Last updated 14 October 2026. Every date below is checked against the organiser's own page. Where a 2026 date has not been announced yet, we say so rather than guess.
Windsor does Christmas with a castle behind it. The lights go on early, the Great Park turns into a light trail, and the town sings carols under the castle walls. One thing worth knowing before you go: Windsor does not have a long-running chalet market. Its markets are short, one- or two-day affairs, so plan around the dates below.
The lights
Windsor Christmas lights switch-on
Castle Hill · Saturday 14 November 2026, from 1pm · Free
The panto cast leads the countdown and lights Windsor's largest Christmas tree. Come in the afternoon and stay until it is dark.
Eton Christmas lights switch-on
Jubilee Square, Eton High Street · Thursday 12 November 2026, gates 5pm, switch-on 7pm · Free
Two days before Windsor, and just over the bridge.
Windsor Great Park Illuminated
The Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park · 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 · Last entry 8.30pm
A light trail of about two kilometres through the woodland near the Savill Garden, taking an hour and a half to two hours. Open from 4.30pm until 26 November and from 4.15pm after that, until 10.30pm. Adults from £19.80, children from £12.10, families from £56.10. Tickets are timed, under-twos need a free ticket, and parking must be bought with your ticket. Dogs on leads are welcome.
Markets and carols
Christmas Market by The Market Garden Windsor
Peascod Street · Saturday 28 November 2026, 9am to 5pm, and Sunday 29 November, 10am to 5pm · Free
At the foot of the castle. Windsor's main Christmas market, and only two days long.
Christmas Market at Windsor and Eton Brewery
Vansittart Estate, Duke Street · Sunday 13 December 2026
Carols on the Hill
King Henry VIII Gate, Castle Hill · Friday 11 December 2026, 6.15pm to 7.30pm · Free, with a charity collection
The seventy-seventh year of this one, with the Band of the Household Cavalry, by the Queen Victoria statue with the castle behind. Bring a torch for your carol sheet.
The castle, the panto and LEGOLAND
- Windsor Castle Festive Weekend, 12 and 13 December 2026, 10.30am to 3pm, included in castle admission.
- Festive Family Fun at the castle, 19 to 31 December 2026, every day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10am to 2.30pm, included in admission.
- Jack and the Beanstalk at the Theatre Royal, 20 November 2026 to 10 January 2027, with Brian Blessed as the voice of the Giant. Tickets from £19.50. Some performances have already sold out.
- LEGOLAND at Christmas, selected dates from 21 November 2026 to 2 January 2027. The Father Christmas grotto is a separate ticket.
Close by
Egham, Chertsey and Virginia Water are a few minutes south: see our Egham and Chertsey Christmas guide, including the Chertsey Goose Fair. For Staines, see our Staines Christmas guide.
Expected, but not yet confirmed
- Christmas at Windsor Castle, the decorations season with the great tree in St George's Hall. Last year it ran from late November to early January. The Royal Collection has not published 2026 dates yet.
- Windsor on Ice, Alexandra Gardens. Ran from mid-November 2025 to early January. No 2026 dates yet.
- St George's Chapel carols. Services are free but space is not guaranteed. 2026 times are not posted yet.
We will update this page as the dates land. If you would rather be told, the signup at the foot of this page is one short letter a month and nothing else.
Bringing a little of it home
A long evening on the light trail, a cold walk back to the car. A few things we keep for when you get in:
- Twelve-Day Christmas Village Advent Calendar, £39.95. A little village that builds up through December, and comes back out next year.
- Christmas Village Gingerbread Candle, £14.95. A tall glass printed with a little village, smelling of gingerbread.
- Cotton Tassel Throw, Oatmeal, £22.95. Over the back of the sofa, ready for whoever gets in first.
Our Christmas gift guide is grouped by what you want to spend, and the Christmas gifting collection has everything in one place. Delivery in the UK is included.
For the wider area, see Christmas markets near Sunbury-on-Thames, and what to take to a Christmas market.