Things to Do in Windsor in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
April Weather in Windsor
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
57°F (14°C)
High Temp
39°F (4°C)
Low Temp
0.1 inches (3 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Near-freezing temperatures, pack warm layers
Is April Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Garden daffodils and tulips reach their peak along the Long Walk to Windsor Castle - the flower beds under the Round Tower erupt in yellow and purple ribbons that photographers dream of
- + Café terraces along Peascod Street finally set out chairs again. Locals linger over flat whites in real daylight instead of huddling indoors
- + Castle State Apartments stay open until 17:30 rather than the winter 16:15 - that extra 75 minutes matters when you're watching the sun angle hit St George's Chapel just right
- + Boat hire starts on the Thames between Windsor and Eton. The water's still moving fast from spring rains but rowers have the river mostly to themselves
Considerations
- − Easter weekend crowds pack the castle queues - security screening alone can swallow 45 minutes of your morning
- − April mornings often start at 4°C (39°F) with a damp wind that slices through denim, then leap to 13°C (55°F) by lunch - you'll carry that extra layer all day
- − Changing of the Guard happens at 11:00 on odd days only through April, not the daily ceremony tourists expect
Best Activities in April
Top things to do during your visit
Thames Riverside Cycling Routes
April's mild afternoons hit that sweet spot where cycling gloves are optional but you're not sweating through your shirt. The towpath from Windsor to Bray stays firm after winter's mud, and riverside pubs like the Bells of Ouzeley open their beer gardens - good for watching swans glide past while nursing a half-pint.
Booking Tip: Rent bikes from the station kiosks before 10am - afternoon availability tends to vanish when day-trippers arrive. See current cycling tour options in the booking section below.
Windsor Castle Early Access Tours
April light streams through St George's Chapel windows around 9:30 AM, casting those famous rainbow patterns across the stone floor - the kind of moment that makes photographers elbow each other. Early entry tours get you inside before the main gates open, important during April when school groups start queueing at 9:45.
Booking Tip: Book 7-10 days ahead online - castle limits early access numbers to 50 people per morning. Check the booking widget for current early-bird Windsor Castle tours.
Eton College Rowing Experience
The college's famous rowing lake opens to visitors in April when crews prep for summer regattas. You can rent wooden boats from the Callow's Yard boathouse and paddle past the same Victorian boathouses where Olympic crews train - the water's mirror-calm at 7 AM, broken only by oar splashes and coxswain calls.
Booking Tip: Morning sessions fill with local rowing clubs after 9 AM. Book the evening slot for golden hour photos with Windsor Castle reflected in the water.
Windsor Great Park Photography Walks
April's low angle sun hits the copper beech trees in the Deer Park around 18:00, turning the entire avenue into a tunnel of glowing orange light. The resident deer are shedding winter coats and look almost bronze against the fresh green grass - serious photographers plan their walks for this specific light.
Booking Tip: Join guided photography walks that start at 17:00 and end at sunset. These typically run Tuesday-Saturday through April - see current Windsor photography tour options below.
Traditional English Afternoon Tea Experiences
April's tea rooms have fresh asparagus sandwiches and rhubarb tarts - seasonal additions you won't find other months. The Clarence Brasserie sources rhubarb from their Windsor garden, and the tart's sharpness cuts through clotted cream in ways summer strawberries never manage.
Booking Tip: Afternoon tea slots book 2-3 days ahead on weekends. Look for packages that include castle entry tickets - see current Windsor afternoon tea tours in the booking section.
Where to Stay in Windsor in April
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for April travellers.
April Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early April
Windsor Festival
Chamber music concerts inside Eton College's 15th-century chapel with acoustics that make violin strings sound like they're breathing. The festival brings string quartets who normally sell out Royal Albert Hall to intimate 300-seat venues where you can hear every bow stroke.
Late April
Royal Windsor Horse Show
Top-hatted riders compete in the castle's private grounds - the only time civilians get to wander areas normally reserved for the Queen's horses. The dressage events happen right below the Round Tower with castle walls as backdrop.
Packing Checklist
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View Windsor Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The castle's Quadrangle café serves the same scones as outside tea rooms but at half the price - locals know to grab them at 3 PM when fresh batches come out
Park at the Alexandra Gardens multi-story instead of castle parking - it's cheaper and the 10-minute riverside walk to the castle beats sitting in car queues
Windsor & Eton brewery tours run Friday afternoons with tastings that include April's seasonal ale - the kind of local experience most tourists miss
The Long Walk shuts at dusk for deer feeding - if you're photographing sunset, position yourself near the copper horse statue by 19:30 before they herd visitors out
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming Changing of the Guard happens daily - in April it's every other day and starts at 11:00 sharp, not the 10:45 some guides claim
Booking castle entry for Monday when State Apartments close for official functions - always check the Royal Collection website the day before
Trying to walk from Windsor to Eton across the footbridge at high tide - the path floods and you'll backtrack 15 minutes to the road bridge
Book Experiences in Windsor
Top-rated things to do in Windsor this April
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