Windsor day trip from London
A day trip to Windsor from London: Windsor Castle with its State Apartments and St George's Chapel, a walk down the Long Walk for the view back to the castle, the Guildhall, a short Thames cruise, then across the bridge to Eton. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Windsor in 1 day
Day 1
Windsor Castle
The oldest occupied castle in the world, with the State Apartments, Queen Mary's Dolls' House and St George's Chapel inside its walls.
The Long Walk
A straight 4 km avenue of trees running from the castle into Windsor Great Park, with the classic view back to the castle.
Windsor Guildhall
The 17th-century town hall on the High Street, completed by Christopher Wren, where royal civil weddings have taken place.
French Brothers Boat Trips
Short Thames cruises from the Windsor promenade, passing Eton and giving views of the castle from the river.
Windsor Bridge
The pedestrian bridge over the Thames linking Windsor and Eton, with swans below and the castle behind.
Eton High Street
Eton's main street of old shops, pubs and houses leading from the bridge towards the famous school.
Getting there
Trains from London Paddington (change at Slough) reach Windsor & Eton Central in about 35 minutes; direct trains from Waterloo reach Windsor & Eton Riverside in about 55 minutes. Both stations are a few minutes' walk from the castle.
Staying in London? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Windsor
Open all year, Thursday to Monday. Spring and early autumn are quieter than summer; in July and August arrive at opening time. Winter hours are shorter, and the Long Walk is muddy after rain.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Windsor on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Windsor on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Windsor on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United Kingdom from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Windsor
- Book castle tickets ahead and go at opening time; queues build by late morning, especially at weekends.
- The castle is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday and sometimes at short notice for royal events, so check the dates first.
- St George's Chapel is closed to visitors on Sundays, when only services are held.
- Changing the Guard takes place around 11:00 on set days; check the schedule if you want to see it.
- Eton College is visited only on guided tours on set days; otherwise enjoy it from Eton High Street.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Eton High Street: Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0
- The Long Walk: Anthony Foster, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Windsor Bridge: The original uploader was Wyrdlight at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5
- Windsor Castle: Diliff, CC BY 2.5
- Windsor Guildhall: Wyrdlight at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
