Windsor was actually the first day trip I did out of London, back before I really knew my way around the trains here, and honestly it’s still one I’d recommend to almost anyone. You get the world’s oldest continuously occupied castle, a proper little riverside town, and a very different pace of life, all without needing a car or more than a day.
This guide explains How to Visit Windsor from London, comparing trains, coaches, guided tours, driving, and practical tips to help you plan the perfect day trip.
Quick Answer
If you’re short on time: take the train. Almost always the right call here.
| Transport | Journey Time | Typical Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train (Paddington, via Slough) | 30-40 min | roughly £18-30 return | Fastest option |
| Train (Waterloo, direct) | 50-60 min | roughly £15-25 return | No changing trains |
| Coach | 1.5-2 hrs | roughly £10-20 return | Budget travelers |
| Guided tour | Full day | from £80 | If you want it all handled |
| Car | 45-90 min | parking extra | Flexible itinerary |
Why Bother with Windsor
Windsor Castle is the obvious draw, and fair enough, it’s earned that reputation. But the castle isn’t really the whole trip. St George’s Chapel sits inside the walls. The Long Walk stretches out from the gates into Windsor Great Park. The Thames runs right along the edge of town with cafés and the odd boat cruise going past. Cross the bridge and you’re suddenly in Eton, wandering past one of the most famous schools on earth like it’s nothing.
It’s a small town. You can walk the whole thing. That’s really the appeal, no rushing between Tube lines, no map-checking every five minutes.
Where Windsor Actually Is
About 25 miles west of central London, technically in Berkshire. Two different London stations run trains there, which is honestly more than you need for somewhere this size, but it does mean you’ve always got a backup plan if one line’s having a bad day.
How to Visit Windsor from London: Getting There
Train from Paddington
This is the one I usually take. Great Western Railway runs from Paddington to Windsor & Eton Central, with a change at Slough onto a short shuttle. The whole thing takes 30 to 40 minutes.
The Slough change sounds worse than it is, the platforms sit close enough that even a five-minute connection is doable if you don’t dawdle. First time through, though, give yourself a slightly longer gap. No need to stress about a sprint across the station on your first attempt. Once you’re at Windsor & Eton Central, the castle is a few minutes’ walk, no bus or taxi required.
Direct train from Waterloo
South Western Railway goes straight from Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside, no change at all. It’s a bit slower, 50 to 60 minutes, but there’s something to be said for just sitting down and not having to think until you arrive. Makes sense if you’re already staying near Waterloo anyway.
Coach
Cheaper, slower, at the mercy of whatever the M4 is doing that day. Budget 1.5 to 2 hours. Fine if the money matters more than the time.
Guided day tour
Plenty of companies bundle Windsor in with Stonehenge, Bath, or Oxford, usually with transport and sometimes skip-the-line tickets thrown in. From around £80 per person. Zero logistics on your end, which is worth something if that’s not your idea of fun.
Driving
More flexible, especially if you fancy exploring beyond Windsor itself. Parking near the castle isn’t cheap though, and weekends or school holidays can mean real traffic. 45 to 90 minutes, give or take.
Check-in Pick Insight
Book Advance train tickets online ahead of time. It’s almost always cheaper than buying at the station, sometimes by quite a bit. I’ve watched people queue at the ticket machine paying nearly double what they could’ve locked in a few days earlier online.
Windsor Castle
It’s the oldest and largest continuously occupied castle in the world, and it’s been a royal residence for close to a thousand years, so yes, it lives up to the hype. Inside: the State Apartments, St George’s Chapel, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House. Give it two to three hours minimum. Rushing it feels like a waste of the ticket price, honestly.
Here’s the thing nobody tells you, though, and it actually trips people up more than you’d think. The castle is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays all year round. Not just quieter, actually shut. And because it’s a working royal residence, it can also close at short notice for state occasions, schedule or no schedule. Check the official site the night before. I mean it, not “at some point before your trip,” the night before.
