Your Complete Guide to Windsor Carriage Rides: Everything You Need to Know
Welcome to Windsor Carriages, where we've been sharing our passion for Windsor's rich heritage for generations. As a family business, we're delighted to answer your most pressing questions about our experiences. Let's embark on a journey through the most common queries to help you plan your perfect Windsor adventure.
1. How long does a typical carriage ride last?
Our classic Windsor Carriage Heritage Rides last approximately 30 minutes, travelling on The Long Walk, in front of Windsor Castle, covering just under a mile, with stunning views of Windsor Castle and into Windsor Great Park.
Experience a peaceful journey away from the hustle and bustle of the town center, as your knowledgeable local guide shares fascinating insights and stories while you relax in our beautifully maintained carriage, complete with comfortable seating and cozy blankets, all while taking in stunning views of Windsor Castle and the surrounding parkland, accompanied by the gentle rhythmic clip-clop of hooves.
These rides can be shortened to 15-20 minutes for our group and corporate event visitors. The perfect Christmas party addition or summer specatacular work do.
For tailored day itineraries from 1 to 4 day visits head to our tailored to you page.
How much is a carriage ride?
For our iconic heritage shared rides, available to book online with the windsor box office , pricing is £99 per adult, with children riding free. These rides provide a scenic and memorable introduction to Windsor's Long Walk and castle views, shared with fellow guests for a unique experience. Alternatively, our private carriage hire allows you to enjoy the full carriage with your group for £396, perfect for special occasions. Heritage carriage rides operate on scheduled mornings and advance booking is required.
In addition to these, we offer bespoke, tailored experiences designed for those seeking a fully personalized, immersive journey through Windsor’s heritage. These custom experiences vary based on your itinerary, and may include private car transfers, exclusive access to Windsor venues, boat hire, Blue Badge guides, and more. Each experience is crafted to your interests, ensuring an unforgettable day in Windsor.
Our guests say;
'Absolutely loved our horse and carriage ride down the Long Walk. The views of the castle were spectacular. We fell in love with Joey the beautiful horse and John and Rebecca were just great! Certainly the highlight of our trip to Windsor.'
3. Where can we find the carriages? Is there a hackney carriage stand in Windsor like in New York or Vienna?
Unfortunately, no. The Victorian taxi rank where our carriages once waited for walk-up Windsor carriage rides for over 100 years closed over a decade ago.
We've had to adapt our operations due to various changes in the area, including the loss of our nearby stables to development and the pedestrianisation of the town. Our operation and staff travel by horsebox, car and transporter into the town on each day which is advance booked allowing for excellent management of our horses workload. Our horses do and will always come first. Read more on our welfare page.
However, these changes have led us to evolve our services leading us to focus our time on creating tailored experiences. A deliberate shift of the workload from the horses to humans in our efforts to keep this 175-year-old business surviving! We do the planning, organising, storytelling, and creating of the perfect day, while the horses swoop in for their moment of stardom as the main attraction, for a short limited time.
For our Heritage rides on The Long Walk, we provide a PDF with detailed instructions on how to find us. We also use the What3Words app to pinpoint our location in the park, as we don't have a traditional postcode.
For our tailored experiences our carriages collect you from your hotel or the Castle itself.
Your coachman and guide pictured right.
4. What is the guard change? Is it similar to Buckingham palace? When is it scheduled?
The Changing the Guard ceremony is a must-see in Windsor. It is a centuries-old tradition where the Old Guard hands over responsibility for protecting Windsor Castle to the New Guard. Accompanied by a military band, this formal and visually striking ceremony showcases the precision and loyalty of the Household Division, the elite soldiers who protect royal residences.
Dating back to the 17th century, the ceremony began as a necessary security measure and has evolved into a proud display of British pageantry. Visitors can watch as the guards, march through Windsor and exchange duties in the Lower Ward of the Castle. It's a must-see spectacle that brings history to life!The guards march from Victoria Barracks, up the High Street, and into Windsor Castle. The best spots to watch are Windsor High Street or the Corn Exchange under Windsor Guildhall.
