Windsor Castle - Afternoon entry only

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and today is one of the official residences of His Majesty The King.

Entry to Windsor Castle with your London Pass® is only available after 1PM

• Pay nothing at the door – simply show your pass.
• Explore the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world.

Home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years, a trip to Windsor Castle is a must for Royal enthusiasts!

Pass perks

London Pass holders get a free self-guided multimedia tour that lasts around 2 hours.

Windsor Castle history 

For over 1,000 years, Windsor Castle has been the English royal residence. This stunning castle, occupying 10.5 hectares/26.5 acres of land, is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world.

William the Conqueror first made use of this vast space after the Battle of Hastings in 1066, crafting the castle out of wood in what was known as a motte-and-bailey style. The castle served as an excellent watchtower over the River Thames and Windsor Forest. Henry I was the first monarch to use the castle as a home. But various alterations to the site have since been made by his royal successors, including the addition of the beguiling Round Tower and a stone keep by Henry II. Perhaps no monarch worked on the castle as extensively as Edward III, however, who spent a vast amount of money on adding and improving it during his reign.

As well as private apartments for monarchs and visitors, the Castle contains an upper ward, which houses the royal library. This room contains priceless works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, to name but a few. However, when a fire broke out across the Castle in November 1992, a few works were sadly destroyed or damaged, along with more than 100 rooms. These rooms were restored in 1997 at a cost of almost £40 million. Visit Windsor Castle with The London Pass®.

Windsor Castle facts  

• During the Blitz in World War II, the windows of Windsor Castle were blacked out and the royal bedrooms were strengthened in case the castle was bombed.
• St George’s Chapel is deemed one of the most beautiful and impressive buildings in England and is the burial place of 11 monarchs.
• The Long Walk, a paved avenue of trees, runs south of the castle for three long miles in a straight line.
• The exclusive and renowned school Eton College (where Prince William and Harry were educated) is situated about half a mile from the castle.
• As of 2006, around 500 people were living and working in the castle.

What’s to see on Your Windsor Castle Tour (Self Guided)

State Apartments

Home to over 39 monarchs, Windsor Castle’s décor has varied hugely over the centuries. The State Apartments pay homage to the differing tastes of the royal occupants from lavish furnishings and treasures from the Royal Collection, including masterpieces by Rubens, Holbein, Brueghel, and Van Dyck.  

Semi-State Apartments

From September to March, visitors can also walk through the sumptuous Semi-State Apartments, which served as the private rooms of George IV in the 19th century.

St George’s Chapel

This Gothic masterpiece is one of the finest examples of its style of architecture in the country. It is the home of the Order of the Garter, established in 1348, and houses the tombs of 11 sovereigns.