Clarence Brasserie & Tea Room
What to order: a plate of pasta at midday or afternoon tea with scones after the castle.
geocalia
Day itinerary · 51.48° N · 0.61° W
Windsor in a day from London, castle in the morning and river in the afternoon.
About 35 minutes by train from Paddington: the castle at opening time, lunch by the wall, a 40-minute boat on the Thames, the bridge to Eton and the Long Walk.
Leaving from
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Part of WindsorBridgerton filming locations in EnglandLEGO and Playmobil
Add to my trip
Total time9 h
By car1 h each way
Train35 min from Paddington, change at Slough
Castle£32 in advance
Boat40 min
Long Walk4 km, free
DifficultyEasy
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave London 30 min by train
train from Paddington, change at Slough · you arrive around 9:35
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1
Windsor Castle
at opening time · ticket bought in advance · 2h 30
- 5 min on foot
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2
Clarence Brasserie & Tea Room
on Church Street · call if you are a group
8-9 Church Street, SL4 1PE Windsor · +44 1753 852707
Restaurant €€Book - 7 min on foot
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3
40-minute boat trip on the Thames from Windsor
French Brothers from Windsor Promenade · 40 min
+44 1753 851900
Boat With French BrothersBook - 5 min on foot
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4
Crossing the bridge to Eton
you cross the footbridge · free
- 15 min on foot
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5
The Long Walk, from the castle to the Copper Horse statue
the castle avenue · half an hour is enough for the view
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Back home 30 min by train
train to Paddington or Waterloo · you arrive around 18:15
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Windsor Castle
Windsor is the shortest day trip from London: about 35 minutes by train from Paddington, changing at Slough, and you come out of the station opposite the castle. This plan puts the castle first thing, before the groups arrive, and leaves the afternoon for the river: a short boat trip on the Thames, the bridge to Eton and the Long Walk, the avenue that gives the best photo of the castle. You are back in London before dinner.
The day, hour by hour
9:00 · Train from Paddington. You change at Slough onto the short Windsor & Eton Central train. If you are staying south of the river, the direct train from Waterloo to Riverside also works.
10:00 · Windsor Castle. The State Apartments, Queen Mary's Dolls' House and St George's Chapel, where Henry VIII and Elizabeth II are buried. In advance, £32 per adult and £16 per child aged 5 to 17. Allow two and a half hours. On Sundays, the chapel is not open to visitors.
12:45 · Lunch at the Clarence Brasserie. On Church Street, a cobbled street two minutes from the castle exit. Pasta, British dishes and tea.
14:15 · Boat on the Thames. French Brothers leaves from Windsor Promenade on a 40-minute trip to Boveney Lock, with commentary and the view of the castle from the river.
15:15 · Eton. You cross the footbridge and walk up Eton High Street to the school. From the bridge, another view of the castle.
16:15 · The Long Walk. Return to the castle and enter the avenue that runs south. Half an hour there and back is enough for the photo; keen walkers can go on to the Copper Horse statue, 4 km away.
17:30 · Back. Both stations are five minutes from the castle.
With children
With children aged 2 to 12, from March to early November, swap the afternoon, or the whole day, for LEGOLAND, about 3 km away. The boat and the Long Walk suit all ages. Beware of The Two Brewers: inside, it admits only over-18s.
Time2 h 30
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
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
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Windsor
All year, best on weekdays in spring and autumn. The castle closes on some days for official events and St George's Chapel is closed to visitors on Sundays. Check the boat days out of season.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Check the castle calendar
It closes on some days for royal events.
- 2Buy your ticket in advance
You save £4 per adult and choose your time.
- 3Return via Heathrow
If your flight leaves from Heathrow, Windsor is about 20 minutes away by road.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from London to Windsor?
About 35 minutes by train from Paddington, changing at Slough; by car, 45 minutes to an hour.
How much does the castle cost?
£32 per adult in advance, £16 per child aged 5 to 17; under-5s free.
Can you go on a Sunday?
Yes, the castle is open, but St George's Chapel is not open to visitors because services are held.
Is there time for LEGOLAND and the castle on the same day?
Very tight. Better one each day, or the castle in the morning and the afternoon on the river.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/england/windsor/itineraries/windsor-castle-boat-and-long-walk
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.