Windsor Castle is the largest occupied castle in the world, and I believe the oldest continuously occupied castle in the world. King Henry I was the first monarch to live at the castle, with every subsequent English/British monarch living there. It is actually one of the easiest royal residences to visit, as it is mostly open to the public aside from during state visits. These are my tips for visiting Windsor Castle, if you would like to make the trip out to Windsor!
Tips for Visiting Windsor Castle
I had planned my visit to Windsor Castle rather far ahead, but unfortunately QEII’s schedule changed and we were only able to see Queen Mary’s Dollhouse- if you visit around a state visit, you will not be able to visit the State Rooms, Semi-State Rooms, or St. George’s Chapel. Learn from me and carefully plan ahead! (If there are other things you want to do around Windsor, it is still nice to walk around the castle. However, there isn’t that much to do there, so I would time it so you can properly visit.)
Grab the Train from Paddington to Windsor and Eton Central
If you are close to the Elizabeth Line, you can take it out to Slough. However, I’ve heard mixed reviews on that- we chose to do the train instead, I would recommend it. It takes less than an hour and is under £20 return for an adult. (I believe contactless tap may be available, depending on the route you take.)
You will catch the train at London Paddington (which is always fun to visit for any Paddington fans)- note that the Paddington train and Tube stations are separate. It is roughly a 15 minute trip to Slough station where you will change platforms to catch the Windsor train. The trip from Slough to Windsor and Eton Central* is only about 5 minutes and it is a 2 carriage train- it will be very quick, so be ready to disembark!
*There are two Windsor and Eton train stations- Windsor and Eton Central and Windsor and Eton Riverside. Windsor and Eton Central is much closer to Windsor Castle, so if that is your focus, it is the station you want. (The Windsor and Eton Riverside train leaves from Waterloo, not Paddington.)
Be Ready for Airport Style Security
As Windsor Castle does often play host to the monarch, several other senior royals, and senior government ministers, as well as other heads of state and government heads, you should not be surprised that you will need to go through security. Try to not bring a massive bag if you can, as it will go through an airport-style scanner, as will your coat. (I don’t believe I had to take my shoes off.)
Also, if you are crunched for time, make sure you have allowed 15-20 minutes to purchase your ticket (if you didn’t buy ahead) and to get through security. (Doubly so if you are there for the 10am opening.)
No Photography Allowed Indoors
Unfortunately, there is no photography allowed inside Windsor Castle or inside St. George’s Chapel. (Any indoor photos here are not mine- see captions for credit.) The Royal Trust did bring a bunch of influencers to Windsor Castle in October 2025 and they were allowed to take photos and video (which is not my favourite move, if I’m honest)- if you start taking photos, you will be told to stop and I did see staff members asking people to delete them. (It is theoretically due to security reasons, so it doesn’t make sense to invite influencers to then share what you don’t want shared…) I don’t normally say you need to, but you might want to grab some postcards or a guidebook if you want photos to keep!
You can take photos outside, though- I would allow some time to wander around inside the castle grounds, you will find some spectacular views! (The Round Tower is always a favourite of mine.)
Take Your Time
Between the Semi-State Rooms and the State Rooms, there is a LOT to see. Not only do you have several spaces that are wildly impressive on their own (St. George’s Hall, the Crimson Drawing Room, and the Grand Reception Room, to name a few), there are countless pieces from the Royal Collection displayed throughout. (I think the curators have done a fantastic job of choosing a wide variety of artworks to display, you get a great range.)
I will say, there are not a lot of staff around compared to the number of visitors, so while you theoretically could ask a question, you might be waiting a while. However, Hugh Bonneville (aka Lord Grantham from Downton Abbey) narrates the English language audio tour, so I would make sure to grab one.
St. George’s Chapel
Although it may be smaller than some other royal “churches” (if you will), St. George’s Chapel packs a fair punch for its size. The chapel itself is gorgeous, and you can spend quite a lot of time taking in the architecture and Garter-related things. However, there is so much more.
The number of royal tombs that you can visit is incredible. Princess Charlotte of Wales’ memorial and tomb is beautiful, and although off to the side, is well-worth a few moments. You can also see Queen Alexandra and King Edward VII’s side-by-side tombs, as well as Queen Mary and King George V’s tombs. (Surprisingly, they are essentially out in the open, so you can see them without any “detours”.)
The King George VI Memorial Chapel is the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth II (along with her parents, her husband, and her sister), and while you aren’t able to go the few steps down into the very tiny chapel, you can stand just outside of it. However, there is a sign asking people not to linger too long due to holding up other visitors. I would recommend heading to St. George’s Chapel first on your visit to beat the crowds– there were maybe 30 people in the chapel total, and I was able to spend 5+ minutes at the chapel because there wasn’t anyone else walking around near me.
The volunteers/staff inside the chapel were lovely, and were happy to answer any questions!
What are your tips for visiting Windsor Castle?
Cheers,
The Historian
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