This was a highlight in our trip! Definitely pre-book ahead and I would suggest an early entry time. I also would not suggest booking this through a tour bus company. The train is very easy to get you there and the tour bus people were suggested to skip a portion of the castle when entering because they wouldn't have enough time. No pictures inside the state rooms or dollhouse. It is absolutely gorgeous inside and I would've loved to take pictures, but I guess there is something special about seeing something in person that you know you can't access a million pictures online. GREAT audio tour too. Many of the sites we saw on the trip we ended up ditching the audio... but this one was very well done. I would suggest making a whole day out of it. Walk over to Eton Riverside after! It's a beautiful change of pace from the busy streets of Windsor surrounding the castle. I wish we would've had more time to explore the area. read more

Windsor Castle - Castles Near Me

See all

Beautiful historic site to explore and enjoy the history! Audio guides are available. There will be a security checkpoint before entering, so be prepared to have watches and belts and phones ready to go through the machine. Soak it in and take time to enjoy this place! Cafe is available on site. read more

See all

This is a must see on your trip to England, definitely worth the trip outside of London. We actually did a Stonehenge and Windsor Castle tour and it took up one whole day of our trip and was the perfect getaway from the city. The castle itself is fascinating in both its history and architecture. The outside is stunning as well as the inside (no pics allowed unfortunately). The surrounding town was great to walk around after we finished at the castle, ending our day with a nice dinner and some shopping. read more

See all

British Royal history really comes to life at Windsor Castle. Sometimes, the opulence can seem a little overwhelming, though. Admission to the castle may seem a little stiff at 32 pounds but given the fact that we were there for three hours to really get it all in I guess it was worth it. The dollhouse exhibit which was amazing examples of English model-making and craftsmanship and the state apartments will comprise most of the tour. Warning: you are not allowed to take any pictures or videos inside of the castle. read more

See all

I like that the tour is self-guided. It's easy.to follow the walk using the complimentary headphones and instructional phone type apparatus. You could stay in each room as long as you cared to and many rooms had benches or chairs where you could take a break. No pix allowed inside, which was sad. read more

See all

I had no idea just how old this castle is! Built in 1070! How in the world did they build this massive grounds way back then? I loved all of the historical memorabilia. From guns, shields, armor, horses, artifacts, and the doll houses. Of course down at the bottom of the hill by the church you can get your pic with a beefeater. The church was pretty cool. I got to see Queen Elizabeth's tomb amongst many other dead Kings/Queens and other famous Londoners. There's a cute town surrounding the area. We walked over to a spot called The George for lunch. read more

See all

Lovely castle, extremely large grounds to explore and many sights to see there. Employees were friendly and informative as well. read more

Windsor Castle - Castles Near Me

Of all the palaces we visited while we were in London, I think Windsor was the most impressive because of its sheer size and the fact that it looks the way you expect a castle to look with its notched battlements. Fortunately, you can take pictures outside, which is impressive in itself. Unfortunately, we're forbidden from taking photos inside, but I can understand why since it's so beautiful inside and so crowded. If everyone stopped to take pictures every few minutes, no one would get anywhere. I like how the inside tour flows in one direction, so you see everything and can't get lost, but even then I still lost my mentally disabled sister. It was so crowded, she refused to let me hold onto her, and we prefer to look at things at different paces. Since the flow is one way, I distinctly remember a man saying "She's going the wrong way" and me saying "I'm looking for someone." I ended up telling one of the docents what happened and I'm so grateful to Lizzy who went out of her way to get me through the ropes and go through the rooms one by one until I found my sister. Another incident that bothered me while I was there was during the changing of the guards. Unlike the one at Buckingham Palace, here the guards aren't stuck behind the gates, especially for the captain's inspection. As such, you can get a better unobstructed view, but of course it's still crowded. Anyway, my sister made here way through the crowd to get to the front and a lady shouted "She stomped on my foot!" and I said "I'm sorry, she's mentally disabled" and the woman was like "Well, she can't be that disabled if she can get all the way down there!" Just awful! And on the way out, one of the guards yelled at us because god forbid we take a photo when we're already outside and leaving. Aren't there any more kind, compassionate, understanding people in this world? That's why I will always remember Lizzy, because she was actually nice to us. So if it weren't for a few bad people and incidents, the place itself is amazing and so was at least one of its staff members. If you're going take a day trip out of London, I would recommend this one. read more

