After clsosing its doors following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Windsor Castle has reopened to visitors today (September 29)
The popular Berkshire attraction has long been a fascination for royal fans, as not only is Windsor Castle open at times to the public, but it was home to Her Majesty and husband Prince Philip during their last years.
Both are now buried in the castle’s King George VI Memorial Chapel, alongside Her Majesty’s parents and sister Princess Margaret.
If you’re keen to visit soon, you won’t be alone – but many will have to work the £25+ entry fee into their usual budget.
So, is it possible to secure cheaper tickets?
From Sunday to Friday, one adult entry ticket to Windsor Castle costs £26.50, or on Saturdays £28.50.
Tickets for disabled people cost £14.50 from Sunday to Friday, going up by £1 on Saturdays.
Those aged 18 to 24 get a cheaper standard rate of £17.50 – paying £18.50 on Saturdays, while tickets for children aged 5 to 17 cost £14.50 or £15.50. Under 5s go free.
Tickets can be bought directly via the Royal Collection Trust website.
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Sadly, there aren’t many options for cheap tickets to Windsor Castle for everyone, but some can save on the entry free – while local residents can get in totally for free.
And if you’ve been once, you can visit again for free within a set period of time, too…
If you live in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, you can get in to Windsor Castle for free.
Residents who pay council tax can apply for a yellow Advantage Card, which provides free entry to Windsor Castle – as well as discounts to Savill Garden, Legoland Windsor and other leisure activities in the area.
Submit an application via the Royal Borough’s council website.
Children can also get an Advantage Cards, as soon as they are old enough to pay for leisure activities.
Entry to Windsor Castle is usually included in the cost of the London Pass.
Essentially, this is a card ideal for tourists, which you pay a one-off fee for and in return get entry into a range of London (or nearby) attractions.
These include The View from the Shard, the Tower Bridge, the London Bridge Experience, Cutty Sark, Kew Gardens, the Royal Observatory Greenwich and a host of museums, football tours, boat trips, sightseeing bus trips, among many others (though not the London Eye).
Royal attractions The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Kensington Palace, Royal Mews and The Queen’s Gallery are also included (though not Buckingham Palace).
If you’re keen to visit lots of these places, it may be more cost effective overall to buy the Pass than to pay roughly £20 to £30 a pop for each experience per person.
However, ensure you’ll definitely be making a saving on entry fees before you purchase – and keep in mind that the Pass works on a credit system, and isn’t totally unlimited.
At the time of writing, the London Pass costs £76 for one adult for one day, £98 for two days or £115 for three days – with options for trips lasting up to 10 days up to £170. You can find out more here.
If you’re travelling with more than one child, you’ll be given a family discount upon checking out.
This will apply to ‘bookings of at least one adult and two children, up to two adults and four children’ – saving up to £22 on entry per family. And remember, under 5s also go free.
Get the discount by booking your slot directly through the Royal Collection Trust (RCT) website.
If you booked directly through the RCT website, you can turn your admission ticket into a one-year pass.
You’ll need to fill in your name and sign your ticket, and have it stamped and validated on your way out, in order to use it again in the next 12 months – during the Castle’s usual public opening times.
Your one-year pass can then be shown on arrival (with proof of signature, such as ID), granting you complimentary entry next time you visit, or used when pre-booking.
For more on how it works, visit the RCT’s FAQ page.
So, though you do pay full entry price for your first visit, you’ll at least get some extra value from your ticket.
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