News, Tips & Bargains : Just the Ticket at Windsor Castle

For visitors eager to explore one of the most popular attractions in Britain--historic Windsor Castle--there is good and bad news this year.

The bad news is that Windsor Castle, just west of the city, has raised its entry price to $12 per adult.

The good news is that the admission ticket covers all attractions inside the castle, where separate fees had been charged. This makes the overall cost of a castle visit cheaper by $1.50 than paying separately to see the State Apartments, the Queen’s Gallery, St. George’s Chapel and the Albert Memorial Chapel.

Castle officials say the income from the single-price ticket should raise about $1.87 million in 1994 toward reconstruction of parts of the castle badly damaged by a November, 1992, fire.

Outside the castle, there are separate charges, as in the past, for Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the Exhibition of the Queen’s Presents and Royal Carriages in St. Albans Street, since these proceeds go to Royal charities.

After complaints by local residents that, under the new policy, they would not be allowed to enter the grounds freely as had been their custom, castle officials relented--and have issued residents’ passes.

For Americans who believe the $12 entry ticket seems steep, Buckingham Palace officials, who set the price, say the admission is in line with other royal attractions such as the Tower of London, Hampton Court, Warwick Castle and Buckingham Palace.

Americans are not alone in complaining about the high price of some London attractions. A report for the British Tourist Authority found that 51% of foreign tourists rated London hotels and shops as “expensive” or “very expensive.” But the brighter side for Americans is that with a stronger dollar, prices this year in Britain may be less expensive than last year.