Day Trip to Windsor Castle from London

Windsor Castle is a great day trip from London, and for us it turned out to be one of the best castles we visited in the UK. If you’re thinking of visiting Windsor Castle while in London, I’ve got all the tips you need to make it your favorite castle experience, too.

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Why Visit Windsor Castle?

Windsor Castle is the castle to visit in the United Kingdom. It’s where the reigning monarchs live; it’s where the English royal family has lived for centuries; it’s where history has happened.

While tourists can only see a small part of the massive Windsor Castle, it’s a truly fascinating glimpse into a castle that has been at the center of the English royal family for more than a thousand years.

If you’re just visiting London or touring the whole of England, you must make Windsor Castle a stop on your itinerary.

Interesting Facts about Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest royal-occupied castle in the world. It is huge!
William the Conqueror commissioned Windsor Castle to be built in 1070, and it was completed in 1086, though made of timber. Over the years, other monarchs have transformed Windsor Castle, adding onto it and rebuilding it with stone.
The royal family love Windsor Castle so much that they adopted the surname Windsor.
Queen Elizabeth II resided in Windsor Castle most months of the year when she was alive, and she was laid to rest in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
There are more than 300 fireplaces in Windsor Castle as well as a live-in fendersmith to manage all of them.
More than 150 people live and work in Windsor Castle, aside from the royal family.
There are over 450 clocks in Windsor Castle, and the clocks in the kitchen are set 5 minutes fast, so that the reigning monarch always gets their food on time.
The 1992 fire damaged about 20% of Windsor Castle. The restoration took over 5 years.
Eleven English monarchs are buried at Windsor Castle.

Tips for Visiting Windsor Castle on a Day Trip from London

Check which flag is flying. If you see the UK’s Royal Standard flag flying at Windsor Castle, it means the reigning monarch is in residence. However, if the Union Jack flag is flying that means the reigning monarch is not in residence.

What does the Royal Standard flag look like? It is reserved solely for royal use and can be identified by its four quadrants — two red quadrants contain the royal coat of arms representing England, one blue quadrant contains a yellow harp representing Ireland, and one yellow quadrant contains a red lion representing Scotland.

Expect crowds. Windsor Castle is a huge tourist attraction, but I believe it lives up to the hype. To offset some of the crowds, try to go on a weekday (we went on a Monday) and go early (they open at 10 a.m.).

Mind the strict entry times. At the time we booked our tickets and still to this day, Windsor Castle requires you to select an entry time (one half-hour range). They are very strict about only waiting in line when it is your entry time. A lot of people were turned away because it wasn’t their entry time yet. Once it’s your turn, the line goes quickly, though.

Prepare for a security check. You’ll have to go through an airport-level security inspection with bag checks and metal detectors since this is a royal residence.

Pick up an audio guide. You can pick up an audio guide on the way in (after the security check) to help explain the castle’s rooms that you’ll be seeing (it’s included with your ticket). The history of the castle is very interesting. I’d recommend picking up an audio guide and listening while you wait to enter the State Apartments.

Don’t take photos inside Windsor Castle. Photography is not allowed inside Windsor Castle, and the employees were pretty on top of calling out people trying to take pictures. I can’t show you any of my own photos (as I didn’t take any), but there are some photos on the Windsor Castle website to give you an idea of what it looks like inside the State Apartments.

Wear your walking shoes. You’ll be walking a lot on your trip to Windsor Castle, but don’t worry, Windsor is very walkable and you will hardly notice those hills (kinda).

Things to Do and See at Windsor Castle

Considering the size of Windsor Castle, tourists are only allowed to see a small part of it, but what you do see is absolutely breathtaking. It’s worth the long lines!

The Long Walk (Windsor Great Park)

The Long Walk is a tree-lined driveway leading up to Windsor Castle and is 2.65 miles long. It’s surrounded by Windsor Great Park, which has oak trees planted by William the Conqueror and a herd of more than 40 deer. It makes for a great photo opportunity.

The Long Walk isn’t where you enter Windsor Castle to tour, and it’s not near the train stations, so it’s a bit tricky to find (ironically). Pull out your Google Maps app to help you get there, if needed.

