Windsor Castle is situated at the top of a steep hill. You have to walk uphill from the High Street to the Admission Centre and then uphill again when you are in the Castle grounds.
Please be aware that although the access road to the Admission Centre is pedestrianised, there will still be vehicles driving up and down, so caution is required.
The walk to the State Apartments, from the Admission Centre, is uphill with limited seating along the way. There are several sets of steps, but alternative step-free access is available.
There are 9 stone steps up to the entrance door.
Then a further 11 steps once you are inside. After the first seven steps, shown below, there is a landing area.
If you require step-free access at this point there is a platform lift on the North Terrace. The lift is operated by Castle staff, a Warden is positioned at the top and the bottom of the lift. The lift measures 232cm wide x 145cm long.
Once you are inside, in the Inner Hall, there are then six steps down to the State Entrance.
Step-free access to the State Entrance is via a second platform lift, which measures 95cm x 139cm and has a weight limit of 500kg.
There are then a further 28 steps in the Grand Staircase which leads to the State Apartments.
Step-free access to the State Apartments is by a lift, next to the Cloakroom, in the Inner Hall. The lift is managed by Castle Wardens. This lift measures 137cm x 100cm and has a weight limit of 630kg.
St George's Chapel
There are 3 stone steps into St George’s Chapel.
An alternative entrance without steps is available, please ring the bell at the main Chapel entrance. Inside the Chapel there are six sets of steps (minimum 1 step, maximum 3 steps) all of which have access ramps. A one-way route is in operation through the Chapel.
Wheelchairs and lift
Manual wheelchairs and rollators (wheeled walking aids with a seat) are available to borrow free of charge on a first come, first served basis, for the duration of your visit. Motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be used in the precinct areas, and are permitted inside the Castle provided they are compatible with the lifts.
The main lift, to access the State Apartments, measures 137cm deep and 100cm and has a weight limit of 630kg.
Wheelchair and Mobility Scooter rental
You can visit Windsor Castle with the support of Shopmobility, a scheme based in Windsor town centre, where you can hire mobility equipment to assist your needs. Please check the People to Places website for further details about wheelchair and mobility scooter rental. Free parking, in the Alma Road Car Park, is available when hiring from People to Places. Please be aware that you may be asked to transfer from a mobility scooter into a Castle wheelchair to access some areas of the Castle.
Flooring and surfaces
Most rooms are carpeted with thick pile carpet or polished wooden floors.
St George's Chapel has stone floors. In some outside areas the ground is cobbled and uneven. As Windsor Castle is an historic building, the floors may be uneven and you should take care.
Respite seating
Limited seating is available in the State Apartments upon request and seating is available in the Nave of St George’s Chapel.
Visitors are welcome to use walking sticks or folding stools with seat attachments, provided that they have rubber stoppers.
Assistance animals
Assistance animals are welcome. We recommend that if possible animals wear a jacket or lead slip to identify them as working.
Staff reserve the right to ask visitors to remove their animal if it is deemed not to be behaving appropriately. Arrangements will then be made for the visitor to return without their animal. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Shops
There are four shops at Windsor Castle, they are located in the Middle Ward, the Billiards Room, the China Museum and St George’s Chapel. There is an ice cream van on the North Terrace. All shops are on one level and accessible, with stone or carpet flooring. Middle Ward shop is the largest shop with easy access and plenty of room to manoeuvre. There are clear routes through all the shops.
In St George's Chapel, the Cloister shop is on a level, with a one-way route. There is stone flooring and both till points have low sections for wheelchair users.
Toilets
Accessible toilets are located as you exit the Security Hall, on the North Terrace and off the Inner Hall.
The North Terrace toilet requires a RADAR key, please ask a Warden if you do not have your own key. A Changing Places toilet is available in Engine Court, a RADAR key is required, please ask the Warden in the Courtyard if you do not have a key.
Parking and transport
There is no parking available at Windsor Castle. The nearest disabled parking bays are located on the High Street outside the Harte & Garter hotel and Nandos. An additional space is located on Park Street. The Castle Admission Centre is a short, uphill, walk away. For further information please see map and directions. Visit the Windsor website for details of parking in Windsor.
Undercroft Café
Refreshments are available in the Undercroft Café. Platform lifts are available to access the Café.