See all

Great tour! We were so happy we went and got to see this amazing castle! It is just beautiful with so much history. The town of Windsor is nice as well and has neat little shops! (FYI - you cannot take any photos inside of the castle) read more

Windsor Castle - Castles Near Me

As with many London attractions, my expectations were much different than reality. I expected A Castle - as in a single building that was a castle. In reality, the castle is a complex of buildings dating to 1070. It's actually more akin to a small city. We were here in October so we missed the crowds mentioned in several reviews. Large portions of the complex are open to the public, including the royal apartments, St George's chapel, etc. The guards and docents were all most helpful and willing to explain what you were seeing. If your time is limited, this is one of London's most impressive sites and should be one of your top priorities. read more

Oldest inhabited castle in the world. I have been to 4-5 castles on my UK trip, but it has been my favorite by a mile... Home to more than 40 British monarchs and in use since the 11th century, Windsor Castle is a spectacular day trip from London. Visitors can wander the elaborate state rooms, observe the famous Changing the Guard, and admire the many artworks and collectibles on display. Should time allow, take a stroll along the Long Walk: a nearly 3-mile-long tree-lined road that is part of the castle's park. The history here is astounding for those of us from the Antipodes or America. The castle was built nearly 1000 years ago in the 11th century after the Norman invasion and is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world. There was a line to enter to see Queen Mary's Doll house- It was built by the leading architect Sir Edwin Lutyens for the little princess Mary in the early 1920s, and is the largest and most intricate in the world. (There is another amazing doll house in the world. Castle also has St George's Chapel- This is where Queen Elizabeth II will be buried, in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George's Chapel. This is also where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married in May 2018. It is the home of the Order of the Garter (established in 1348 as an order of chivalry founded by Edward III and dedicated to the image of St. George, the patron saint of England). You can't take any photos inside Windsor Castle (and they have staff watching you in every room), but I used this chance to ask many questions to the same staff. They are also incredibly knowledgeable, and often they're historians in their own right. I covered the castle as part of a day tour... but you can reach the castle via the South Western Railway and get off at the Windsor & Eton Riverside stop. read more

See all

For centuries and centuries, the British Empire waged wars, colonized, stole, enslaved, annexed, murdered, and preyed upon many foreign lands, enriching themselves and the British Royalty...and it all accumulates to a climatic touristy visit to modern day Windsor Castle. It's a great epic castle indeed! It's huge! This majestic medieval has been the home to British Royals for 900 years, with the castle dating back to the 11th Century...lots of fabulous, opulent, royal rooms filled with priceless Victorian furniture and gorgeous paintings of great people whom born to the rich families. The outside architecture is incredible as well, made feel like I was back in an episode of Game of Thrones... £31/$42 for an advanced purchase ticket, or £35/$47 if you just show up...quite expensive! I guess the British Empire didn't steal quite enough to pay for the upkeep... read more

The expectations placed upon members of the British Royal Family seem nearly unachievable to me and the cast members in this regal theatrical ensemble must continuously remain "in character." While on the one hand revered and cherished, the other hand appears at the ready to dispense punishing ridicule each time a ravenous national media publicizes a royal indiscretion. During my lifetime I can recall no individual who has portrayed her "royal persona" with greater fidelity than Queen Elizabeth II, and I credit her for creating an interest within me to visit Windsor Castle. Sadly, she accomplished this when I watched on television as she arrived here to be laid to rest in 2022. If you fancy a visit to this jewel within the royal collection, you'll find that the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world is actually set within a quaint community just 90 minutes outside of London. The construction of St. George's Chapel was completed in 1528 by a "Henry", so you know it's good! As you wander through the choir be sure to look above the stalls for the helmets, crests, and banners of the current Knights and Ladies of the Garter. As we climbed the Grand Staircase while entering the Royal Apartments, I couldn't help but wonder what domestic and foreign dignitaries had done the same. My favorite room was the Waterloo Chamber. Designed to facilitate meetings of a serious nature, I counted 60 seats around a very long table. I couldn't help but imagine a monarch scheduling a meeting, having everyone seated and waiting for about 10 minutes, and then making a grand entrance by entering through the double doors at the head of the table. Talk about your home field advantage! Don't be surprised to find a line to view the dollhouse and that's because the details of each item seem impossibly accurate and it features running water, electricity, a functioning phonograph, a shotgun that can be loaded with shells, and books written by famous authors (some of them handwritten)! And that's...Henry's Take. #windsorcastle read more