Queen Mary’s Doll House

As you wait to enter the State Apartments, you’ll see two lines forming, one for people who’d like to see Queen Mary’s Doll House before entering the State Apartments, and one line for people who want to bypass the doll house and head straight to the State Apartments.

Queen Mary’s Doll House is noted as being one of the most elaborate doll houses in the world. It was built in 1921 as a gift for Queen Mary. The house is life-like with its functional plumbing and running water, a truly miniature version of an Edwardian English house.

The State Apartments

The State Apartments are gorgeous from the floors to the ceilings. They are opulent and grand, and many parts are covered in gold. The reigning monarch hosts meetings and gatherings in the State Apartments, especially with heads of state of other countries. You’ll also find many priceless works of art hanging on the walls of the State Apartments. It’s incredible.

There are also often exhibitions on display inside the castle at no extra charge. When we went, we were able to see Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation dress as well as other priceless items from her coronation and platinum jubilee. That exhibit has since ended. Visit the official website for information on current exhibitions.

St. George’s Chapel (Queen Elizabeth II’s Final Resting Place)

St. George’s Chapel is not open to visitors on Sundays when it is in service. Every other day of the week, however, you will be able to tour the chapel. It’s here where you’ll find the resting place of not only Queen Elizabeth II but several other former monarchs as well.

Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle

The Changing of the Guard ceremony at Windsor Castle is generally on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 11 a.m., but this could change. The new guard marches from the Victoria Barracks through the town centre at 10:45 a.m. to Windsor Castle where the ceremony takes place. The old guard then marches back to the barracks at about 11:20 a.m.

Windsor Village

Just outside Windsor Castle is a village-like area with shops and cafes. We read that it had been a real village a few hundred years ago, but now the cobblestone streets are lined with souvenir shops.

Have lunch at Clarence Brasserie and Tea Room: There are a lot of cute cafes to eat lunch in Windsor. We had lunch at Clarence Brasserie and Tea Room and definitely recommend it! The food was delicious, and there were several vegetarian options. We had a late lunch (around 2 p.m.) so there weren’t many other diners.

Tables inside the Clarence Brasserie and Tea Room — Clarence Brasserie and Tea Room

How to Get to Windsor Castle from London By Train

Taking the train is the easiest and simplest way to travel to Windsor Castle without a car.

From London, take the the train out of London Paddington Station (or London Waterloo Station) to Windsor and Eton Central Station. It’s a short 30-minute train ride with a stop in Slough. The train arrives in central Windsor, so you can see the castle as you exit the station, and it’s just a short walk to the castle entrance.

How to book your train tickets: You can purchase your tickets on Trainline.com. We used Trainline to purchase all our train tickets in the UK. I loved how easy it was to search train tickets from various train companies and to pull up our tickets in the app when needed to scan or show them to employees. Everything was all in one place, making it very convenient.

How to save money on train tickets: If you will be doing a lot of train travel in the UK, consider getting a railcard for 33% off. I was traveling with my mom so we got the Two Together Railcard and saved quite a bit.

Don’t Get Confused With Windsor’s TWO Train Stations (Like We Did)

Remember there are TWO train stations near Windsor Castle: Windsor & Eton Central and Windsor & Eton Riverside.

The Central Station is inside a shopping plaza, so it’s more difficult to find if you’re not paying attention. Look for the “Windsor Royal Shopping” archway sign. It’s like a wide alley between two buildings, leading to the shopping plaza, just off Thames Street (B3022) near Castle Hill. There really is not much signage on the street indicating a train station is inside, but it’s in there.

On our way back to London, we accidentally went to the Riverside Station instead of the Central Station. We ended up missing our train at the Central Station and had to wait for the next one. Luckily, they come every 15-30 minutes, so it wasn’t a big deal.

The author and her mom at Windsor Castle

Frequently Asked Questions about a Day Trip to Windsor Castle

Is there a direct train from London to Windsor Castle?

