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Windsor Castle Guards (copyright Gill Heppell)

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Things to do when Windsor Castle is closed

Windsor Castle is one of the big reasons for a visit to Windsor. However the Castle is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday and may close at short notice at other times. It may be one of the UK’s top visitor attractions but it is also an official home of King Charles III, a working palace and often the location of private events such as royal investitures.

Fortunately, there are lots of other things to do in Windsor town centre when the Castle is closed and you may just discover a hidden gem! Here are our top things to do when the Castle is closed.

1. Guided town walks – discover Windsor’s amazing history on a guided walking tour with one of our Blue Badge Guides. You may not be able to go inside the Castle on a Tuesday and Wednesday but our guides will tell you all about its influence on Windsor’s development and will show you around the oldest parts of the town.

2. Self-guided walks – Explore Windsor and Eton at your own pace via the Queen’s Walkway or Eton Walkway by following the circular markers in the towns’ pavements.

3. Escape Room Experiences – immerse yourself in the interactive world of an escape room! Find puzzles and solve clues in order to escape! We have two escape room companies to choose from in Windsor town centre: Escape in 60 and Windsor Escape Experience.

3. Take to the river – River Thames passenger boat trips run daily subject to river conditions or why not jump on the Windsor Duck, an amphibious vehicle that lets you enjoy both road and river! Check out our Thames Trail page for more inspiration.

4. Open top bus tour – Golden Tours' carefully-designed route journeys through Windsor, Eton and Datchet ensuring visitors see all the must-see sights the area has to offer.

5. Horse-drawn carriage – slow down the pace and experience the wonder of Windsor Great Park by horse-drawn carriage with Windsor Carriages. Book on to a scheduled trip or create a bespoke experience.

6. Windsor & Royal Borough Museum – Windsor & Royal Borough Museum is a family-friendly museum bursting with interesting facts and interactive displays of East Berkshire (open Tuesdays only).

7. Guided tour of Windsor Guildhall – Join a guided tour of Windsor Guildhall and walk in the footsteps of royalty to learn more about the history of this Grade I listed building and its importance to Windsor’s local heritage.

8. Theatre Royal Windsor – Windsor's Theatre Royal is a beautiful Edwardian theatre nestled between Windsor Castle and the River Thames. Look out for midweek matinees.

9. Watch the Guard March – this is one of the town’s top sightseeing things to do and watching the King's guard up close is unique to Windsor! The march to and from the Castle takes place in the morning on specific days of the week so make sure you check out the Guard March schedule to avoid disappointment.

10. Windsor Great Park – Access the Long Walk from Windsor’s Park Street and suddenly thousands of acres of Windsor Great Park lie before you: an ancient royal landscape of forests, grasslands, lakes and gardens just waiting to be explored!

11. Enjoy the tradition of Afternoon Tea – Us Brits love the combination of savoury and sweet treats, accompanied by some of the 165 million cups of tea we drink each day in the UK and there are few traditions more deliciously decadent than Afternoon Tea. Town centre hotels offering Afternoon Tea menus include The Castle Hotel Windsor, Macdonald Windsor Hotel and Sir Christopher Wren Hotel. Or perhaps reserve a table near the window of The Ivy on the Windsor's High Street and you will have a view of Windsor Castle as you spread the jam and cream on to your scones!

12. Windsor & Eton Brewery tour – On alternate Wednesdays (at 1830) you can join a Duke Street Experience Brewery tour and learn all about the history of Windsor & Eton Brewery, brewing in the town, the brewing process, including tasting of raw materials and, of course, beer tasting!

13. Shopping – with two pedestrianised shopping centres, recognised high street brands as well as a sprinkling of independent stores, shopping really is a great reason to come to Windsor and Eton town centres. There are lots of food and drink stops for refuelling too.

