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Windsor Castle is one of the royal residences in the English county of Berkshire, Windsor and located just outside of London. Ever wondered how a royal residence looks like from the inside? Then what better than visiting the Windsor Castle, which is the largest inhabited castle in the world and the longest-occupied palace in Europe. It is also a functional royal home built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror. All this makes Windsor Castle as a perfect day trip while visiting London and surely a must visit!
Visit to Windsor Castle is about half day duration and can be easily combined with another day trip to either Stonehenge or Bath, which makes it a complete day trip from London. In this guide you will find all details regarding your plan for a Windsor castle day trip from London.
Table of Contents
Location of Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is located in the Berkshire County, England just under 25 miles from London.
How to reach Windsor Castle
You can easily reach Windsor by car or taxi making it a great day trip from London. But we recommend visiting Windsor by train as it more convenient and you don’t need to worry about parking. You can take trains from London Paddington to Windsor & Eton Central via change in Slough, or a direct train from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside with travel duration approximately 45 minutes to 1 hr. Book in advance for cheaper fares. Windsor castle is a walking distance from both these trains stations.
Check train schedules and fares for Windsor & Eton Riverside here.
Check train schedules and fares for Windsor & Eton Central here.
Windsor Group Day Trips from London
There are many group day trip tours leaving London which includes a stop at Windsor Castle combined with Stonehenge, Bath, Oxford or more. Actually each of these other places deserve a day trip on their own but if you are limited on time while visiting London or United Kingdom, then surely these are good options to consider which includes a Windsor Castle day trip.
Opening Hours & Prices to Visit Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is open to visitors throughout the year, five days a week, from Thursday to Monday. The Castle is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
| Opening Time | Last Admission | Closing Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Nov – 29th Feb | 10:00 | 15:00 | 16:15 |
| 1st Mar – 31st Oct | 10:00 | 16:00 | 17:15 |
Although Windsor Castle tickets can be bought on the same day(subject to availability) , but we recommend buying tickets in advance to avoid standing in long queues and reduce your waiting time. On Site, tickets usually costs additional £1 to £2 per ticket. Your ticket includes a multimedia tour as well. Children go half price. The below Windsor Castle ticket prices are as of 2024 and subject to change.
Adult: £30
Young person (18 – 24): £19.50
Child (5-17): £15.00
Disabled: £15.00
Under 5: Free
Windsor Castle is a working royal palace, and sometimes it remains closed including the State Apartments. We recommend checking the official website for hours of operation and closures.
Exploring the Windsor Castle
It takes roughly 2 – 3 hours to completely explore the Windsor Castle which include the State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel, Changing of Guard Ceremony and the famous Long Walk. This makes it one of the best day trips from London.
THE STATE APARTMENTS
The castle’s State Apartments are surely must visit while inside Windsor Castle. It is adorned with beautiful priceless artworks, lavish sleeping quarters of past kings and queens, swords and spears. The grandeur of these rooms is breath taking. It will take roughly 30 mins to 1 hours to walk through the State Apartments, depending on how much you like to adore the masterpieces and the
A fire had damaged many of the rooms in 1992 and they had to be painstakingly recreated.
Photography is not allowed.
QUEEN MARY’S DOLLS’ HOUSE
This is located right at the entrance of the State Apartments. It was built between 1921 and 1924 for Queen Mary, consort of King George V and is the largest and most famous dolls’ house in the world. The House is made to be as realistic as possible which means it also includes electricity, running water and working lifts. Each room is beautifully furnished.
This year 2024 celebrates the 100th anniversary of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House.
St GEORGE’S CHAPEL
Similar to the Westminster Abbey, St George’s Chapel is a popular place for royal weddings and burials. Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb is also located inside here. It is a masterpiece of beautiful architecture and intricate stonework. The Chapel closes at 4:15 pm (last entry at 4:00 pm) to prepare for evening church services. Photography is not allowed.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
Watching the iconic Chaning of the Guard Ceremony is surely a highlight while visiting Windsor Castle. This century old tradition takes place daily depending on the weather conditions. It takes place just before 11am and lasting about 45 minutes. You need an entry ticket to Windsor Castle to watch this ceremony as it starts from inside the Castle in the open area between the Henry VIII Gateway and St. George’s Chapel. The guards then exit through the Henry VIII Gateway.
If you don’t want to spend so much time for this ceremony, then you can just watch it at the exit time and then proceed ahead to enter the Castle. This saves a lot of time in case you are looking to visit Stonehenge and Bath as a day trip.
EXPLORING THE GROUNDS & LONG WALK
The Long Walk is a 2.6 mile path and one of the best places to get great views of the Castle. The Castle also boasts of a huge gardens and grounds that visitors can enjoy and leisurely stroll while admiring the meticulously manicured gardens, where colorful blooms, lush lawns, and ancient trees provide a serene backdrop.
Conclusion
While there are many things to do in Windsor, but a visit to the Windsor Castle is like a journey through time filled with British Royalty and medieval architecture. With its magnificent State Apartments to Chapel, Windsor Castle makes it a perfect must-visit destination for all. You can plan to cover Stonehenge and Bath as part of Windsor Castle Day Trip from London.
If you only wish to cover Windsor Castle as a day trip from London, then this tour is a great option which takes half day and has good reviews as well. It includes round-trip transportation from London by luxury bus. Alternatively you can plan to stay at Windsor and explore Windsor Castle and nearby areas. There are many things to do in Windsor.
