Windsor Castle
2 h 30All agesAll year · closed some days for official events
Royal castle · 2–3 hrs · £32 adult in advance · under-5s free
From £32
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From London35 min by train from Paddington
Minimum timeHalf a day
Castle£32 in advance
From Heathrow20 min by road
With childrenLEGOLAND 3 km away
Overall difficultyEasy
What to do
What to do in Windsor
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
40-minute boat trip on the Thames from Windsor
40 minAll agesFrequent departures in season; check the calendar
Boat trip · 40 min · return to Boveney Lock · with commentary
The Long Walk, from the castle to the Copper Horse statue
1 h · 4.2 kmAll ages; pushchair on the avenueDog-friendlyAll year
Walk · 4 km one way · 1 hr · free · straight avenue with deer at the end
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Windsor, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Windsor
From April to June and in September and October. In summer many groups arrive from London by mid-morning; LEGOLAND opens from March to early November. In winter the castle is still open and the town is quieter.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Windsor your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
Fly to Heathrow, twenty minutes from Windsor
Windsor is the destination closest to Heathrow, London's big airport, with direct flights from many Spanish cities: by car or taxi it is about 20 minutes away. If you arrive at another airport, go through central London and take the Paddington train, changing at Slough, or the Waterloo one. Windsor is explored on foot.
- Getting thereLondon Heathrow (LHR), the nearest…
- Getting aroundOn foot: castle, Long Walk…
- Where to stayCastle Hotel Windsor, opposite the…
- ServicesWindsor & Eton Central and…
Getting there
- London Heathrow (LHR), the nearest airport, about 20 minutes by road
- Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN) and Luton (LTN), going via central London
- From London Paddington, changing at Slough, about 35 minutes; from Waterloo, direct to Riverside
Getting around
- On foot: castle, Long Walk, river and Eton
- Boat on the Thames from Windsor Promenade
- LEGOLAND, about 3 km from the centre
Where to stay
- Castle Hotel Windsor, opposite the castle
- Harte & Garter, with rooms for four
Services
- Windsor & Eton Central and Riverside stations
Train from Paddington or Waterloo and Windsor on foot
Windsor is the shortest excursion from London: about 35 minutes by train from Paddington, changing at Slough, or a direct train from Waterloo. Everything worth seeing is on foot from the two stations, and the car is only useful for LEGOLAND.
120–200 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayCastle Hotel Windsor, on the…
- Getting aroundGWR from London Paddington, changing…
- Where to eatClarence Brasserie, beside the castle
- ServicesTwo stations five minutes from…
Where to stay
- Castle Hotel Windsor, on the High Street
- Harte & Garter, beside the wall
Getting around
- GWR from London Paddington, changing at Slough
- Direct train from Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside
- French Brothers boat from Windsor Promenade
Where to eat
- Clarence Brasserie, beside the castle
- The Two Brewers, at the start of the Long Walk, for adults
Services
- Two stations five minutes from the castle
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Windsor for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
With the little ones: a short boat trip, a flat avenue and LEGO
With children up to six, Windsor suits well: short distances, a flat avenue for the pushchair and a boat trip that lasts just as long as they can put up with. The castle is a long visit for them; LEGOLAND is the all-day plan.
- What works best40-minute boat trip from Windsor…
- Where to stayHarte & Garter, a room…
- Where to eatClarence Brasserie, two minutes from…
- Bear in mindAt the castle, under-5s go…
What works best
- 40-minute boat trip from Windsor Promenade
- The Long Walk, just the first 20 minutes
- LEGOLAND Windsor, designed for them
Where to stay
- Harte & Garter, a room for four with a view of the castle
Where to eat
- Clarence Brasserie, two minutes from the castle
Bear in mind
- At the castle, under-5s go in free, but the visit is long
- The pushchair does well on the High Street and the Long Walk
- LEGOLAND online is much cheaper than at the ticket office
What to do with young children
Castle, boat and LEGOLAND in the same town
Windsor is the easiest excursion from London with children: the train is short, everything is close and there is something for every age. The castle hooks the over-7s; the boat and the Long Walk, everyone; LEGOLAND, ages 2 to 12.
