Things to Do in Windsor
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Windsor, England, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Windsor Castle has housed British royalty continuously for over 900 years, a world-famous school sits just across the river turning out princes and prime ministers since 1440, and a Gothic chapel within the castle walls has hosted more royal weddings than most people could name. This is the proper guide to things to do in Windsor, what things actually cost, when to go, and which bits are worth your time. Three main stops below, plus a quiz at the bottom to see if you were paying attention.
Windsor Castle
I asked in the quiz what title Windsor Castle holds regarding its age and continuous occupation, and it's the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, a royal residence for over 900 years since William the Conqueror's time exactly as the quiz hint described. Founded in the 11th century, it's been home to 40 monarchs, remains one of the King's official residences today, and is also the burial place of Queen Elizabeth II, whose tomb lies within the castle grounds at St George's Chapel.
Your ticket covers the State Apartments, Queen Mary's Dolls' House, a genuinely astonishing 1:12 scale model completed in 1924 with over 1,500 contributors, and St George's Chapel (except Sundays, when it's closed to visitors for worship). Booking online in advance saves a meaningful amount over paying at the gate, and allow 2.5 to 3 hours to see everything properly.
Hours March-October 10am-5.15pm (last admission 4pm); November-February 10am-4.15pm (last admission 3pm), open Thu-Mon
Address Windsor Castle, Windsor SL4 1NJ
Official site rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle
Eton College
The answer to the second quiz question: Eton College, founded in 1440, sits just across the river from Windsor Castle, its pupils traditionally wearing distinctive tailcoats and often seen crossing the bridge into Windsor exactly as the quiz hint described. One of the oldest and most prestigious schools in the country, it's educated numerous princes and prime ministers over nearly six centuries, and the short walk across the Thames from Windsor to Eton is a genuinely pleasant way to see both towns in one visit.
Eton's own high street has independent shops and a distinctly different, quieter character to Windsor's busier tourist centre, worth the crossing even if the school itself, largely private, isn't open for casual visiting.
Getting there A short walk across Windsor Bridge from Windsor town centre
St George's Chapel
I asked in the quiz which chapel within Windsor Castle's grounds has hosted numerous royal weddings and funerals, and it's St George's Chapel, its Gothic architecture and royal vault making it a favoured setting for royal ceremonies exactly as the quiz hint described. Built in the 14th and 15th centuries in the Perpendicular Gothic style and seating around 800, it's the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, Britain's oldest order of chivalry, and has hosted royal weddings including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 and Princess Eugenie the same year.
Queen Elizabeth II is buried here alongside Prince Philip, the Queen Mother, King George VI and Princess Margaret, and the chapel's fan-vaulted ceiling and stained glass are genuinely among the finest examples of English Gothic architecture anywhere. It's included with standard castle admission, though closed to visitors on Sundays for worship.
Best time to visit Windsor
Windsor Castle is open most of the year, Thursday to Monday, making it considerably more accessible than Buckingham Palace's short summer opening window. May to September gives the most reliable weather for walking to Eton and enjoying Windsor Great Park, and checking the Changing of the Guard schedule before you go is worth doing if that ceremony is part of your plan, it doesn't run daily.
Getting around Windsor
Windsor's town centre and castle are compact and entirely walkable, and Eton is a short walk across Windsor Bridge. Windsor has two railway stations, Windsor & Eton Central (served from London Paddington via Slough) and Windsor & Eton Riverside (direct from London Waterloo), both a short walk from the castle.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Windsor worth visiting?
- Yes, it's the world's oldest and largest occupied castle, still a working royal residence, and the short walk across to Eton College adds nearly six centuries of separate history within the same visit.
- How many days do you need in Windsor?
- A day trip from London covers the castle, St George's Chapel and a walk to Eton comfortably. It's easily done as a half-day if time is tight.
- Is Windsor expensive?
- Moderate to high for the castle ticket itself, one of the pricier UK heritage admissions, though walking to Eton and around the town costs nothing.
- What is Windsor famous for?
- Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, home to British royalty for over 900 years; Eton College, founded in 1440; and St George's Chapel, the setting for numerous royal weddings and funerals.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