Sort of, not quite. There are train routes that go from London Paddington Station (or London Waterloo Station) to Windsor and Eton Central Station, but there is a stop in Slough. The whole ride, even with the stop, is about half an hour.

How far is Windsor Castle from London?

Windsor Castle is about 20-25 miles from central London. It can take 45 minutes to drive there and about 30 minutes to get there by train.

Is Windsor a good day trip from London?

Yes, Windsor Castle is a great day trip from London! It’s only about 30 minutes away by train and there is a lot to explore in Windsor, such as the castle, the parks, the river, and the shops.

Where to stay in London to visit Windsor Castle?

If you are planning to do a lot of day trips from London, like we did, I’d recommend staying near a major train station.

We stayed near the Paddington Station, at The Caesar Hotel in London (by Hyde Park and Bayswater).

For visiting Windsor Castle, you’ll need to leave from the Paddington Train Station.

Recommended Hotels in London:

The Caesar Hotel (where we stayed, close to Paddington Train Station)
London Marriott Hotel County Hall (close to Waterloo Train Station, with views of Big Ben and London Eye)
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London (close to Waterloo Train Station, with views of Big Ben and London Eye)
The Wellington Hotel Waterloo (close to Waterloo Train Station)
Melia White House (close to Kings Cross Station)

How much does it cost to get to Windsor Castle from London?

Train tickets from London to Windsor with a return can be as low as £9, and that’s without using your railcard discount.

Tickets to tour Windsor Castle are £30 per adult, if booked online, which is highly recommended.

How do you get to Windsor Castle from London Heathrow Airport?

Windsor Castle is less than 8 miles away from London Heathrow Airport and yet it takes longer to get there via public transportation than if you came from central London. I don’t know how that works, but it’s just the way it is. Your best bet, therefore, is probably to take an Uber or cab, if you can, to Windsor.

Can the public visit Windsor Castle?

With tickets, the public can visit a small part of Windsor Castle, such as the State Apartments and St. George’s Chapel. The rest of the castle is closed to the public.

View of Windsor Castle framed by greenery

What else is there to do in Windsor?

There is a lot to explore in Windsor aside from the famous Windsor Castle. Stroll along the Thames River, shop in the village, explore Windsor Great Park, or even head into Eton College.

How much time do you need in Windsor Castle?

I’d plan for about 4 to 5 hours in Windsor as this would give you plenty of time to explore the castle, have lunch, wander the village and shops as well as walk along the river. We stayed in Windsor a little over 5 hours. It was a really great day trip.

Do you need to go on a tour to see Windsor Castle?

No, I would say it’s much better to go on your own to Windsor Castle. You don’t need to go with a tour group. That way, you can go at your own pace, have lunch in the village outside the castle, and explore the shops and the river.

However, if you would prefer a tour, there are many options.

Is a day trip to Windsor Castle from London worth it?

YES.

I had planned a number of castle tours on our three-week trip to the UK that by the time we got to Windsor Castle, we were wondering if it was even worth the day trip.

Castle fatigue had set in, and we were honestly a bit disappointed by the royal palaces we had seen in London so far — specifically Kensington Palace and Tower of London (crowded and kinda dreary).

Despite all this, we decided to go ahead with our trip to Windsor Castle from London.

We had already booked the tickets, which were nonrefundable, so might as well get what we paid for.

AND I’M SO GLAD WE WENT.

Windsor Castle turned out to be the BEST castle we have seen in the UK so far!

It’s exactly what you’d imagine a castle to be — massive, grand, and opulent. Even though we only saw a small part of the castle, it was definitely worth it.

What to pack for travel to the UK?

Favorite travel essentials

I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized. It also fits nicely under the airplane seats.
I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.
For Americans, I recommend getting the Capital One Venture X credit card to relax and eat free food in select airport lounges. I’ve had my Capital One Venture X credit card for a few years now, and accessing airport lounges is my absolute favorite perk of the card. Every lounge is different, but most have a buffet available where you can eat and drink to your heart’s content. The annual fee of this card is high, but it evens out with the $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles you get (on top of lounge access and free TSA PreCheck or Global Entry)!