Finally. It only took three attempts over thirteen years, but we’re successfully in Windsor. Yes!!!! Having learned from past mistakes we’ve finally hit the jackpot – we’ve suitable parking, tickets in hand and have arrived sufficiently early to allow a full day’s exploring. I’m literally skipping with joy.
A key to our 2026 success is Windsor council finally recognising the proliferation of motorhomes and providing a handful of dedicated parking spaces within walking distance of the Castle. Prior lack of suitable parking placed some stress on the timing of ticket purchases – imagine the frustration of buying expensive, non-transferable tickets and not being able to use them. Given that it’s taken us so long to successfully see Windsor Castle, I’m offering a few tips to help others along their way – bear with me if they don’t apply to you.
Tip 1: If you’re coming in a motorhome there are two parking options: Alexandra Gardens where parking can be obtained on a 24-hour basis, paid from 9am to 9pm. It’s a short walk to the Castle. Otherwise there’s LEGOLAND which I believe has a courtesy bus that brings you into Windsor. If you choose the garden option your timing needs to be impeccable – arrive just on 9 am when people from the prior day will be leaving.
Tip 2: Tickets to Windsor are date and time specific. Timed entry is set in half-hour blocks. If you look at the official site in advance, tickets only appear to be available from noon onwards, however on the day, tickets are released from 9:00 am to noon. If you want a full day at Windsor hold your nerve until the morning of your visit and then buy tickets online. We found 10.30 am to be a relatively fast process through security checks. We’re in!
Tip 3: Once you’re through security you’ll see another queue for the audio guide, included in your ticket price. Do not be tempted to miss it. You’ll find the audio guide invaluable as you move through the Castle and it’s available in a series of languages.
Our 10:30 timeslot coincides rather neatly with the commencement of the changing of the guard ceremony. Now it’s tempting to stop and watch this, but it’s a slow process – we opt instead to see the beautiful St George chapel whilst crowds are focused on the ceremony.
It’s a pretty good move – the Chapel is quiet and we have great views of all its key features. Tip 4: See the St George Chapel while the changing of the guard is in progress. Also, if you want to see the Chapel (and I strongly recommend that you do as it’s spectacular) don’t come on a Sunday when it’s closed for private services.
The Chapel is the resting place for many royals: Queen Mary and King George V, King George VI, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II and of course Prince Phillip. I knew our lovely Queen was in the Chapel, but her gravestone takes me quite by surprise. And moves me to tears. She’s laid to rest with her husband and parents, a return perhaps to the comfort of family life. A life in service – Elizabeth II was truly was a dedicated Queen.
Entry to the St George’s Chapel leads me to Tip 5: A gentle reminder that no inside photography is allowed in royal palaces. Be sure to buy an official guide otherwise you risk forgetting the lovely things you’ll see. To this effect, please note that all interior pictures in this post are from the official guide.
Oh my goodness – the Chapel is beautiful. Magnificent wood carvings, limestone arches and glorious stained glass windows. Helpful guides are in hand to share tidbits of any information you’d care to ask for.
Chapel tour over, we catch the tail end of the changing of the guard. I stress here that we didn’t rush in any way.
The Chapel leads on to the State Apartments and Queen Mary’s doll house where a short but quick queue greets us. Oh this doll house! Built in 1924 as a gift to Queen Mary, it’s skilled perfection in 1:12 ratio. Designed to showcase the best of British workmanship, not only does it have electricity, but also running water, a gramophone with teeny tiny records that actually play, a wine cellar stocked with real wine, a working lift and a miniature library. With real books. It’s miniature perfection. (Picture thanks to the interwebs)
The doll house leads us neatly to the State Apartments, the heart of the Windsor tour. And just between you and me….wow!!! England is blessed to have its royal history intact. I draw your mind’s eye to Versailles – glorious yes, but an empty shell of its once glory. England’s royal palaces and Windsor meanwhile, are perfectly intact. Walk through a thousand years of history with me. One. Thousand. Years.
We tour the formal rooms, each with a specific purpose. Many are instantly recognisable: the investiture room where knighthoods, OBEs and the like are awarded, the formal dining room, host to King Charles and Queen Camilla’s wedding reception and the state banquet room. We pass though art collections that span centuries – Van Dyck, Ruebens, DaVinci. Oh and did I mention the crystal Chandeliers? Magnificent We see the extraordinary restoration work following the 1997 fire. There’s a great documentary on this painstaking restoration – search the BBC archive, it’s really worth seeing. It’s here the value of the audio guide becimes clear. Do make sure you have one.