See all

It was a beautiful castle to tour. The apartments are very luxurious. The doll house is neat. The grounds are really pretty. You buy timed rickets in advance and walk right in . You can also use your ticket for one year to return if you print it out . read more

See all

I really loved this tour! It was well worth the money. I'd recommend getting there really early because the lines get long , even on the weekday . After you tour the castle you can walk around the city. They have nice restaurants and shops. read more

Windsor Castle - Castles Near Me

See all

If you are into history and have interest in where some of the royal family live, Windsor Castle along with Buckingham palace, and the Tower of London (Crown Jewels) are the big three I would visit. Windsor castle is open year round but is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Buckingham is only open from July-September. The changing of the guard is only on certain days at each location so I would plan accordingly to prioritize what you want to see on which day and time. To get a decent look at most of Windsor castle at a comfortable pace I would set aside about 2 hrs. After the self guided tour we ended the day with a nice cold ice cream/soft serve. read more

Yes, yes and yes. And take the time to go on a private tour with a guide and to walk around - all around it. It is a wonderful day trip from London and it is so charming to see the monarchs live among the people in the burbs. Super interesting considering all the history and how long this structure has been here. Love seeing Queen V (albeit baptized by bird). Whether you like monarchy or not (I'm not one of those monarchy junkies...), history alone will transport you. Beware, however of the touristy trappy stuff around. It dilutes the value of being there. read more

I finally was able to check London of my bucket list! Windsor Castle is stunning! I was sad that we were not allowed to take pictures inside, but I was in an awe with all the beautiful things inside. I was happy to at least be allowed inside though! The long was so long to get inside but it moved fast and since I had been looking forward to it, I didn't mind the wait! I was disappointed that because of the long wait we missed the changing of the guards, but I was able to still get a small glimpse of it before it was over. This is on of the things that you must do while visiting London! read more

See all

It's Windsor Castle. Leave lots of time to explore! Wear comfortable shoes! If you can stay late for Choral Evensong in St. George's Chapel you should attend. It's amazing beyond any words I can write. Food and shopping nearby, but Windsor Castle is the focus. read more

Windsor Castle - Outer walls of Windsor Castle - Castles Near Me

Totally worth a visit but be ready for lines, even if you book your ticket in advance. The visit of the apartments takes under two hours with an audiobook and is very interesting, there is a lot more to discover than I expected. Make sure you don't miss the Dollhouse, a separate entry (meaning another line!). It's worth the wait! You may want to start your visit with St George's Chapel as they tend to close early afternoon (checkout the website). See Yelp's review specific to the chapel. Plan plenty of time since you'll have to go through multiple lines (starting with security) but you can take a break at the café inside the Castle. Prices are reasonable, they offer various sandwiches, drinks and pastries, in a historic setting! read more

See all

Definitely a castle worth seeing. Not my favorite in London so far but definitely a must see. This is the place where you see "Status" and what it looked like back then. Move over Warren Buffet and Elon Musk. The people that lived here make the Kardashians look like welfare cases. You can see the power and status of the Monarchy all the way from the beginning to today. The rooms and the contents inside are amazing. Imagine every room you walk into a house today that has nothing but exclusive stuff that less than 1% of the population has. As a Christian I really enjoyed King Georges Chapel. Many monarchs and important people are buried here, including the infamous Henry VIII as well as Master John Schorn. PROS: You get to see pretty much everything. The rooms where the kings and queens slept, the exquisite paintings OMG SUCH AMAZING PORTRAITS, treasures that were gifts from other countries, etc. CONS: Too many lines. Line to get tickets, lines to get through security, lines to get into the apartments, line to get into Queen Victoria's dollhouse, omg. Too many dang lines. Also You CANNOT take pictures of anything. Sucks. Not sure why but I they don't allow it. So not much to post here as far as photos go but cool tour. Definitely recommend! read more