To see the actual ceremony, you'll need a ticket to Windsor Castle.
5. Do you operate all year round? What about at night?
Yes, we offer Windsor carriage rides throughout the year. Each season presents Windsor's beauty in a unique light, from spring blossoms to winter's frosty charm. During the festive season, we dress our carriages with Christmas decorations, complete with jingle bells for a truly magical experience.
While we may adjust our schedule during extreme weather conditions for safety reasons, we strive to operate consistently. For the latest updates on our Christmas rides, sign up for our newsletter.
Evening rides require special permissions, but we're always happy to explore possibilities for our guests. Just ask, and we'll see what we can arrange!
6. Are your carriages suitable for children and elderly passengers?
Our carriages are designed to accommodate passengers of all ages. Over the last 70 years, we've had the pleasure of hosting guests from 3 weeks to 103 years old!
We have steps and assistance available to help with boarding, and our experienced drivers ensure a smooth, comfortable ride for everyone. For accessibility, we recommend that guests can bear weight on one leg while lifting the other 30cm from the ground while holding onto something.
Windsor Carriages is committed to being an inclusive and understanding environment for children and adults with unpredictable physical movements and sounds. To learn more about our commitment to accessibility, please visit our accessibility page.
7. What should I wear for my carriage ride?
We recommend dressing for the weather, as our carriages are open to the elements. In cooler months, bring a warm jacket – we also provide cozy blankets for your comfort. For summer rides, don't forget your sunglasses and sunscreen!
Comfortable shoes is a must as there is plenty of walking in our beatuful town and traditional cobble stones so heels should be avoided!
If rain is forecast, we can add clear sides to the carriage to ensure complete protection without compromising your view of Windsor's beautiful scenery.
8. How far in advance should I book?
We recommend booking at least a few months in advance, especially during peak tourist season (summer months and holidays). If you are visiting specifically for our 30 minute Heritage Windsor Carriage Rides we highly recommend planning your visit around our published ride dates.
9. Can I book a carriage for a special occasion?
Absolutely! We specialise in creating bespoke experiences for weddings, anniversaries, proposals, and other special events. We are just working on a new blog for how you can do this yourself, self organised!
10. Do you offer gift vouchers or certificates for Christmas, birthdays or special occasion?
Yes! We have Christmas and birthday or special occasion gift vouchers available on the website you can download and gift along with the Box office ticket purchased online. Super simple and a gift our guests describe as an 'absolutely wonderful experience..."
The Heritage of Horse-Drawn Carriage Travel
Horse-drawn carriage rides and tours are far more than a nostalgic tourist attraction - they represent a living connection to centuries-old traditions deeply woven into Britain's cultural fabric. Each clip-clop of hooves against cobblestones echoes through time, offering a glimpse into how people once experienced their world at a gentler pace.
The preservation of traditional carriage experiences helps maintain vital heritage skills that might otherwise be lost - from the intricate art of carriage driving to specialized horse care, and the increasingly rare craftsmanship needed to maintain these historic vehicles. Each tour supports a network of dedicated professionals who keep these traditions alive, from farriers to carriage makers, ensuring these skills pass to future generations.
If your heart is set on experiencing this timeless mode of transport, this wonderful website has compiled a comprehensive list of operators nationwide, each offering their own unique perspective on Britain's carriage-driving heritage. Through their work, we ensure that future generations can not only read about historical travel but experience it firsthand.
We hope this guide answers your top questions about Windsor Carriages. We're always happy to share our knowledge and passion for Windsor with you. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to reach out.
We can't wait to welcome you aboard for a truly majestic journey through Windsor!
As a family business deeply rooted in Windsor's history, we're committed to providing you with an authentic and unforgettable royal experience. Pictured below Rebecca Seear, licensee, custodian and daughter of the previous Windsor Coachman with Windsor coachman Jonathan Edwards with his family, wife Shelby and their daughters Bonnie, Truly and Rosalie. x
