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How to Get to Windsor from London

Are you thinking of paying a visit to the charming Windsor Palace? Congratulations, you will have a great time. In this article I will tell you about the different ways to make this tour, with its pros and cons.

Nicolas Reffray

Nicolas Reffray

10 min read

How to Get to Windsor from London

Windsor Castle | ©Jean-Marc Astesana

The city of Windsor is located just 37 kilometers from London, and is a beautiful destination to get in touch with an important part of the history of England. Queen Elizabeth's favorite place to enjoy her weekends, this town belonging to the county of Berkshire, England, has an absolute charm. Although there is a lot to see and do in London, it is precisely because of its proximity that the visit to the city and palace of Windsor is a must to make from the English capital.

As always, the best option is to hire a guided tour, since you will be able to relax and enjoy the excursion, while the guides take care of everything else. On the other hand, you will learn all the details and stories that the city of Windsor hides. For those who are looking to go on their own, you can get here by train, car or cab. Below, I will analyze for you all the options, with their advantages and disadvantages, so that you can choose which one best suits your trip.

1. The best way to get from London to Windsor: an organized tour, which also includes Bath and Stonehenge

Windsor Palace| ©Gary Todd
Windsor Palace| ©Gary Todd

There are many options for excursions to Windsor from London, since it is a very popular destination for those visiting the English capital. With this tour you will not only be able to visit the city and the traditional Windsor Palace, the only oldest inhabited castle in the world, but you will also be able to visit two of the most charming places in the United Kingdom: Bath and Stonehenge.

By booking this tour you will not have to worry about anything, neither the transportation nor the entrance fees to the different attractions, since the tour includes everything, from the entrance to Windsor Palace, the entrance to Saint George Chapel and the entrance to the Ancient Roman Baths of Bath, to the entrance to Stonehenge. In addition, you will travel comfortably in a bus equipped with air conditioning, wifi service, USB charging and other details that will allow you to relax and enjoy the experience to the fullest.

Thanks to the specialized guide, you will learn all about the construction and history of this incredible palace, as well as its close relationship with the English royal family. You will visit emblematic places such as Saint Mary's Dollhouse and the beautiful Saint George Chapel, which has been used to celebrate the marriages of members of the royal family, such as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.

In charming Bath you can marvel at Green Abbey and Pulteney Bridge, one of the 5 inhabited bridges in the world. You can also visit the ancient Roman baths, which are still in operation. And in Stonehenge you can discover the deepest traces of the English past, and why not, of the history of mankind, with a stone structure whose construction dates back to no less than 3100 BC. Definitely two must-see places if you visit the UK.

Travel time to Windsor is less than an hour, Bath is a little further, about 90 minutes, and Stonehenge is about 2 hours away.

  • Price: from 76 €
  • Travel time: 11 hours (full day tour)
  • Advantages: you do not have to take care of anything, plus you will know in detail these three places and their history.
  • Disadvantages: It can be a bit tiring for older people or very young children.

Book your tour to Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath

2. Another of the best ways to get from London to Windsor: a guided tour, which also includes Oxford and Stonehenge

Stonehenge| ©Pepe Rodríguez Cordon
Stonehenge| ©Pepe Rodríguez Cordon

As always, visiting a place we do not know with a guided tour is the best option, since we can learn much more than going on our own, besides not having to deal with all the logistics of transportation and tickets to the various attractions. This is another option, different from the one I just mentioned, since it does not include a visit to Bath, but a walking tour of the charming and picturesque city of Oxford, one of the most glittering jewels of England. With its honey-colored buildings, touring the city along with its prestigious university will leave you in awe. An excellent option to complement your visit to Windsor.

It also includes the visit and entrance to the incredible Stonehenge. This place, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, is an amazing megalithic monument, no less than 5,000 years old, which even today still raises questions about the purpose of its construction.

