Stay near a castle

Where to stay near Windsor Castle

No, you cannot stay overnight at Windsor Castle. It is a working royal residence, still used by the King for official duties, and the Royal Collection Trust's visitor information covers day visits to the State Apartments and St George's Chapel only, with no public accommodation inside the castle.

Castle Hotel Windsor, Windsor

Historic places to stay near Windsor Castle

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Other places to stay near Windsor Castle

These are ordinary hotels, guest houses and apartments close to the castle, not historic buildings. They are here for convenience.

The castle and the places to stay around it.

Map tiles from OpenStreetMap.

About Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle in Berkshire is a working royal residence. William the Conqueror chose the site above the River Thames on the edge of a Saxon hunting ground and built the original castle in the 1070s, according to the Royal Family's own website.

Later monarchs rebuilt and extended it. Henry II rebuilt the Round Tower and outer walls in stone in the 1170s, Edward III added St George's Hall in the 1360s, and George IV had buildings refashioned in Gothic style with the architect Jeffry Wyatville in the 1820s.

The castle has been in continuous use for nearly 1,000 years and remains an official residence of the King, hosting investitures, state visits and receptions. Visitors can access the State Apartments and St George's Chapel, but the castle is not open for overnight stays.

Visiting Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is open to the public all year round, according to the Royal Family's own website, though exact opening times and any closures for state occasions are set by the Royal Collection Trust, which manages visits (at the time of checking, September 2026).

Questions

Can you stay overnight at Windsor Castle?

No. Windsor Castle is a working royal residence used by the King for official duties, and no part of it is offered as public overnight accommodation. Visitors can only take day visits arranged through the Royal Collection Trust, which manages ticketing and opening times.

Who owns Windsor Castle?

Windsor Castle is a royal residence and forms part of the Crown Estate held by the Sovereign. It is looked after for visits by the Royal Collection Trust, and the King continues to use it as an official residence, according to the Royal Family's own website.

How old is Windsor Castle?

The original castle was built in the 1070s by William the Conqueror, according to the Royal Family's website, making it nearly 1,000 years old. It has been rebuilt and extended by many monarchs since, including Henry II, Edward III and George IV.

Is Windsor Castle open all year?

Yes. The Royal Family's own website states the castle is open to the public all year round, though it may close at short notice for state occasions, so check the Royal Collection Trust's site before visiting (at the time of checking, September 2026).

Sources and checks

We checked these sources for this page. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

  • royal.uk: history, founders, role as working residence, year-round opening, no overnight accommodation

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