St George’s Chapel runs on its own clock inside the castle too. It shuts to visitors at 4pm even if the rest of the castle stays open later, and it’s closed to sightseers entirely on Sundays (worship only that day). If seeing the chapel matters to you, and it’s where Elizabeth II is buried, so for a lot of people it does, go there first. Don’t save it for last. I’ve heard from more than one person who spent too long in the State Apartments and walked up to a locked chapel door.
📌 Timing bonus
Land on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday and you might catch the Changing of the Guard, which also runs daily except Sundays from April through July. Free to watch from outside the walls. Worth building your arrival time around if you want to actually see it rather than hear about it from someone else afterward.
Beyond the Castle
The Long Walk runs about 2.6 miles, 4.2km-ish, from the castle’s George IV Gateway out to the Copper Horse statue in Windsor Great Park. Turn around halfway and look back at the castle, that’s the view everyone’s photographing, and honestly it’s worth the walk just for that moment alone.
Cross Windsor Bridge and you’re in Eton. No ticket, no booking, just wander past Eton College and take in the sheer amount of history casually sitting there. Down by the river there’s a promenade, some boat cruises if sitting sounds better than walking by that point, and enough riverside cafés to make lingering an easy decision.
Explore Windsor Town Centre
While Windsor Castle is undoubtedly the main event, don’t make the mistake of rushed back to London the moment you step outside the gates. The town of Windsor itself is absolutely charming and well worth exploring on foot.
Spend some time wandering the quaint, historic streets lined with traditional buildings. It’s the perfect place to browse for unique souvenirs or royal memorabilia in the many local boutiques. And after all that walking, I highly recommend finding a traditional pub. Sitting back with a pint of local ale and soaking in the relaxed, distinctly English atmosphere of this riverside town is the perfect way to cap off your day trip.
A Rough Day Plan
Leave London around 8:30am, you’re in Windsor by 9:30. Castle in the morning. Lunch in town around 1pm, nothing fancy required, the town centre has plenty of decent options. Afternoon for the Long Walk, then a wander over to Eton before heading back. Comfortable pace, not a checklist. Leave room to just sit somewhere if you feel like it.
A Few Practical Things
Book castle tickets ahead during peak season, the door queue can eat a solid hour otherwise. Double-check your date isn’t a Tuesday or Wednesday outside July to September, see above. Wear shoes that can handle a few hours of walking, the town’s charming but it’s not flat everywhere. And check the official schedule the day before, not weeks in advance, since royal events can bump things with very little notice.
How to Visit Windsor from London: FAQs
Is Windsor worth it as a day trip from London?
Yes, easily one of the better ones. Royal history, a walkable town, transport that doesn’t require a car.
What’s the fastest way there?
Paddington via Slough, roughly 30 to 40 minutes.
How long should I actually spend there?
A full day. Enough for the castle, the town, and the Long Walk without racing the clock.
Do I need to book castle tickets?
Strongly recommended, especially weekends, school holidays, and anytime in summer.
Can I pair it with somewhere else?
Sure, plenty of tours combine it with Stonehenge, Bath, or Oxford. Windsor on its own is the more relaxed option if you’re not trying to tick off three places in one day.
Is Windsor walkable?
Yes. Windsor’s main attractions are within walking distance of each other. From either railway station, it’s only a few minutes to Windsor Castle, and most visitors explore the town entirely on foot.
Final Thoughts
Once you know the routes, getting to Windsor is about as easy as UK day trips get, the train’s fast, frequent, and drops you a short walk from the castle gates. Spend the day inside the castle, out on the Long Walk, or just sitting by the river, it’s a genuinely different side of England without straying far from London at all.
If you’re building this into a longer stay, our London Itinerary for 5 Days guide shows where a trip like this fits into a fuller schedule, and our London Airports Guide is worth a look if you’re flying into Heathrow, which sits closer to Windsor than it does to central London.