Windsor Castle hosts siege activities from 24 October

Siege-themed family activities at Windsor Castle will run from 24 October to 1 November 2026, giving visitors to Windsor a programme linked to the castle's medieval history.

The activity takes place during the October half-term period and combines art activities with a children's trail. The event listing places the programme in the Pug Yard Learning Centre and around the castle precincts.

Windsor Castle sets out siege activities for 24 October

The programme recalls the siege of the castle more than 800 years ago. Visitors can take part in art activities that explore what it was like when the fortress came under attack, while the trail points out signs of damage that remain visible around the site. The official event listing gives the dates as 24 October 2026 to 1 November 2026 and names Windsor Castle as the venue.

The children's trail adds a route through the castle to the creative activities in the learning centre. That connection makes the event different from a general craft session: the physical setting supplies the historical evidence, while the trail directs attention to the fortress's surviving features.

Windsor Castle connects family art with its medieval past

William the Conqueror began building the castle at Windsor around 1070, and the first construction was completed 16 years later. The fortress stands above the River Thames and on the edge of a former Saxon hunting ground, a position chosen for its relationship to the western approaches to London.

The castle later changed from a military stronghold into a royal palace. Henry II replaced timber walls with stone in the late twelfth century, while Edward III expanded the Upper Ward and created St George's Hall in the fourteenth century. The Royal household history records the castle's successive changes and its continuing role as a working palace.

The October programme therefore places a present-day family activity within a site whose walls, towers and wards preserve several stages of military and royal history. St George's Chapel, the State Apartments and the Round Tower remain among the principal elements visitors encounter, although the family activity itself is centred on the learning centre and wider precincts.

Visiting Windsor Castle: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The siege-themed programme runs at Windsor Castle from 24 October 2026 to 1 November 2026, during the October half-term period.
• The activity is based at the Pug Yard Learning Centre and around the castle precincts, with art activities and a children's trail connected to the siege history.
• Windsor Castle is in Windsor, Berkshire. The nearest stations are Windsor and Eton Central, with trains via Slough, and Windsor and Eton Riverside, with services via London Waterloo.
• The site is at the top of a steep hill, and a visit involves long distances and substantial outdoor areas. The Royal Collection Trust identifies the castle as accessible and provides detailed mobility information.

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Frequently asked questions about Windsor Castle

When do the siege activities take place at Windsor Castle?

The family programme runs from 24 October 2026 to 1 November 2026. It includes art activities and a children's trail.

What is Windsor Castle?

Windsor Castle is a working royal palace founded by William the Conqueror in the eleventh century. It has been home to 40 monarchs and stands above the River Thames in Windsor.

Where is Windsor Castle and how do you get there?

The castle is in Windsor, Berkshire. Rail passengers can use Windsor and Eton Central or Windsor and Eton Riverside.