Official Website of Windsor Castle: Your Complete Guide to rct.uk

Visitors sometimes struggle with Windsor Castle’s ticketing landscape — not because the official site is difficult to use, but because multiple third-party platforms exist alongside it, the ticket types are not always clearly explained, and the site is the only place to access certain discounts and benefits. This guide explains exactly what the official website is, how to use it step by step, what each ticket type covers, and what to do if your preferred date or time is unavailable.

What Is the Official Windsor Castle Website?

The official website for Windsor Castle is rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle, operated by the Royal Collection Trust (RCT) — a registered charity responsible for managing Windsor Castle’s public opening and caring for the artworks and objects within it.

• Official ticket booking URL: tickets.rct.uk
• Official information URL: rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle
• Languages: English (primary), with content across the wider rct.uk site
• Managed by: Royal Collection Trust (one of the five departments of the Royal Household)
• Ticket type: Timed-entry admission with advance booking available online

The Royal Collection Trust also manages Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, and The King’s Galleries. All income from Windsor Castle admissions, the shop, and other commercial activity funds the conservation of the Royal Collection — one of the world’s great art collections, held in trust by the monarch for the nation. The Trust receives no Government funding.

What Tickets Can You Buy on the Official Website?

What admission covers: All tickets include the State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel (except Sundays), Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, the castle precincts, and a free multilingual multimedia audio guide. The Semi-State Rooms are added to the route from approximately October to March at no extra charge.

What the official website does not sell: Guided day tours from London (these are managed by tour operators), private evening tours, and exclusive guided tours. For tour options, see our Windsor Castle Guided Tours page.

Step-by-Step: How to Buy Tickets on the Official Website

1. Go to rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle and click “Book Now” or “Buy Tickets”
2. You will be redirected to tickets.rct.uk — the secure Royal Collection Trust ticketing portal
3. Select Windsor Castle as your destination
4. Choose your visit date — the calendar shows available dates and remaining capacity
5. Select your preferred entry time slot — earlier slots (10:00–11:00) book out first; later afternoon slots typically remain available longer
6. Choose your ticket type (Adult, Child, Young Person, Family, etc.) and quantity
7. Enter visitor details — the lead booker’s name is required
8. Complete payment by credit or debit card — Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are accepted
9. Save your e-ticket — it is emailed as a PDF with a QR code. Screenshot the QR code before your visit in case of poor mobile signal on arrival

Important: Advance booking saves money. Adult tickets are £32 online in advance versus £36 on the day. For a family of four, advance booking saves approximately £16 over walk-up prices — and guarantees your entry time.

Timed entry: Your ticket is valid for your booked entry time slot only. Arriving significantly early or late may mean waiting for the next available slot. Always arrive at least 10 minutes before your booked time to allow for security screening.

When to Book Your Windsor Castle Ticket

Windsor Castle is popular year-round, but capacity varies by season:

Summer (July–August): The busiest period. Morning slots on Thursdays and Saturdays (Changing of the Guard days) can sell out days in advance. Book as early as possible.

Spring and Autumn: Generally easier to secure preferred slots with 1–2 weeks notice, but weekends during school holidays can be competitive.

Winter (November–February): Quieter overall, with same-day tickets often available at the gate on weekdays. The Semi-State Rooms open during this period, adding to the visitor route.

Note: Windsor Castle is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays outside July–September (and on Wednesdays year-round in summer). Always check the closure calendar on rct.uk before booking.

What to Do When Your Preferred Date Is Sold Out

If your preferred date or time is unavailable on the official site, three options remain:

Check third-party booking platforms:

Third-party platforms operate from their own pre-allocated ticket stock, which is separate from the official website’s inventory. Availability on one platform does not directly mirror the other.

• Windsor Castle Entry Ticket — often has morning availability when rct.uk is fully booked; also includes free cancellation up to 24 hours before your visit
• Windsor Castle Half-Day Tour from London — tour operators book entry blocks in advance; a half-day tour may give you access when individual tickets are sold out

Check back on the official site: Cancellations are released back into the system continuously throughout the day. If your visit is not imminent, check again on the following morning — single ticket returns are the most common type of cancellation and are released as soon as the original booker cancels.

Consider a different time slot or date: Later afternoon slots are consistently the last to fill. A 14:00 or 15:00 entry time still allows approximately 2 hours inside the castle before the State Apartments close. For St. George’s Chapel specifically, a slot before 14:00 is preferable as the chapel closes at 16:00.

Is It Safe to Buy Tickets From the Official Website?

Yes. rct.uk and tickets.rct.uk are operated by the Royal Collection Trust and use standard SSL encryption. Payment is processed through a secure gateway.

The most important thing before entering card details is to verify you are on the correct domain. The legitimate URLs are rct.uk and tickets.rct.uk. Multiple unofficial websites exist under names such as ‘windsorcastle-tickets.com’ or ‘windsorcastletickets.org’ that resell official tickets at inflated prices or add service charges not applied by the official site.

Signs you are on the correct official site: – URL begins with rct.uk – The page displays the Royal Collection Trust logo and branding – Ticket prices match the official rates listed in this guide – No additional service fee is added on top of the face value price

The Official Windsor Castle App (Audio Guide)

The free multimedia audio guide included with every Windsor Castle admission is the Royal Collection Trust’s own visitor companion. It is available as a handset collected at the castle entrance, or as a downloadable app on iOS and Android.

The guide includes an introduction by His Majesty The King, narrated commentary on the State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel, and the castle precincts, and is available in ten languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, and British Sign Language. A children’s version narrated by Scorch the Dragon is also available.

Download the guide before your visit via the Apple App Store or Google Play for the smoothest experience. See our full Windsor Castle Audio Tours guide for details.

Official Website vs Third-Party Booking: Quick Reference