Windsor Castle

About the museum

Windsor Castle was begun by William the Conqueror soon after the Norman Conquest as a timber fortress on a chalk ridge above the River Thames. Over the following centuries the wooden defences were replaced in stone, and the castle withstood a long siege in the early thirteenth century. Henry III added a royal residence, and Edward III later rebuilt it on a far grander scale, creating the palace buildings that shaped the site for generations.

St George's Chapel, built in the late Middle Ages in the English Perpendicular Gothic style, stands within the walls and is the burial place of many monarchs, among them Henry VIII, Charles I and Queen Elizabeth II. In the seventeenth century Charles II had the royal apartments rebuilt in a Baroque style, and in the early nineteenth century George IV commissioned the Gothic-flavoured State Apartments that visitors see today.

Queen Victoria spent much of the year at Windsor, and the name of the royal House of Windsor was taken from the castle during the First World War. In 1992 a fire destroyed or damaged many rooms; the restoration took five years. Windsor Castle remains an official residence of the King, so parts of it can close at short notice for state or ceremonial occasions.

Highlights

• State Apartments with their ceremonial rooms and Royal Collection paintings
• St George's Chapel, the burial place of many monarchs
• Queen Mary's Dolls' House
• Castle precincts and Changing the Guard
• Semi-State Rooms (open in autumn to spring)

Permanent exhibitions

• State Apartments – The ceremonial and historic rooms used by the monarch, with paintings, furniture and works of art from the Royal Collection.
• St George's Chapel – The late medieval royal chapel inside the castle walls, where many monarchs are buried.
• Queen Mary's Dolls' House – A richly furnished miniature royal residence displayed in the castle.

Founded

1070

Operated by

Royal Collection Trust

Admission & discounts

Prices shown are for advance online booking; tickets bought on the day cost more (adult £36, young person £24, child and disabled person £18). A standard ticket can be converted into a 1-Year Pass with free re-admission for twelve months (a £2 fee applies to pre-booking a return visit). £1 tickets are offered to people receiving Universal Credit and other named UK benefits. Discounts are available for residents of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead with an Advantage Card, for rail travellers using National Rail's Days Out Guide, and for MOD90 or Defence Discount Service card holders.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: not available
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The castle stands at the top of a steep hill and the visitor route covers long distances, with cobbled and uneven ground in places. Step-free routes into the State Apartments and St George's Chapel are provided by platform lifts, a lift and ramps operated by staff. Manual wheelchairs and rollators can be borrowed free of charge. Accessible toilets (RADAR key; staff can unlock) and a Changing Places toilet in Engine Court are available. There is no visitor parking at the castle; the nearest disabled bays are on the High Street and Park Street. The multimedia guide is available in British Sign Language with subtitles, with an audio-descriptive version for blind and partially sighted visitors, and is compatible with T-coil hearing aids; neck loops are available on request. A free access companion ticket is available.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Free family events run during school holidays and on key dates, based in the Pug Yard Learning Centre, which has a family bathroom with changing table, a breastfeeding-friendly space, a picnic area and a children's activity programme in school holidays. Free family trails and a family multimedia tour with Scorch the dragon are available. Pushchairs can be used in the grounds but must be left at the cloakroom before entering the State Apartments; baby carriers and hip seats can be borrowed free. Baby-care facilities are near the start of the visit, on the North Terrace and next to the Undercroft Café.

Getting there & parking

The Admission Centre is reached on foot, uphill from the High Street. Coaches cannot drop off or pick up directly outside the castle; coach parking is in the town centre.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check

Undercroft Café; four shops in the Middle Ward, the Billiards Room, the China Museum and St George's Chapel. A secure cloakroom for large bags and pushchairs is in the China Museum at the entrance to the State Apartments. Charging of phones and other devices is not allowed in the castle.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit