our Windsor Castle Accessibility guide.

Yes. Disabled visitor tickets are approximately £16 advance (versus £32 for standard adult). A free access companion ticket is also available — bookable online at rct.uk. No proof of disability is required. —

Queen Elizabeth II is buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel within St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Her tomb is accessible to all standard ticket holders except on Sundays.

Yes, with a castle admission ticket. The full ceremony takes place inside the castle precincts on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 11:00 (weather permitting). A smaller Captain’s Inspection ceremony also takes place on Mondays and Fridays. Check the current schedule at the Household Division website. See our Changing of the Guard guide.

No. Windsor Castle is a working royal residence still in active use by the Royal Family. It is managed by the Royal Collection Trust and open to visitors, but it is not a museum — the King uses it regularly as a weekend residence and for state occasions.

40 monarchs have lived at Windsor Castle, from Henry I in 1110 to King Charles III today. —