Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle Description

Windsor Castle is an official residence of The Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world. A royal palace and fortress for over 900 years, the Castle remains a working palace today. Visitors can walk around the State Apartments, extensive suites of rooms at the heart of the working palace; for part of the year visitors can also see the Semi State rooms, which are some of the most splendid interiors in the castle.

They are furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection including paintings by Holbein, Rubens, Van Dyck and Lawrence, fine tapestries and porcelain, sculpture and armour.

Within the Castle complex there are many additional attractions. In the Drawings Gallery regular exhibitions of treasures from the Royal Library are mounted. Another popular feature is the Queen Mary's Dolls' House, a miniature mansion built to perfection.

The fourteenth-century St. George's Chapel is the burial place of ten sovereigns, home of the Order of the Garter, and setting for many royal weddings. Nearby on the Windsor Estate is Frogmore House, an attractive country residence with strong associations to three queens - Queen Charlotte, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary.

In celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen, a new landscape garden has been created by the designer and Chelsea Gold Medallist Tom Stuart-Smith. The garden, the first to be made at the Castle since the 1820s, transforms the visitor entrance and provides a setting for band concerts throughout the year.

The informal design takes its inspiration from Windsor's historic parkland landscape and the picturesque character of the Castle, introduced by the architect Sir Jeffry Wyatville for George IV in the 1820s.

Windsor Castle plays a large part in the official work of The Queen and members of the Royal Family. For the past two years, during the rebuilding of The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace and the temporary closure of the main kitchens, all State Visits have been held at Windsor Castle. These have included the recent visits of President Mbeki of South Africa and the King and Queen of Jordan. St. George's Hall, completely restored following the fire of 1992, is the room in which The Queen holds State Banquets and receptions.

Annual events at Windsor include the Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle. The Queen hosts occasional 'dine and sleeps' for guests including politicians and public figures.

They have a 24-hr information line: +44 (0)1753 831118.

Opening Times - 2012

• 1st March - 31st October: Daily, 9.45 am - 5.15 pm (including Bank Holidays)
• 1st November - 28th February: Daily, 9.45 am - 4.15 pm

Provisional Closure dates for 2012

March

• 2nd: State Apartments closed
• 30th: CASTLE CLOSED

April

• 3rd: State Apartments closed
• 6th: Admission to the Castle Precincts only. St George's Chapel will be open between 2 pm and 4 pm in addition to services. ALL OTHER AREAS CLOSED
• 7th: St George's Chapel closed until 11 am
• 8th: Castle closed until 1 pm

May

• 5th: St George's Chapel closes at 1 pm
• 19th: CASTLE CLOSED
• 28th: St George's Chapel closes at 3 pm

June

• 15th - 18th: St George's Chapel closed
• 16th -19th: State Apartments closed
• 18th: CASTLE CLOSED

July

• 6th: St George's Chapel closed until 10.30 am
• 19th: St George's Chapel closes at 1 pm

November

• 14th: St George's Chapel closes at 1 pm

December
14th: St George's Chapel closed until 10.30 am
24th: St George's Chapel closed (other than to worshippers attending services)
25th - 26th: CASTLE CLOSED (St George's Chapel open to worshippers)

As a working Royal palace, the Castle is used frequently by The Queen for State ceremonies and official entertaining. Please check opening arrangements before planning a visit (24-hour information line 01753 831118).

Changing of the Guard:

• On alternate days at 11 am, weather permitting. Changing of the Guard does not take place on Sunday.

Frogmore House and Mausoleum:

• 18th - 20th August - 10am - 5.30pm (last admission 16:00) - To Be Confirmed. For full details please contact 020 7766 7305.

Admission Prices - 2012

• Adult - £17.00
• Under 17 £10.20
• Under 5s Free
• Family (2 + 3) - £44.75
• Senior/Student - £15.50

During closure of State Apartments

• Adult - £9.30
• Under 17 - £6.20
• Under 5s Free
• Family (2 + 3) - £25.25
• Senior/Student - £8.25

Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis

All admission prices include an audio guide in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese.

A family audio tour, a tour for the visually-impaired and free family activity trails are also available.