Best Time to Visit Windsor Castle

Discover the best times to visit Windsor Castle to avoid crowds and enhance your experience.

Windsor Castle welcomes well over a million visitors a year, concentrated into a 5-day open week and an even narrower set of peak months. The difference between a frustrating shoulder-to-shoulder visit and a contemplative one comes down to picking the right slot. Pair this page with our opening hours and visitors guide to plan around the crowds.

When to come — and when to absolutely avoid

By season

Quietest: Mid-January to early March and the first three weeks of November. English winter weather isn't glamorous, but the State Apartments are wonderfully warm, the Semi-State Rooms are open, and you can wander St George's Chapel without a queue. The shorter daylight hours also mean dramatic late-afternoon light on the Round Tower.

Busiest: July and August (peak summer holidays), the Easter weekend, English school half-terms (mid-February, late May, late October), and the entire week between Christmas and New Year. Saturdays year-round are noticeably busier than weekdays. Avoid the Saturday closest to St George's Day (23 April) and the second Monday in June — the Order of the Garter Service often closes the State Apartments entirely.

By day of the week

Thursday and Friday mornings are calmest. Saturdays are always busy with day-trippers from London. Mondays can be surprisingly quiet because many overseas tour operators assume the castle is closed (it isn't). Sundays have a different crowd — no State Apartments queues until later in the day, and the chapel is open for worship rather than tourism.

By time of day

The first slot at 10:00 and slots after 14:30 are noticeably quieter than the 11:00–13:00 peak when most coach tours from London arrive. Aim for the very first slot of the day in summer; aim for late afternoon in winter to catch sunset light on the Round Tower from the Lower Ward.

A late-Monday tip locals share quietly

If your schedule allows it, book the last Monday slot of the day in February or November. By the time you arrive, the morning London coach groups have long left, the afternoon school groups are gone, and the Semi-State Rooms — open through winter — are at their most atmospheric in the failing light. The Quadrangle in the Upper Ward at 16:30 in November, with frost forming on the cobbles and the lanterns of the Round Tower lighting up, is one of the most cinematic sights anywhere in England.

From there you can drop down to the High Street as Windsor settles into evening — a pub roast at the Two Brewers on Park Street, or a glass of wine at the Macdonald Windsor Hotel with the floodlit castle in the window. The 30-minute train back to London Paddington runs every half-hour until late.

Best Time FAQ

When to come — and when to absolutely avoid

When is the castle least crowded?
Thursday and Friday mornings in January, February or November, with the first 10:00 slot. Mondays year-round are also quieter than expected — many tour operators wrongly assume the castle is closed.
When is it busiest?
Saturdays from April to October, the Easter weekend, English school half-terms, and the entire week between Christmas and New Year. Avoid these dates if you can — slots fill weeks in advance.
Is the Changing of the Guard worth planning around?
Yes — if you visit on a Thursday or Saturday, time your slot to be in the Lower Ward at 11:00 (the ceremony lasts ~30 minutes). On Tuesdays the castle is closed but the parade still marches from Victoria Barracks through town, visible from the streets for free.
Is winter really worth it given the shorter hours?
Absolutely. The Semi-State Rooms — the most ornate part of the entire castle — are only open autumn–spring. Fewer crowds, dramatic short-day light, and you can attend Choral Evensong at St George's Chapel as the evening sets in.
Are mornings or afternoons better?
Mornings are quieter Mon/Thu/Fri; late afternoons are quieter on Saturdays once the London day-trip coaches leave around 15:00. Midday (11:00–13:00) is the peak regardless of day.
How early should I book?
In peak season (June–August, Easter, half-terms), at least two weeks ahead. For the Christmas–New Year week, three weeks. In low season (January–February, November), 2–3 days ahead is usually fine.
Is it worth combining with London in one day?
Yes — Windsor is a classic day trip from London. Most visitors do the castle in the morning (10:00 slot), have lunch in Windsor town, then return to London by mid-afternoon. The 30-minute Paddington–Windsor service makes this very easy.
Does rain make a difference?
For the State Apartments, no — they're all indoors. But moving between the wards involves outdoor cobbles which become slippery in heavy rain. Bring waterproofs in autumn and winter; umbrellas must be closed inside the State Apartments.
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