- What works bestWindsor Castle, free for under-5s
- Where to stayHarte & Garter, with rooms…
- Where to eatClarence Brasserie, with no age…
- Bear in mindAt The Two Brewers children…
What works best
- Windsor Castle, free for under-5s
- 40-minute boat trip on the Thames
- The Long Walk, with deer at the end
- LEGOLAND, from March to early November
Where to stay
- Harte & Garter, with rooms for four
- Castle Hotel Windsor, opposite the castle
Where to eat
- Clarence Brasserie, with no age limit
- A picnic on the Long Walk
Bear in mind
- At The Two Brewers children can only sit outside
- LEGOLAND closes in winter except for special events
- St George's Chapel is closed to visitors on Sundays
What to do as a family
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're flyingwithout a car
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Castle Hotel Windsor
Why we like it: Historic hotel on Windsor's high street, opposite the castle, with the Penningtons restaurant, afternoon tea and dog-friendly breaks.
Harte & Garter Hotel
Why we like it: Hotel beside Windsor Castle with rooms overlooking the castle wall, some for four people. Check-out at 10:00.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Windsor
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
The Two Brewers
What to order: the Sunday roast, or a pub dish with a pint after the Long Walk.
Inside only over-18s; children on the benches outside · book by phone
Clarence Brasserie & Tea Room
What to order: a plate of pasta at midday or afternoon tea with scones after the castle.
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Windsor
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
51.51° N · 0.13° W
London
By plane
51.75° N · 1.26° W
Oxford
By planeCar-free
50.82° N · 0.14° W
Brighton and the Seven Sisters
By planeCar-free
51.88° N · 1.76° W
Cotswolds
By carCar-freeLuxuryBy campervan
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Enter the castle at opening time
The first visitors see the apartments without crowds.
- 2Check the castle's calendar
It closes on some days for royal events.
- 3Choose a station according to your London hotel
Paddington with a change at Slough, or Waterloo direct.
- 4Come back along the Long Walk at sunset
The afternoon light falls straight onto the castle.
We'd skip it
Coach tours that combine Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath in a single day from London: in Windsor they give you little more than an hour. By train, Windsor is a relaxed half day.
Windsor is the shortest day trip from London: half an hour by train and you are standing before the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, one of the King's residences. The town is small and can be covered on foot in a day: the castle in the morning, a boat on the Thames, the walk across the bridge to Eton and, if there is light left, the great avenue of the Long Walk. With children, LEGOLAND is three kilometres away.
How do you get there from London?
By train. From London Paddington, Great Western Railway reaches Windsor & Eton Central changing at Slough: about 35 minutes in all, with departures almost every 20 minutes. From London Waterloo there are direct trains to Windsor & Eton Riverside, with no change and a little slower. Both stations are five minutes' walk from the castle.
By car, it is about 40 km from central London on the M4, between 45 minutes and an hour without traffic. Parking in central Windsor is expensive and scarce at weekends.
From Heathrow, Windsor is about 20 minutes by road: if your flight arrives or departs from there, it can be your first or last stop.
What to see in a day
Enter the castle first thing, before the groups from London arrive: the State Apartments, Queen Mary's Dolls' House and St George's Chapel (which is closed to visitors on Sundays). It takes about two and a half hours.
Then walk down the cobbled streets of Church Street to the river and board the 40-minute boat trip with French Brothers, which goes as far as Boveney Lock and back with the best view of the castle. Cross the footbridge to Eton, with its street of antique shops and the school at the far end. In the afternoon, the Long Walk: the straight avenue that leaves the castle to the south, four kilometres to the statue of the Copper Horse, although half an hour is enough for the view.
With children aged 2 to 12, replace the afternoon, or the whole day, with LEGOLAND.
When to go
Spring and autumn, on weekdays, are ideal. In summer and at weekends, the castle fills up by mid-morning. Some days the castle closes for official events: check before you buy. LEGOLAND opens daily from March to early November and in winter only for events.
How much does it cost?
The castle is £32 per adult if bought in advance and £16 per child aged 5 to 17; on the day, more. LEGOLAND, from £32 online. The Long Walk and Eton are free. Eating in the centre costs £15–30 per person.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you go to Windsor for half a day from London?
Yes. With a 35-minute train, a morning is enough for the castle and a stroll; the whole day, for the boat, Eton and the Long Walk.
How much does it cost to enter Windsor Castle?
£32 per adult in advance and £36 on the day; children aged 5 to 17, £16 and £18; under-5s, free.
Is the castle open every day?
Almost all year, but it closes on some days for official events; St George's Chapel does not open to visitors on Sundays.
Is LEGOLAND in Windsor?
Yes, about 3 km from the centre. It opens daily from March to early November.
Which London station suits me best?
Paddington, changing at Slough, is the fastest; Waterloo has direct trains to Riverside.