The State Apartments are only a fraction of Windsor Castle of course (many private sections) but fabulous, none the less. It’s when we exit, we see our timing was good. Tip 6: Get to the State Apartment tour early. Our tour concluded around 1 pm – by that stage the queue to get in was over an hour long. In full sun. Go early, even if you have to see the Chapel later. Seriously.
And with the two main indoor features of Windsor toured, we’re free to wander at will. I’m desperate to see the front of the Chapel. I ask a guard: he looks at me with amusement. Well you can’t, says he, unless the chain is down. Hmmmm. Let’s test that theory. No chain! And almost no people! We’re treated to a perfect view of the chapel. Where Harry married Megan. Where Prince Charles commited to Camilla in a private ceremony that was acceptable to his eventual role as the head of the Church of England. Iconic.
We see the Lower Ward, a perfectly intact mediaeval semicircular row of private residences
In an extraordinar bit of luck, we’re able to see the usually private Moat Garden for a small donation to charity. It’s only open in August, and whilst we’ve seen some truly breathtaking rooms, it’s the Moat Garden that’s my favourite. It curves around the Tower and it’s as private as possible in such a public place. It’s here I’m finally free to take all the pictures I want. Tucked under the Tower, it’s a truly secluded spot. Pretty. Fragrant. Meditative in its quiet, it’s a delight. An oasis in the formality that surrounds us. There’s even a poetry nook, just in case you forgot to bring a book of your favourite verse. Love it.
Tip 7: if you’re lucky enough to tour Windsor in August, do not miss the Moat Garden. Oh and on the way to the Moat, we’re treated to a very private and different changing of the guard. That was rather special.
Following a short break for lunch, we see the formal Venus garden.
It’s a little bent by the heat but lovely.
It doesn’t have the cosy feel of the Moat Garden but it’s impressivly formal – topiary, sculpture, avenues, structure. It has it all. And it’s trimmed by hand. Really.
The sculpture of Diana the huntress is a little poignant.
And just like that, it’s over, far quicker than I thought it would be. There’s much of the castle that isn’t on display. Which leads me to Tip 5: Make sure you download a map of the site before you go. It’s surprisingly hard to find on line and without one, you won’t know what you haven’t seen. I learn the hard way that’s there’s one thing I should’ve pre-planned: you can hike the 200+ steps to the top of the Tower, but you have to book in advance. I didn’t and so miss out. Which leads me rather neatly to Tip 6: If you want to climb the Tower, make sure you book it in advance. If you leave it to the day you go, it will booked out.
Himself starts to make end of day noises. Oh no! Have we seen everything? It’s here the value of an onsite map becomes clear. It appears that apart from sprinting up the Tower, we’ve seen all that’s on offer. *Sigh*. I’d happily do it all again. And speaking of that here’s Tip 8: Before you leave, take your printed ticket to the ticket office and they will turn it into a year long pass, leaving you free to return as frequently as you fancy in the next 12 months. If you booked on line, the ticket office will print your tickets for you – you will need to exit the castle then re enter through the ticket office to arrange this. There’s a seperate lane to do so so there’s no waiting.
Outside the village of Windsor awaits. Established originally to service the Castle, today it’s hosting an art display – on elephants! I rather like this one, decorated with local wildlife.
I attempt to extend the day to a viewing of The Long Walk, but the heat has really taken its toll here. It’s a shadow of its former self. Undulating brown vs its usual emerald green. Time to call it ask day I think.
We spend a second day exploring Windsor. Our last failed attempt led us in to Eaton – one can take a guided tour of the College usually, but today it’s closed for maintenance work. Fair enough too. I’ve managed school sites – you have to take your opportunities where you can. Instead we wander the streets instead taking in village life. It’s quite extraordinary to think that there’s a thousand years of history in these streets. Windsor is a surprisingly small place – the castle looms overhead from most streets.
We eventual settle for lunch at The Boathouse, Windsor’s only Thames adjacent pub. It’s a pleasant meal but the view is unbeatable. The company isn’t bad either…
Lunch is followed by a stroll along the Thames path, a relaxing and peaceful and to the day. Annual pass firmly in hand I hope to return to Windsor before we’re done with England.
So thrilled that we’ve made it to Windsor at last.
Miss Baci Travels 