Windsor Castle - Castles Near Me

See all

I had to make the decision to take a tour versus taking the train there and doing everything on my own. I am so glad I chose taking a train. It is super easy to get there from London and it is a short walk from the train station. I used my London pass, so I had to wait till 1 PM to go in. I felt like that was a perfect time since all the tour groups were gone by then. Getting in was easy. There was no line. you do get an audio guide. It's kind of bulky since it has the old style head phones. The castle grounds are big. There's plenty to see. Expect to be there around two hours. The chapel is beautiful. No pictures allowed in there. You can see a mini changing of the guard as well. The castle is still inhabited and it is nice seeing the people that live there going on about their day like normal. I love their gift shop. I think I just love gift shops in general. There's a lot of cute little things that you can buy. I would definitely say this is a must see if you're in the area. read more

See all

I have since been in touch with the local police on why they couldn't solve this case. Apparently, there is CCTV footage available, but it is controlled by Windsor Castle and they refused to share it. Wow, what a farce of a royal residence, if so. Why wouldn't they share CCTV footage of an assault that happened right beside their walls? Don't they care at all for justice for tourists and commoners? Be aware, if you encounter any incident around this tourist spot, the staff at Windsor Castle will not oblige the most basic requests to help. It's really incredible. read more

It seems a little silly to recommend a historical castle, because yeah obviously you should visit a site of great historical significance. It's only about a half hour train ride from London. And once you arrive at the train station, if you don't know which way to go, just spin in a circle until you see a giant castle on a hill and walk that way. I bought tickets and advance but it didn't seem to save any time in line. I would strongly recommend going any day but Sunday (like I did) because St. George's chapel is a functioning chapel and is only open for service, which was disappointing but understandable to me, a visitor. There was a line to see Queen Mary's Doll House and then the castle and one to skip the Doll House and just go in. I just went in and afterwards since we had time, looked at the Doll House. It is cool to see a detailed estate at a small scale, but at the end of the day, the wait in line really wasn't worth it. The rooms are so nice and grand and luxurious, I loved hearing the multimedia tour describe the lives of Charles II and his wife and about the objects in each room. The castle is much older, but these rooms were preserved in the peak of royal decadence and are beautiful to behold. I just wish they allowed picture taking inside, but alas it was forbidden. There's a lot of history here and it was an exciting and fun place to visit. Be prepared for a lot of walking. This is a giant fortress castle to get around. read more

Windsor Castle - Castles Near Me

Windsor came highly recommended as an attraction on my recent London trip so I had to come. Buy tickets in advance if you are able - there will likely be a large line to get in, but it moves pretty quickly (lots of people + ticket check + security check). Once inside you are offered a complimentary audio guide - recommend taking it even if you don't listen to it all; it offers a lot of nice insights you wouldn't otherwise get. There are 2 areas to explore - the state apartments (think main part of the castle) and St. George's Cathedral. You can easily plan to spend several hours here, especially if you listen to all of the audio guide. No pictures are allowed inside, but you can take pictures outside. The interior of both the castle and cathedral are so amazing - ornate, stately, and awe inspiring! read more

We loved our time at the castle for a half day. We got a ride through Anderson Tours from London to the castle which was about a 35 minute ride with minimal traffic @ the the time of day we went. We left London around 9am and around to the castle itself @ 10am. We enjoyed our time and did not have a castle associated tour guide, however, did not feel like it was needed since we had the free audio guides that are provided upon entrance. Overall we loved the castle and tours. The castle is still an active royal residence and has staff living on the grounds. Therefore, whatever the royals need or want is a priority. Also, going earlier was better since the tours started getting very busy in the afternoon. Would recommend going to the chapel first before anything else! read more

See all

Windsor Castle is huge. You enter through security and come into an outside area with a few choices. I went to St. George's Chapel first - where you end up in a slowly moving line and see the chapel interior, the grave of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip and much more. Coming out it is best to see the dollhouse and the apartments (lots of preserved art and rooms). You can explore the grounds as well. There's a lot that isn't available (over 400K square feet on 13 acres). Took between 2 and 3 hours to do it justice. Audio guide is free. read more

