The Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle: Times, Tips & What to Expect

The Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle is a different experience from its more famous London counterpart at Buckingham Palace. The setting — a genuine medieval castle with towers and battlements as the backdrop — gives it a quality that crowds and ceremony on a palace forecourt cannot replicate. The march through Windsor town, which is completely free to watch, takes the Guards through a historic High Street past Georgian architecture and the guildhall. And the crowds, while significant, are noticeably smaller than at Buckingham Palace, making it easier to get a clear view.

Schedule: When It Happens

The full Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place at 11:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, weather permitting. There is no ceremony on Sundays.

The ceremony is set by the British Army’s Household Division and is subject to change. Always verify the confirmed schedule before visiting — the official source is the Household Division website (householddivision.org.uk). The changing-guard.com website also publishes the confirmed monthly schedule including which regiment and band are performing.

The Captain’s Inspection — a smaller, quieter ceremony without a band — takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at approximately 15:00 in the Lower Ward. This is included with a castle admission ticket and is less crowded than the main Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday ceremony.

Note: On days when Windsor Castle is closed to visitors (Tuesdays in winter; Wednesdays year-round), the guard march and ceremony still take place — you can watch the march through town for free even when the castle is not open.

The Route: Where the Guards March

The Guards step off from Victoria Barracks on Sheet Street at approximately 10:45. The route takes them:

1. Down Sheet Street from the barracks
2. Left onto Windsor High Street — the main shopping street, passing the Parish Church and the Guildhall
3. Right at the Queen Victoria Statue on Castle Hill
4. Up Castle Hill into Windsor Castle through the Henry VIII Gate

Traffic is stopped along the route between approximately 10:45 and 11:00 as the guards march in, and again between approximately 11:15 and 11:30 as they return to barracks.

How to Watch for Free (No Ticket Required)

Watching the Guards march through Windsor town is completely free — no ticket, no reservation, no queue. Position yourself along the route at least 20–30 minutes before the march begins (10:15–10:20) to secure a clear view.

Best free viewing spots:

Windsor High Street, lower section — Stand further down the High Street toward the barracks, rather than near the Guildhall at the top. You get a clearer view of the full column as it approaches and the crowd is generally thinner than at the top.

Queen Victoria Statue / Castle Hill junction — The Guards turn right at the Queen Victoria statue onto Castle Hill, creating a photogenic moment as the column wheels and climbs the hill. This is the most popular outdoor viewing spot. Arrive by 10:15 for a front row position.

Windsor Guildhall (Corn Exchange) — Under the covered arcade below the Guildhall is a sheltered position with a good view along the High Street. Useful in wet weather.

Along Castle Hill — If you follow the Guards up Castle Hill after they pass, you can watch them enter through the Henry VIII Gate from behind the line.

Tip from experienced visitors: Moving closer to Victoria Barracks (the starting point) rather than clustering near the Queen Victoria statue tends to give a better and less crowded view of the full column.

How to Watch from Inside the Castle

To see the actual handover ceremony — where the New Guard arrives, the keys are symbolically transferred, and the Guards present arms — you need a Windsor Castle admission ticket.

The ceremony normally takes place in the Lower Ward, outside the Guard Room, in a space visible from the railings just below St. George’s Chapel. Position yourself by these railings by 10:30 at the latest — the Old Guard turns out shortly before 11:00 and the space fills quickly.

If the King is in official residence: When the King is at Windsor, the ceremony moves to the Quadrangle (the Upper Ward courtyard, closer to the State Apartments). This is a different and arguably more impressive setting — the guards form up in the central courtyard surrounded by the castle’s domestic buildings. Windsor Castle staff will direct you to the appropriate position.

Timing tip for admission ticket holders: If you want to visit St. George’s Chapel and see the Changing of the Guard on the same morning, arrive at 10:00 (when the castle opens), go directly to St. George’s Chapel first, and position yourself in the Lower Ward for the ceremony by 10:30. After the ceremony, proceed uphill to the State Apartments.

The Ceremony Itself

The Guards are drawn from the five regiments of Foot Guards — the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards — all part of the Household Division, recognisable in their scarlet tunics and bearskin caps. They are not ceremonial actors but active infantry soldiers who also carry out combat duties.

The ceremony: 1. The Old Guard (the unit currently on duty) forms up outside the Guard Room 2. The New Guard marches in behind the Regimental Band with a Regimental Slow March 3. The New Guard and Old Guard Present Arms facing each other 4. The Captains perform the symbolic handover of the Castle keys (a touching of left hands) 5. Sentries are changed throughout the castle 6. The Band plays a selection of music 7. The Old Guard marches back to Victoria Barracks at approximately 11:25

The full ceremony takes approximately 30 minutes. The music — whether a Regimental Band, Corps of Drums, or occasionally a Pipe Band — adds considerably to the atmosphere.

Windsor Changing of the Guard vs Buckingham Palace

The Windsor ceremony is more intimate and more accessible than the Buckingham Palace version. The backdrop of a genuine medieval castle, the march through a historic market town, and the lower crowd density all contribute to an experience many visitors prefer.

Practical Tips

Check the confirmed schedule. The ceremony can be cancelled or moved at short notice due to bad weather, state occasions, or operational requirements. Check householddivision.org.uk for confirmed dates.

Arrive early for outdoor viewing. By 10:15–10:20 for a clear view along the High Street, or 10:30 inside the castle.

Rain does not cancel the march — but may cancel the band. In wet weather, a “Wet Mount” is called: the Guards march without musical support. The decision is made at the last minute and is not announced in advance.

Photography is permitted along the route and in the castle precincts (not inside the State Apartments or chapel).

Do not touch or impede the Guards. They are active soldiers performing a genuine duty. Do not attempt to approach, touch, or obstruct them.

Combining with St. George’s Chapel: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings (the ceremony days) are among the busiest times inside the castle. The Lower Ward fills quickly before 11:00. Allow extra time at security.