In this full day tour you will have the possibility to know in detail these three places, without having to worry about transportation and other organizational issues. Keep in mind that the bus has all the comforts for you to enjoy the trip 100%. This is one of the best tours to do from London, so do not hesitate.

  • Price: from 76 €
  • Duration of the trip: 11 hours and 30 minutes approximately (full day tour)
  • Advantages: you do not have to take care of anything, plus you will know in detail these three places and their history, thanks to your specialized guide.
  • Disadvantages: The itinerary is closed

Book your tour to Windsor, Stonehenge and Oxford

3. Traveling to Windsor from London by car, one of the most practical ways to get there

Streets of Windsor| ©Joao Alves
Streets of Windsor| ©Joao Alves

To visit Windsor from the English capital you can take three different routes. In itself there is not too much difference in terms of time, although perhaps using the A4 and then the M4 may take a few minutes less. Otherwise, you can take the A40 and then the M4.

The journey by car, going at an average speed, is about 40 or 50 minutes, so, as you will see, it is a fairly fast and economical option, since you will not spend more than about 4 or 5 € in fuel, if you have your own car. If, on the other hand, you wish to rent a car for the day in London, the average price is approximately 71 €.

Of course, although you will have the possibility of using the car to visit other nearby areas, you will not have an expert guide to tell you all about the most important attractions to visit. In addition, you will have to study the routes, as well as spend your time buying tickets for Windsor Palace, St. George's Chapel, Stonehenge, Oxford, and so on.

You may want to book a Stonehenge-only tour from London, it is a good option to complement your trip to Windsor by car. Or you can also visit Oxford from London, to see its prestigious university and its dreamy architecture.

  • Price: approximately 5 € for fuel or 71 € for renting the car for a day
  • Travel time: approximately 50 minutes
  • Advantages: it is one of the most economical ways to get to Windsor, plus you have the possibility to visit nearby areas and be master of your time
  • Disadvantages: you do not have a guide to explain the details of each attraction, you must buy yourself each of the tickets, you must learn the most convenient routes, and that may subtract time to enjoy your vacation.

Book tickets for Windsor Castle

4. Travelling to Windsor from London by train, the cheapest option of all

Paddington Station| ©Steven Penton
Paddington Station| ©Steven Penton

If you are looking for a way to visit Windsor on your own from the English capital and you have a limited budget, the best option for you is definitely the train. You can buy tickets at the station itself, since, although it is a destination that is outside the city, it is really very close (just 34 kilometers).

You will have to take the train from Paddington Station to Windsor. You will go all the way across London to Slough, and from there straight to Windsor. The total journey takes an average of 47 minutes and is highly recommended to get to know the suburbs of the capital on the way. The train will drop you off at Eton Central station in Windsor, from there you have about 5 minutes walk to the imposing Royal Palace.

Definitely, traveling by train is the easiest and cheapest option to get to Windsor from London, although, of course, you will have to hire and pay separately for a guided tour, tickets to various attractions and so on. An ideal option if you already know Windsor and just want to stroll through its gardens and inside the palace, or if you are not interested in the history itself and just looking to see a different city without going too far from London.

From Eton station in Windsor to the castle you only have to walk about 200 meters approximately, and from the platform you will see the palace walls. After making this visit for free, you may want to experience one of the 10 best tours and excursions in London, you will see why this is one of the favorite options for those who visit the English capital.

  • Price: approximately 17 € (round trip)
  • Travel time: approximately 47 minutes
  • Advantages: it is the cheapest way to get to Windsor
  • Disadvantages: you do not have a guide to explain the details of each attraction, you must buy yourself each of the tickets, you can not visit nearby areas such as Bath or Stonehenge.