See all

EVERYTHING! I loved every moment of the tour, we also had the souvenir booklet that went with the tour. Remember to stop at the gift shop and pick up some trinkets! We also went back before our travel home and took part in a church service- it was unreal. read more

Windsor Castle - Castles Near Me

See all

wonderful day out, the castle itself is beautiful to walk around and visit we thoroughly enjoyed the guided tour which h was so very interesting. it was also immensely enjoyable just walking around at our own pace and looking a the grounds, the tea room is a a bit dear and so id I was to visit again would probably take my own packed lunch but then have a pot of tea and cake in the restaurant for the experience. We had a delightful day, thank you. read more

I've visited here a few times, most notably on the weekend of the Royal Wedding in May 2018. St. George's Chapel is worth checking out - it's beautiful. On the day after the Royal Wedding, every bouquet and flower in the chapel was sent to hospices with the exception of the flowers on the entrance walls. Those were given away to tourists and to visitors. I took a few with me, and still have them (all dried up). Bring sturdy walking shoes. There are many buildings here - all of them surrounded by a moat - all very grand with the highest ceilings I've ever seen, red carpets, ginormous paintings in gold frames, walls gilded in gold, and fancy swords with gems in them (every bit of gold and jewels stolen from the colonies, of course!) all over the place. read more

See all

My wife and I decided to come here the day after we landed in London for our our honeymoon and it is well worth it. Windsor is a nice little town a short train ride outside of London and the castle is amazing. You cannot take pictures inside but it is well worth the memories of this massive and picturesque historic castle that is still being used by the royal family. Reminded us of what we saw in The Crown on Netflix. It was a bit crowded for the school holidays but not too crazy. Another plus is that it is totally wheelchair accessible and they gave me a wheelchair to borrow. read more

See all

An amazing place of history stacked with so much information! Sadly we were there the day HRH Queen Elizabeth passed, it was so nice to see her Coronation robes and jewells. The audio guided tour loads you up on information, without being overwhelming. The castle is closed currently due to her death, but I do look forward to reusing my ticket for another visit hopefully around Christmas time once it's reopened. Windsor castle and Windsor town is a wonderful place to visit! read more

Windsor Castle - Castles Near Me

We were able to order our tickets online one day before our visit. Due to Covid, it wasn't crowded at all. Masks are required when inside buildings and they also encouraged sanitizer use whenever you entered a building. Today was the last day to get to tour the garden. This was the first time in 40 years that the garden had been open. It was a very peaceful place. The highlight was going into the State Apartment rooms. It was super cool going up the same steps that heads of state and honored guests go up. I loved the number of rooms that you get to see. Included in the price of your ticket is an audio guide that is very helpful. It explained several of the paintings you see. The property is massive and there is something neat about knowing that the Queen still spends many of her weekends here. When she is in residence you will know by the flag that is up. I would definitely recommend coming here if you have any interest in history or the royals. read more

See all

My first time ever saw this real giant occupied castle. I took a train from London to see this castle. It took about one hour and the last stop on Waterloo train station. Once the train stop, you walk out and right away saw this castle from a distance. It is located in a beautiful town with many restaurants surrounding. You can buy a tour to enter the tour but I skip that option since the farther I go the better view of the castle. It is known for fish and chip and teas. it is a walking distance in this town with a market and shopping. This used to be the Queen weekend home but as she passed away, this consider to be a servant living home. read more

