Windsor Castle closes 24 to 26 December and opens on two Tuesdays it normally shuts, 22 and 29 December. Festive weekend 12 and 13 Dec, adults £32 in advance.
Windsor Castle is closed from Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 December 2026, and otherwise open five days a week through the winter. Over the holidays it adds two Tuesdays, 22 and 29 December, when it would normally be shut. Winter hours run from 10am, with last admission at 3pm, from 1 November to 28 February (Royal Collection Trust).
The quick answer
- Closed 24, 25 and 26 December. Normally closed every Tuesday and Wednesday, but open Tuesday 22 and Tuesday 29 December.
- Festive Weekend: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December, Victorian Christmas activities, included in the ticket.
- Adults £32 booked ahead, £36 on the day; children 5 to 17 half price.
Opening days and times this winter
| Opening time | Last admission | Closing time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 November to 28 February | 10am | 3pm | 4.15pm |
| 1 March to 31 October | 10am | 4pm | 5.15pm |
- Open Thursday to Monday. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except 22 and 29 December.
- Castle closed Monday 19 October, and St George’s Hall and the Semi-State Rooms closed on 17 and 18 October.
- Castle closed Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 December.
- The Semi-State Rooms reopen from Thursday 1 October 2026 to Monday 22 March 2027, so a winter visit includes them.
- St George’s Chapel is not part of the visit on Sundays, when it is open only for worship, and it closes at 12pm on Monday 7 December.
The castle is a working palace and can close at short notice; the Royal Collection Trust posts closures on its visit page, so check on the morning you go (Royal Collection Trust).
Tickets
| Ticket | Booked ahead | On the day |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £32.00 | £36.00 |
| Young person, 18 to 24 | £21.00 | £24.00 |
| Child, 5 to 17 | £16.00 | £18.00 |
| Disabled person | £16.00 | £18.00 |
| Under 5, access companion | Free | Free |
A multimedia tour is included. £1 tickets are available to people on Universal Credit and other named benefits, and a ticket can be converted to a 1-Year Pass for free re-entry for twelve months (Royal Collection Trust).
What is on at the castle this Christmas
- Windsor Castle Festive Weekend, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December, 10.30am to 3pm. Carols under the tree in the State Apartments, Victorian food demonstrations, storytelling, community choirs in St George’s Hall, organ music in St George’s Chapel and candle-making in the nave. Included in the ticket (Royal Collection Trust).
- Festive Family Fun, 19 to 31 December, 10am to 2.30pm on open days. Free Victorian Christmas crafts, dressing up and a children’s trail in the Pug Yard Learning Centre (Royal Collection Trust).
- Wreath-making workshops, 12 and 13 December, 10.30am or 2pm. £50 on top of castle admission, adults only, booking essential (Royal Collection Trust).
- Festivo, St George’s Chapel, Monday 7 and Thursday 10 December, 7.30pm. The chapel choir with band musicians, about 85 minutes. Tickets £12 to £40 plus a £1.20 booking fee, on sale from 10am on 6 October 2026 (Visit Windsor).
Outside the walls: Carols on the Hill
The town’s open-air carol service by the Queen Victoria statue on Castle Hill is on Friday 11 December, 6.15pm to 7.30pm, its 77th year. The Band of the Household Cavalry accompanies, and collections go to Emerge Advocacy and the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Lunch Project (Visit Windsor).
More Christmas in Windsor
Windsor Great Park Illuminated runs from 13 November (our Illuminated page), the Theatre Royal pantomime from 20 November (pantomime page), and the fairs and markets are on our Christmas markets page. For trains over the holidays see Christmas trains and travel, and for car parks parking in Windsor.
Still to be confirmed
Festivo booking opens on 6 October. The castle’s Christmas tree and decorations are not yet described for 2026; we will check the Royal Collection Trust again in November.
Have your say