Book tickets for Windsor Castle

5. Travel from London to Windsor by cab, one of the fastest ways to get to Windsor

Cab in London| ©Angel Abril Ruiz
Cab in London| ©Angel Abril Ruiz

If you prefer to visit the city and Windsor Palace on your own, and you are looking for a quick way to get to the place, the best way is definitely by cab. This way you can manage your time at your leisure and tour the palace and the surrounding area. However, keep in mind that you will not have a specialized guide to guide you through the different points of interest of the palace and the city. If you choose this option, you will also have to take care of getting the different tickets to the attractions, such as the Saint George Chapel or the St. Mary's Dollhouse, among others.

If you want to book your cab from London to Windsor you can do it directly from the internet or by phone, there are many companies that make this journey, given the proximity to Windsor and the popularity of the place. Visiting Windsor by cab is a very good option if you are traveling with children, since you drive and decide your schedule, besides it is one of the fastest ways to get to the place.

You can book your cab from London to Windsor without hesitation, since most of these companies provide an excellent service, and are not at all frequent scams. In addition, by hiring the service from the company's website you can have absolute peace of mind.

If after visiting Windsor on your own you still want to visit some of the nearby attractions, here I tell you how to get to Stonehenge from London, since you can not miss this place, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

  • Price: from 65 € per leg
  • Travel time: about 50 minutes (only the trip)
  • Advantages: it is one of the fastest ways to get to Windsor from London
  • Disadvantages: you do not have visits to other locations or a guide who can explain the history of the place, nor do you have solved the tickets.
  • Organized tour Windsor-Stonehenge-Bath
  • Price: from 76 €
  • Duration: 11 hours approx.
  • Advantages: everything is taken care of
  • Disadvantages: -
  • ** Organized tour Windsor-Stonehenge-Oxford**
  • Price: from €76
  • Duration: 11 hours and 30 minutes approx.
  • Advantages: it's all worked out
  • Disadvantages: -
  • ** Visiting Windsor by cab**
  • Price: from 65 € per leg
  • Duration: 40 minutes approx.
  • Advantages: fast
  • Disadvantages: no guide or tickets
  • ** Visiting Windsor by car**
  • Price: 70 € for car rental
  • Duration: 40 minutes approx.
  • Advantages: own mobility
  • Disadvantages: no guide or tickets
  • ** Visit Windsor by train**
  • Price: 17 € (return)
  • Duration: 47 minutes approx.
  • Advantages: cheaper option
  • Disadvantages: no guide or tickets

Tips for the journey London - Windsor

Windsor| ©Gail Frederick
Windsor| ©Gail Frederick

If you are on vacation in London and you are planning to visit Windsor you should keep in mind some things.

  • Bring a snack: Whether you take an organized tour or if you decide to visit the city on your own, you should take into account to bring some snacks and drinks. These types of tours do not include lunch, and although there are places and stores to buy it afterwards, they are usually more expensive than in London.
  • Do some research beforehand about the places you will be visiting: Doing a little research never hurts, it will enrich your visit if you do not opt for a guided tour, and will allow you to enjoy much more of the places you are visiting. In Windsor, Bath or Oxford you have a lot to do, since they are places full of history. Not to mention Stonehenge.
  • Choose the best music for your car trip: If you choose to visit Windsor from London by car, you can't miss to choose and put together a playlist according to the English routes, with the best of Brit pop, the Beatles and Oasis. A road trip is always better with good music in the background.
  • Take a coat: Depending on the time of the year you visit Windsor you may need some kind of coat or poncho for the rain. Keep in mind that England is a country famous for its changeable weather and gray skies, so it wouldn't hurt to bring an umbrella as well. Always remember to check the weather forecast for the day beforehand, so you know what to expect. From May to September the temperatures are very pleasant, so you will not need thick jackets or other important coats, but between October and April the temperatures drop quite a lot, with minimums of 2 degrees Celsius in the winter months.
  • Spend the night in Windsor or Bath: Spending the night in the city of Windsor or in the beautiful Bath can be a very interesting experience. If you are visiting on your own, I recommend that you consider it. Anything that escapes the classic tourist experience will bring you closer to the rhythm of life of the locals.

Book tickets for Windsor Castle