What to Expect on Arrival at Windsor Castle

The arrival experience at Windsor Castle is straightforward but has several practical details that catch first-time visitors by surprise — from the steepness of the hill to the security restrictions on bags and the importance of visiting the chapel before the State Apartments. Knowing what to expect before you arrive removes the friction and lets you get straight to the experience.

The Approach: Castle Hill

Windsor Castle sits at the top of a steep hill in the centre of Windsor town. Whichever way you arrive, the final approach to the visitor entrance on Castle Hill involves walking uphill. From Windsor & Eton Central station (the Paddington route), the walk is approximately 5 minutes on mostly level ground through the town centre, ending with the climb up Castle Hill. From Windsor & Eton Riverside station (the Waterloo route), the walk is approximately 10 minutes and involves a steeper ascent.

The visitor entrance is on Castle Hill at the junction with St Alban’s Street. Look for the stone gateway and the queue management area at the Admission Centre.

Wear comfortable shoes. The castle grounds cover extensive distances and the terrain — including cobbled areas in the Lower Ward and the route to St. George’s Chapel — is uneven in places. Flat, comfortable footwear is strongly recommended.

Step 1: Security Screening

Before entering the castle grounds, all visitors pass through airport-style security. This includes:

• Walking through a security arch (like an airport metal detector)
• Placing bags on a conveyor for X-ray screening
• Removing metal objects from pockets before passing through the arch

Travel as light as possible. The security process is significantly faster without bulky bags. A small daypack or handbag is ideal. Handbags may be carried throughout the visit; large bags and backpacks must be checked in at the cloakroom before entering the State Apartments.

What you cannot bring in: – Bicycles, folding bikes, roller-skates, or skateboards – Large bags that cannot fit through the security scanner – Penknives, bladed items, or items prohibited in public places in the UK – Drones

What must be checked in at the cloakroom (located near the State Apartments entrance): – Large bags that fit through the security scanner but are too bulky for the State Apartments – Pushchairs and buggies (baby-carriers and hip-carriers are available to borrow)

Note on luggage: The walk from the Admission Centre to the cloakroom near the State Apartments entrance takes approximately 10 minutes and is largely uphill. If you are travelling with airport luggage, use left-luggage facilities at the airport or at Windsor & Eton Central station before visiting — do not attempt to bring a suitcase into the castle.

Step 2: The Admission Centre

After clearing security, proceed to the Admission Centre where staff will:

• Scan your QR code (have it ready on your phone at full screen brightness, or printed)
• Issue your admission ticket if you are collecting pre-booked tickets
• Provide your free multimedia audio guide handset

If you are buying a ticket on the day (walk-up), you may purchase here subject to availability. Walk-up tickets cost more than advance tickets — approximately £4 more per adult — and time slots may be limited, particularly in summer. See our How to Buy Windsor Castle Tickets guide.

Timed entry: Your ticket is for a specific entry time slot. Arriving significantly early means waiting outside; arriving significantly late means you may be asked to wait for the next available slot, which could reduce your time inside.

1-Year Pass activation: If you want to activate the 1-Year Pass (converting your ticket for unlimited free re-entry for 12 months), you must do this before leaving the castle on your first visit. Ask a member of staff to sign and validate your ticket before departure. This is only available if you purchased your ticket directly from the Royal Collection Trust website.

Step 3: Collecting Your Audio Guide

The free multimedia audio guide is included with every standard admission ticket. You can collect a handset at the Admission Centre or use the downloadable app version on your smartphone.

The guide covers 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 guide narrated by Scorch the Dragon is also available.

Bring your own earphones or earbuds if you prefer not to use the provided shared handset. The app version works with any earphones and can be downloaded before your visit.

Step 4: What to Visit First — The Recommended Order

The single most important piece of timing advice for first-time visitors: visit St. George’s Chapel before the State Apartments.

St. George’s Chapel closes at 16:00 on weekdays. If you spend 90 minutes in the State Apartments first, you risk arriving at the chapel after it has closed. The State Apartments have a longer last-entry window and can be visited at any point up to the last admission time.

Recommended visit order: 1. St. George’s Chapel — burial place of Queen Elizabeth II and ten other monarchs; one of England’s finest Gothic buildings. Visit immediately on arrival. 2. The State Apartments — the main visitor route through the ceremonial rooms of the castle, including St. George’s Hall, the Waterloo Chamber, and the Grand Reception Room. 3. Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House — typically visited as part of the route into the State Apartments. Allow more time than you think — almost everyone spends longer here than expected. 4. The castle precincts — the Lower Ward, the Round Tower view, the Horseshoe Cloister, and the outdoor spaces.

Photography Rules

Photography is not permitted inside the State Apartments, the Semi-State Rooms, or St. George’s Chapel. This rule is consistently enforced by staff and is in place to protect the historic interiors and respect the chapel as an active place of worship.

Photography is permitted in the castle’s outdoor areas — the precincts, the Lower Ward, and the grounds. There are excellent spots for photographs of the Round Tower, the Quadrangle, the Horseshoe Cloister, and the castle exterior from the Long Walk approach.

Food, Drink & Re-Entry

Eating and drinking are not permitted inside the State Apartments or St. George’s Chapel. Bottled water may be purchased in the Lower Ward shop at the beginning of your visit.

The Undercroft Café — located in one of the castle’s most historic surviving medieval spaces under St. George’s Hall — serves light meals, tea, and cakes during opening hours. Food from the Royal Farms at Windsor is served here.

Re-entry permits: If you want to leave the castle for lunch in Windsor town and return, you can obtain a re-entry permit from the Castle shops or the audio guide return point. This allows you to exit, eat in the town, and return to the castle within the opening hours of your visit day.

How Long to Allow

Most visitors need a minimum of 2 hours to cover the main highlights without rushing — the State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel, and Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House. To explore everything comfortably, including the precincts and grounds, allow 2.5 to 3 hours. If the Changing of the Guard ceremony is taking place (11:00 on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, subject to schedule), add approximately 45 minutes.