Windsor Castle

• Built in the 11th century during William the Conqueror's reign, Windsor Castle has been the family home to 39 British kings and queens for over 1,000 years. 
• It is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. The Queen now uses it as her weekend residence – when she is home the Royal Standard flag is raised. 
• Explore the breathtaking St George's Chapel and walk in the footsteps of Prince Harry and Megan Markle. 
• The impressive State Apartments contain some incredible works of art, including Rembrandt and Rubens. 
• Situated 22 miles out of London, Windsor castle takes just 25 minutes on the train from the capital and 45 minutes by car.
  Make your way to Windsor Castle and explore one of the oldest castles in the world with your family. Now the Queen's favourite royal residency, Windsor Castle has been the home to over 30 monarchs over the last 1,000 years. It’s the ideal place to marvel at the magnificence of the royal family with your kids.

With an incredible 1,000 rooms, there is so much to see at the evolved Norman Motte and Bailey castle. Visit the lavish impressive State Apartments, which are furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection. Young and older creatives will be impressed by many outstanding works of art by masters such as Holbein, Van Dyck and Rubens. Make sure you stop and admire not only the paintings but the wonderful objects on display in each room, including the arms and armour in the Grand Vestibule. 

Windsor Castle is also home to the largest, most beautiful and most famous dolls’ house in the world. It was built between 1921 and 1924 for Queen Mary, and you can easily spend hours just looking at every tiny detail. From a library filled with original short stories by famous authors to a fully functioning plumbing system (yep, it has flushing toilets!), with electricity and running hot and cold water, the intricate details are a definite highlight! It’s no surprise it took more than 1,500 craftsmen and artists' talents to build.

Explore the gothic wonders of St George’s Chapel. There’s no doubt that this is one of the best examples of gothic architecture in England. Walk in the footsteps of the many royals who have got married here, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and visit the tombs of Henry VIII, Jane Seymour and Charles I. 

If you're fans of the royals and anything to do with history, make sure a visit to Windsor Castle is on your itinerary! It’s a great day out for everyone. 

Looking for more fun things to do with your kids? Take a virtual tour of the Tower of London from the comfort of your own home. For more royal magic, check out this virtual storytelling with the Duchess of York.  
 

What to know before you go 
 

• Admission to Windsor Castle is busiest immediately after opening and throughout the morning. We recommend you arrive after midday if possible.
• During the winter months, the private apartments created by George IV, the Semi-State Rooms are added to the visitor route.
• From Monday to Saturday St George’s Chapel closes at 4.15pm (last entry 4pm), in order to prepare for the evening church service at 5.15pm (doors open at 5pm). The chapel is closed to visitors on Sundays as services are held throughout the day. 
• The Changing of the Guard ceremony usually takes place at 11am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Bear in mind the schedule is subject to change. The guards march through Windsor town into the castle, where their guard changes take place. 
• A one-way system operates along the visitor route.
• Please bring as little as possible as there will be airport-style security checks on arrival. 
• Windsor Castle-authorised Blue Badge Guides are offered complimentary admission. Guides should go to the admissions centre on arrival and show their membership card.
• Multimedia guides are included in the admission price at all residences and do not need to be pre-booked. They are available in nine languages. 
• To gain entry to Windsor Castle, please take your confirmation/voucher along with your photo ID and credit card used to pay for the booking. 
• Surfaces are fully wheelchair accessible, but bear in mind that the castle sits at the top of a very steep hill, with a fairly long distance just to the entrance.
• Concessionary rates are available for visitors with disabilities and an accompanying companion is admitted free of charge.
• Buggies may be used around the grounds but will need to be checked in if you wish to enter the State Apartments.
• The George Inn has a great kids' menu and a family-friendly atmosphere, and is only a seven-minute walk away. Alternatively, the high street is just over the road from the castle, and is home to plenty of Kidadler favourites, including Wagamama and Zizzi. 
• As the official residences of The Queen are working royal palaces, opening arrangements may change at short notice. Check the day's opening times before setting off.

Getting there

• Windsor & Eton Central station is a seven-minute walk away. From London, you can access it via a direct train from Waterloo, or with one interchange at Slough from Paddington.
• Kidadler Sandra says, "there is lots of parking [and] if you find signs for long stay parking you don’t pay as much. We parked at a car park right next to Alexandra Gardens [which was] a nice walk in to town through the park. There [were] also a few fairground rides at the end right by the car park."