See all

#ThrowbackThursday Who wouldn't want to visit a castle? Other than the castles at the Disney resorts, we've only been to a few, but none of them are still used by royalties. We've been to Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA, but it's not for kings and queens. Then there's Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome which is a mausoleum. Château de Versailles in France would be the closest, but no nobilities have been there since the 18th century. We purchased the full-day tour from London that would take us to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and the Roman baths in Bath. It would mean one day away from London, but we would be visiting a royal residence and a couple of UNESCO World Heritage Sites so that was a very fair deal. Our first stop was at Windsor Castle which was about an hour west of London. It has been home to the British crown for over 900 years and it's where Queen Elizabeth II spends her weekend. The Royal Standard flag is hoisted on the Round Tower when she's here. The castle sits on top of a hill and there was already a line when we arrived. After getting through airport-type security, we were off to see the State Apartments. It's the same rooms that the Queen and the rest of her family walk on, so it's cool that they share them with the public. The paintings, chandeliers, and all the other ornaments were very impressive. This is the inside of a castle after all. But it was St. George's Chapel, where the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place, that my wife and daughters were very interested in seeing. The chapel was beautiful - the vaulted ceilings and the stained glass windows were gorgeous. It's smaller than Westminster Abbey, so it carries a more intimate setting. No photography was allowed inside the apartments nor the chapel so I was a bit bitter about that. But I had to follow the rules. There's plenty of walking to cover the castle grounds so we had to make sure we make it back to the bus on time. Our visit seemed short, but it was sweet as well. Our day tour was off to a fantastic start... read more

See all

If castles are your thing, Windsor Castle is about as good as they get. Castles aren't exactly my thing but when in Windsor... What you need to know is this: Purchase your tickets on-line in advance. Why? You can bypass the line of people waiting to purchase tickets and who doesn't want to do that? Tickets run about $25USD apiece with discounts for students and those over 60. You can purchase discounted tickets online and nobody seems to verify your qualifications for the discount. Nice. The audio guide here is free and included in the price of admission. It's a perfect audio guide for the place. Each little audio snippet is succinct and terse, designed to keep you moving through the property It serves its purpose well while being enlightening and informative. St. George's Chapel is on the grounds of Windsor Castle and open for you to tour but not if you come on a Sunday, the day of worship. On that day you'll not be able to see inside at all and you know you want to see inside. St. George's Chapel, after all, is where Prince Harry and his bride were wed. Finally, and I think this is smart: Windsor Castle has a strategically located ice cream vendor inside the grounds, creating a reason to sit down and enjoy the surroundings a bit. It's a beautiful place and sitting down on a bench with some ice cream creates the perfect opportunity to stop doing and start experiencing. You'll know whether the Queen is in residence here by the presence of the Royal Standard flying above. If she's not there, you'll see only the Union Flag. She must not have heard I was coming as the Union Flag was flying during my visit. I tried not to take it personally. read more

Windsor Castle - Imagine this is only one of your three homes... - Castles Near Me

See all

Very much worth it. If you like Armor and Art this is the place to be. Classy too.

Windsor is the primary residence of the queen and a fun site to visit for tourists and locals a like. You can spend a couple hours here exploring the historic castle interior and visiting the Saint George's Cathedral. Admission includes a great self-directed audio guide which tells you as much or as little as you want to hear about each room or stop. Tickets are pricey, and it's not something I particularly need to see again. But it was cool to visit at least once. read more

See all

Absolutely stunning tour, worth the trip from London. We took a tour bus from the Victoria station (through extreme traffic) nice tour guide. Once at the Castle, be prepared to wait in line outside the castle, then another line through security. There is no picture taking within the castle buildings. Incredibly preserved rooms, knights armory, and extensive artwork, tapestries, and largest display of China(dinnerware). Amazing chapel, of which 10 kings are buried! The changing of the guard was a cool thing to witness, but i would not recommend spending all your time watching. Once outside the Castle, there are many shops and restaurants to dine. There is a McDonald's! read more

See all

Highly recommend this as it is one of the must-see locations if you are visiting the country or the area. Overall, it was a lovely visit. Before arriving we did not know what to expect as this was the first time visiting this particular location. We had a driver who dropped us off at the corner between the long walk and the entrance. Entrance was very easy and organized and the guards were very professional and helpful. No pictures are allowed inside parts of some buildings but that leaves the visitor plenty of area to take pictures outside the buildings on the grounds. I like the audio tour but think that your estimate of how long they take is a little low. It took more than 120 minutes to see most of what we saw and that was before the planned Kitchen tour that we booked. I think 180 minutes might be more accurate. The church and grounds are beautiful and have a rich history we could have spent much more time there. The fire restoration is amazing. Kudos to the builders for restoring it to its current condition in just 5 short years. After the visit, we walked part of the long walk and then down the cobblestone city streets. That was a bit less well-kept than the castle grounds but nice all the same. read more

See all