Things to Do in Windsor in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Windsor
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
38°F (3°C)
High Temp
27°F (-3°C)
Low Temp
0.1 inches (3 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Near-freezing temperatures, pack warm layers
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December only. The Castle After Dark walks light up Windsor Castle after the day crowds leave, then hand you mulled wine at the Two Brewers pub. Zero queues. Worth it.
- + Christmas markets line the Thames with wooden chalets, hog roast rolls, and Windsor Knot ale brewed down the road. Follow the smoke. Eat everything.
- + Hotel rates drop 30-40% after December 26th. Decorations stay up through New Year's. You keep the sparkle, ditch the sting.
- + Frogmore House opens for winter tours when frost coats the gardens. The frozen lake mirrors the Gothic chapel better than any filter. Book fast.
Considerations
- − Daylight shrinks to 7h 48min. Last castle entry is 3:15pm. The Long Walk is black by 4:30pm. Race the sun.
- − The Royal Mews and Queen Mary's Dolls' House lock their doors December 24-26. Tick them off another time.
- − Weekend trains from London fill with shoppers. After 10am Saturdays from Paddington you stand. Board earlier.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Thames Riverside Christmas Market Walks
December air along the river smells of cinnamon almonds and wood smoke from Eton Christmas Market stalls. The 3km (1.9-mile) loop from Windsor Bridge to Romney Lock glows until 9pm, letting you dodge castle crowds and still catch frost on the Windsor Eye Ferris wheel cabins.
Booking Tip: Go solo anytime. Want a Victorian lamp-lit tale? Book a Blue Badge guide 48h ahead. Widget below.
Windsor Castle Early-Access Tours
The 9am December slot feels private. Overnight fog clings to cobblestones. Your breath clouds beneath Henry VIII's gateway. By 10:30am the buses roll in. You already own St George's Hall and the Crimson Drawing Room tree, no elbows in sight.
Booking Tip: Reserve the first slot a week out. Timed tickets vanish once hotel packages hit the market.
Great Park Winter Pedicab Rides
The 8km (5-mile) Long Walk bites when wind scythes across 500 acres. Pedicabs supply tartan blankets and hot-water bottles. December light turns gold by 2pm. Good for that castle postcard shot framed by bare limes.
Booking Tip: Drivers wait by the castle gates. Agree on time, 20min loop is normal. Confirm blankets are thrown in.
River Thames Heated Boat Cruises
The 40-minute cruise to Runnymede sails year-round. December boats crank up under-floor heat and hand out mince pies. Mist curls off 8°C (46°F) water, turning castle ramparts medieval. Kingfishers still blaze orange because the Thames never freezes.
Booking Tip: Afternoon sailings put sunset behind the battlements. Boats leave from the promenade opposite Theatre Royal.
Eton High Street Antique & Book Browsing
Step across the footbridge into Eton. Georgian shops pump coal heat and the scent of old paper. Antique map dealers and 180-year-old tailors shut Sundays. Weekday mornings are hushed and owners explain why an 1870 ordnance survey is a vanished castle moat.
Booking Tip: Just walk in. Start at Barnes & Mullins (stationers since 1898) and head north toward college chapel for a 1.2km (0.7-mile) loop.
Where to Stay in Windsor in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Late November through early January
Windsor Christmas Lights Switch-On
Peascod Street and the castle precinct ignite the third Thursday of November. LEDs blaze until 5 January. Choirs sing from the Guildhall balcony. The mayor hands out free toffee apples. Arrive 6:30pm for front-row calm.
23 December
Royal Carol Service at St George's Chapel
Public seats for the 23 December service drop in October and vanish in days. Fan vaulting, candles, and a 22-carat gold altar front deliver goosebumps regardless of faith.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Windsor Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Locals hit The Two Brewers at 11:45am for Sunday roast. Show up 11:30am, order Guardsman, they'll text when your table's free.
Thames Street meters flip to free after 6pm. Most visitors miss the switch and pay elsewhere.
Get your castle ticket stamped at the exit. It becomes a 12-month pass for loo breaks or coffee runs without repaying.
The best angle of the Quadrangle Christmas tree is from the first-floor ladies' loo window in the visitor centre. No ticket needed.
If rain cancels the Changing of the Guard (30% of December days), the Band still marches from Victoria Barracks at 10:45am. Follow down Sheet Street for free tunes and shots.
Avoid These Mistakes
Skip the 3:15pm castle slot. Staff herd you out by 4pm and start shutting the State Apartments at 3:45pm.
Leave stilettos at home. Frost slicks the medieval cobbles. Security logs an ankle twist every hour.
Uber drivers vanish after 10pm. The last train to London departs at 11:18pm. Pre-book a Windsor cab or shiver on the curb.
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Top-rated things to do in Windsor this December
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