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
59 reviews
Eton College Natural History Museum

Windsor

Eton’s hidden gem, this family friendly museum is Berkshire’s only dedicated natural history museum. It houses over 16,000 specimens in atmospheric Edwardian surroundings and has something for all the family.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
60 reviews
Windsor Tourist Guides Ltd

Windsor

Windsor Tourist Guides Ltd - a multi-award winning company based in Royal Windsor offering private guided tours of Windsor Castle and St George's Chapel and walking tours of Windsor.
Bobbie Blue Badge

Windsor

Cheerful and experienced multi-lingual Blue Badge guide operating in the Thames and Chilterns and specialising in Windsor, Windsor Castle, Henley-on-Thames, Oxford and other Thames-side towns. In addition to traditional walking and coach tours…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
64 reviews
Windsor & Royal Borough Museum

Windsor

The Windsor and Royal Borough Museum is a family friendly museum bursting with interesting facts and interactive displays of East Berkshire.
External Links
- Click here for your AccessAble Access Guide
Visions of History

Windsor

Blue Badge guided tours of Windsor and the surrounding area.
Windsor & Maidenhead Boat Company

Maidenhead

Welcome to the Windsor & Maidenhead Boat Company, where we are dedicated to crafting memorable experiences for visitors to the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. Our flagship vessel, the Georgian, transcends the traditional concept of a boat,…
1-day Family Windsor Itinerary

Windsor

Itinerary suggestions if you are in Windsor with your family for the day!
Eton College's Museums and Galleries

Eton, Windsor

Eton College looks after thousands of historic, artistic and natural objects, and welcome visitors to our public museums and galleries.
External Links
- Click here for your AccessAble Access Guide to the Natural History Museum
- Click here for your AccessAble Access Guide to the Museum of Eton Life
Thames Charters

Windsor

Thames Charters is a Windsor boat hire, rental and charter specialist. Our 40ft luxury yacht ‘Domani’ is available for fully skippered private hire daily from 1 hour to a full day.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
136 reviews
Maidenhead Heritage Centre

Maidenhead

Fly a Spitfire simulator at this local museum which covers local history from the Romans to Racing Cars!
LaplandUK

Ascot

Lapland 2023 is now sold out! Are you ready for the most magical, mystical, Elftastic day of your lives? Based in Berkshire, LaplandUK is a festive family phenomenon hidden within The Crown Estate.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
25 reviews
The Old Court

Windsor

The Old Court is a vibrant arts centre with an event programme that features an eclectic mix of live music, drama, comedy and film, and a bar run by Windsor & Eton Brewery.
External Links
- Click here for your AccessAble Access Guide
5-day Family Windsor Itinerary

Windsor

Suggested 5-day itinerary if you are in Windsor for a short break.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
92 reviews
Ascot Carriages

Horse-drawn carriage rides in Windsor Great Park, departing The Savill Garden Visitor Centre, The Savill Garden, 4 miles from Windsor Castle. Enjoy this beautiful area from a different perspective.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
471 reviews
Windsor Escape Experience

Windsor

Windsor Escape Experience is a family run Escape Room company based in the centre of Windsor. We design and build all of our unique escape rooms to maximise originality and enjoyment!
Canoe & Kayak Adventures

Windsor

Experience one of the UK's most visited sites from a whole new perspective, from river level. With the magical backdrop of the Royal Town of Windsor and Windsor Castle, we specialise in guided canoe and kayak tours on the River Thames.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
252 reviews
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts

Maidenhead

Maidenhead’s only purpose built entertainment venue – offering gigs, comedy, films and more! With a licensed Café Bar for lunch, dinner or just drinks with friends.
2-day Family Windsor Itinerary

Windsor

Lucky enough to have two days to get a taste of wonderful Windsor and Eton? Then read on for some ideas as to how to get the most out of your time in our lovely town.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
194 reviews
Stanley Spencer Gallery

Maidenhead

The Stanley Spencer Gallery is situated in the heart of Cookham, the picturesque ‘village in heaven’ where Spencer was born and painted for most of his life.
2-day Classic Windsor Itinerary

Windsor

Coming to Windsor for a couple of days? Check out our suggested 2-day itinerary.