Free & Reduced Windsor Castle Tickets

Information on free and reduced entry to Windsor Castle.

Windsor Castle has a smaller list of free-entry categories than European national museums — unlike France, there is no blanket free policy for under-25 EU residents, and Historic Royal Palaces members do not get free entry here (Royal Collection Trust is a separate charity). But the under-5s, Access Companions, Royal Collection 1-Year Pass holders and worshippers at St George's Chapel on Sundays all enter free. See our visitors guide and accessibility page for related information.

Who qualifies

Who enters free

    • Children under 5: Free for everyone, every day. A free timed-entry ticket is still required — book it in the same order as paying adults.
    • Access Companion: One companion of a disabled visitor enters free of charge — book the free companion ticket alongside the £16 disabled-visitor ticket.
    • Royal Collection Trust 1-Year Pass holders: Unlimited free re-entry for 12 months from any day ticket converted on-site. Also covers Buckingham Palace (when open) and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
    • Sunday worshippers at St George's Chapel: Free access to the chapel for the service itself — Matins, Sung Eucharist or Choral Evensong. The State Apartments are not included; they are not open on Sundays from this entrance.
    • Royal Collection Trust staff and friends: Free with valid ID.

Who gets a discount

    • Young Person 18–24: £21 advance (£24 on the day) — valid student ID or passport required.
    • Child 5–17: £16 advance (£18 on the day) — under-5s free as above.
    • Disabled Person: £16 advance (£18 on the day), with one Access Companion free.
    • Art Fund National Art Pass holders: 50% off the advance adult rate — show the card at the ticket desk on the day.

Note: Historic Royal Palaces memberships (Tower of London, Hampton Court etc.) do not include Windsor Castle. The two charities are separate.

How to claim a free or reduced ticket

Under-5s: book a free timed-entry ticket online — it's in the same flow as the paying tickets, you just choose £0 for the under-5. ID may be requested at the entrance for borderline cases.

Access Companion: book the disabled visitor's £16 reduced ticket first; the companion ticket is added automatically at no extra charge during checkout. Both visitors need to bring proof — a Blue Badge, PIP / DLA / AA letter, or recognised national disability card. Access Card holders can use it as proof.

1-Year Pass conversion: on the day of your visit, before leaving the castle, take your day ticket to the visitor centre and ask staff to sign and date it — that converts it to a free 12-month pass.

Art Fund National Art Pass holders: book your reduced ticket on the day, in person at the visitor centre — the discount isn't automatic online. Bring the physical card or app.

Sunday worship: arrive at the Castle Hill entrance ~30 minutes before the service. Tell the warden you're attending worship at St George's Chapel — no ticket needed but you'll be escorted to the chapel and back out.

Free & Reduced FAQ

Eligibility, documents, and edge cases

Do under-5s really enter free?
Yes. A free timed-entry ticket is still required — book it in the same order as paying adults. Staff may ask for verification at the entrance for children who look close to the age threshold.
Is my Historic Royal Palaces membership valid here?
No. Historic Royal Palaces (Tower of London, Hampton Court, Kensington Palace, Banqueting House, Kew Palace) and Royal Collection Trust (Windsor, Buckingham, Holyroodhouse) are two separate charities. Their memberships are not interchangeable.
How does the 1-Year Pass work?
Any day ticket can be converted into a 1-Year Pass on the day of your visit at no extra cost. Have your ticket signed and dated by staff before you leave; it then gives unlimited free re-entry to Windsor, Buckingham Palace (when open) and Holyroodhouse for 12 months.
Do students get a discount?
Students aged 18–24 get the Young Person rate (£21 advance, £24 on the day). Over-24 students pay the full adult rate — there's no general student discount once you turn 25.
Can carers enter free?
Yes — one Access Companion of a disabled visitor is admitted free, and the disabled visitor pays the £16 reduced rate. See our accessibility page.
Is there a family ticket?
No formal family ticket. Under-5s are free, ages 5–17 pay £16 advance — work out the total in the booking flow. The reduced rate combined with the free 1-Year Pass conversion makes Windsor surprisingly good value for families who visit more than once.
Is the National Art Pass really 50% off?
Yes — Art Fund National Art Pass members get 50% off the standard adult rate. The discount isn't available online; show your card at the on-site ticket desk on the day.
Can I attend a Sunday service for free?
Yes. Matins, Sung Eucharist and Choral Evensong at St George's Chapel on Sundays are free to attend. You'll be escorted from the Castle Hill entrance straight to the chapel — the State Apartments are not open from this route.
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