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 royal carriage 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?
At Windsor Carriages, we offer a range of experiences to suit every preference and schedule:
Our classic Windsor Carriage Heritage Rides last approximately 30 minutes, travelling on The Long Walk, covering just under a mile, with stunning views of Windsor Castle.
Available on advance dates with options for shared or private carriage rides. As part of our commitment to preserving heritage and supporting our community, we offer one free child place (under 16) for every two paying adults. Infants under 24 months can ride on laps.
Heritage Rides operate on a cost recovery basis only, with surplus proceeds donated to local charities and funding our schools programme. These rides can be shortened to 20 minutes for our group and corporate event visitors.
Our most popular tailored carriage ride option is a 90-minute ride covering up to 6 miles. This journey starts in Windsor Town, where we can collect you from your chosen location, such as Windsor Castle or Windsor train station. You'll travel along the legendary Long Walk at Windsor Castle and explore Windsor Deer Park. We even include a delightful pause for refreshments. After your ride, we can arrange onward reservations such as lunch at The Ivy, a visit to Windsor Castle, or an overnight stay at The Castle Hotel. When combined with a curated visit to Windsor, including castle tickets and guided tours, we can create a full day's itinerary tailored just for you.
For the ultimate Windsor experience, our 4-hour ride covers up to 10 miles. This extensive tour includes all the highlights of our shorter rides, plus a rest stop for both you and the horses. Imagine driving from Windsor Castle to your hotel at Coworth Park, pausing at Guards Polo Club for lunch or an al fresco picnic on the estate.
On this tour, you'll enjoy expansive vistas of Windsor Great Park and Windsor Castle from vantage points up to 4 miles away. Visit landmarks such as the Copper Horse, Cumberland Lodge, the Windsor Great Park village, and Deer Park – home to over 500 Red Deer. Traverse ancient woodland under the magnificent shadow of Windsor Castle and the Copper Horse.
2. 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!
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 into the town on each day which is advance booked allowing for excellent management of our horses workload. Our horses do not work every day. They work a maximum of 2 to 3 days per week and very rarely consecutively. Every horses' fitness and health is considered in all we do. Horses do and will always come first. Read more on our welfare page.
However, these changes have led us to evolve and improve our service. We now create tailored experiences for each guest, helping you find us at our changing locations (which vary depending on guard changes and town events), assisting with parking, and answering all your questions about your visit.
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 will collect you directly from your starting location or a member of our team where the carriage is unable to access the area.
Our Victoria carriage shown outside The Castle Hotel which is popular with guests.
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. Are your carriage rides 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.
6. 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!
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.
7. 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.
8. Can I book a carriage for a special occasion?
Absolutely! We specialise in creating bespoke experiences for weddings, anniversaries, proposals, and other special events. Our team is dedicated to making your celebration truly memorable. Contact us to discuss how we can add a touch of royal magic to your special day.
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 duaghter of the previous Windsor Coachman with our coachman Jonathan Edwards with his family, wife Shelby and their daughters Bonnie, Truly and Rosalie. x
