Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is an official residence of The Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world. A royal palace and fortress for over 900 years, the Castle remains a working palace today. Visitors can walk around the State Apartments, extensive suites of rooms at the heart of the working palace; for part of the year visitors can also see the Semi State rooms, which are some of the most splendid interiors in the castle. They are furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection including paintings by Holbein, Rubens, Van Dyck and Lawrence, fine tapestries and porcelain, sculpture and armour.
Within the Castle complex there are many additional attractions. In the Drawings Gallery regular exhibitions of treasures from the Royal Library are mounted. Another popular feature is the Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, a miniature mansion built to perfection. The fourteenth-century St. George’s Chapel is the burial place of ten sovereigns, home of the Order of the Garter, and setting for many royal weddings. From October to March visitors can also enjoy George IV’s private apartments (the Semi-State Rooms), among the most richly decorated interiors in the Castle.
During August and September the East Terrace is open to visitors. Overlooking Home Park and the rose garden created for George IV in the 1820s, it offers views of the East façade of the Castle, not normally visible to the public.
Nearby on the Windsor Estate is Frogmore House, an attractive country residence with strong associations to three queens – Queen Charlotte, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary.
Venue Details
Address
WindsorBerkshire
SL4 1NJ
England
Links
Telephone
- 020 7766 7304
Entry Charges
Admission prices (all include an audio tour and entry to the Drawings Gallery exhibition) Standard Adult £19.20 Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £17.50 Under 17/Disabled £11.30 Under 5 Free Family £49.70 (2 adults and 3 under 17s) When the State Apartments are closed Adult £10.40 Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £9.40 Under 17/Disabled £6.70 Under 5 Free Family £27.80 (2 adults and 3 under 17s) Admission to the Castle is free to residents of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead with an Advantage Card.
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Opening Hours
March to October
Open daily 09:45-17:15
(last admission 16:00)November to February
Open daily 09:45-16:15
(last admission 15:00)A typical visit lasts 2-3 hours.
The Castle is closed
3 April 2015 (only Castle Precints open)
5 April 2015 (Castle closed until 13:00)
28 April 2015
15 June 2015The State Apartments are closed
12-30 January 2015
6 March 2015
14 April 2015
30 April 2015
19 May 2015
14-16 June 2015
17 July 2015The Semi-State Rooms
Please note that the Semi-State Rooms are only open during the Winter months between 27 September 2014 and 29 March 2015.
St George’s Chapel is closed
11 February 2015 (St George’s Chapel closed from 12:30)
3 April 2015 (St George’s Chapel will be open between 14:00 and 16:00)
4 April 2015 (St George’s Chapel closed until 11:00)
12-15 June 2015
10 July 2015 (St George’s Chapel closed until 10:30)St. George’s Chapel is closed to visitors on Sundays as services are held throughout the day. Worshippers are welcome to attend the services. These occur at the following times:
08:30 – Holy Communion
10:45 – Mattins and Sermon
11:45 – Sung Eucharist
17:15 – EvensongAs a working royal palace, the Castle is used frequently by The Queen for State ceremonies and official entertaining, and closures can occasionally occur at short notice. Please check opening arrangements by visiting this website or telephoning the Ticket Sales and Information Office on +44 (0)20 7766 7304.
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Venue Services
- Secondary school education service available
- Primary school education service available
- Early years education service available
- Events and resources for children and families
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Venue Facilities
- Wheelchair access to some public areas
- Wheelchairs available for loan
