How to Get to Windsor from London

The town of Windsor is located just 37 kilometres from London, and is a beautiful destination to get in touch with an important part of England's history. Queen Elizabeth's favourite weekend getaway, this town in the county of Berkshire, England, has a charm all of its own. Although there is much to see and do in London, it is precisely because of its proximity that a visit to the town and palace of Windsor is a must from the English capital.

As always, the best option is to book a guided tour, as you can relax and enjoy the excursion while the guides take care of everything else. You'll also learn all the details and stories that Windsor has to offer. For those looking to go it alone, you can get here by train, car or taxi. Below, I'll go through all the options for you, with their advantages and disadvantages, so that you can choose the one that best suits your trip.

There are many options for tours to Windsor from London, as it is a popular destination for visitors to the English capital. With this tour you can not only visit the town and the traditional Windsor Palace, the only oldest inhabited castle in the world, but you can also visit two of the most charming places in the UK: Bath and Stonehenge.

When you book this tour you won't have to worry about anything, neither transport nor entrance fees to the different attractions, as 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**. You will also travel in comfort in an air-conditioned bus equipped with wifi, USB charging and other details that will allow you to relax and enjoy the experience to the fullest.

Thanks to the specialised 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'll tour landmarks such as Saint Mary's Dollhouse and the beautiful Saint George's 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 only 5 inhabited bridges in the world. You can also visit the ancient Roman baths, which are still in use today. And at Stonehenge you can discover the deepest traces of the English past, and why not, of human history, 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 don't have to worry about anything, plus you get to see all three sites and their history in detail.
• Disadvantages: Can be a bit tiring for older people or very young children.

As always, visiting a place we don't know with a guided tour is the best option, as we can learn much more than going on our own, as well as not having to deal with all the logistics of transport and entrance fees to the various attractions. This is another option, different from the one I have just mentioned, as it does not include a visit to Bath, but a walking tour of the charming and picturesque city of Oxford, one of England's most glittering jewels. With its honey-coloured 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 a visit and entrance to the incredible Stonehenge. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an amazing megalithic monument, no less than 5,000 years old, which even today still raises questions about the purpose of its construction.

On this full day tour you will have the chance to get to know these three sites in detail, without having to worry about transport and other organisational issues. Keep in mind that the bus is equipped with all the comforts for you to enjoy the trip to the fullest. This is one of the best tours to do from London, so don't hesitate.

• Price: from 76 €
• Trip duration: 11 hours and 30 minutes approximately (full day tour)
• Advantages: you don't have to worry about anything, plus you will know in detail these three places and their history, thanks to your specialized guide.
• Disadvantages: The itinerary is closed

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

The drive, at an average speed, is about 40 to 50 minutes, so as you can see, it's a fairly quick and economical option, as you won't spend more than about €4 or €5 on fuel, if you have your own car. If, on the other hand, you want to hire a car for the day in London, the average price is around €71.

Of course, while you will be able to use the car to visit other nearby areas, you won't have an expert guide to tell you all about the must-see attractions. In addition, you'll have to study the routes, as well as spend time buying tickets for Windsor Palace, St George's Chapel, Stonehenge, Oxford, and so on.

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

• Price: approximately €5 for fuel or €71 to hire the car for a day
• Journey time: approximately 50 minutes
• Advantages: it is one of the cheapest ways to get to Windsor, plus you have the chance to explore nearby areas and be in control of your own time
• Disadvantages: you do not have a guide to explain the details of each attraction, you must buy each of the tickets yourself, you will have to learn the most convenient routes, and this may take time away from your holiday enjoyment.

If you're looking for a way to visit Windsor on your own from the English capital and you're on a budget, the best option for you is definitely the train. You can buy tickets at the station itself, as although it's an out-of-town destination, it's actually quite close (just 34 kilometres).

You'll take the train from Paddington Station to Windsor. You'll 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 a great way to see the suburbs of the capital on the way. The train will drop you off at Eton Central station in Windsor, from there it's about a 5-minute walk to the imposing Royal Palace.

Travelling by train is definitely the easiest and cheapest way to get to Windsor from London, although of course you will have to pay for a guided tour, entrance fees to the various attractions and so on. An ideal option if you already know Windsor and just want to walk around the gardens and inside the palace, or if you're not interested in the history itself and are just looking for a different city without going too far from London.

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

• Price: approximately €17 (return trip)
• Journey time: approximately 47 minutes
• Advantages: it is the cheapest way to get to Windsor
• Disadvantages: you don't have a guide to explain the details of each attraction, you must buy your own tickets, you can't visit nearby areas such as Bath or Stonehenge.

If you prefer to visit the city and Windsor Palace on your own, and are looking for a quick way to get there, a taxi is definitely the best way. This way you can manage your time at your leisure and tour the palace and the surrounding area. However, bear in mind that you will not have a specialised guide to guide you through the different points of interest of the palace and the city. If you choose this option, you will also need to arrange for entrance tickets to attractions such as St George' s Chapel and St Mary's Dollhouse, among others.

If you want to book your taxi from London to Windsor you can do it directly online 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 taxi is a very good option if you are travelling with children, as you drive and decide your own schedule, and it is one of the fastest ways to get to Windsor.

You can book your taxi from London to Windsor without hesitation, as most of these companies provide an excellent service, and scams are not at all common. Also, by booking 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 see some of the nearby attractions, here's how to get to Stonehenge from London, as you can't miss this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Price: from €65 per leg
• Journey time: approximately 50 minutes (just the journey)
• Advantages: it's one of the quickest ways to get to Windsor from London
• Disadvantages: you don't have visits to other locations or a guide who can explain the history of the site, nor do you have your tickets sorted out.

If you are on holiday in London and are planning to visit Windsor, there are a few things to bear in mind.

• Bring refreshments: Whether you are going on an organised tour or visiting the town on your own, you should consider bringing some refreshments and drinks. These tours don't include lunch, and while there are places and shops to shop afterwards, they are usually more expensive than in London.
• Do your research on the places you'll be visiting beforehand: It never hurts to do a bit of research, it will enrich your visit if you don't opt for a guided tour, and it will allow you to enjoy the places you are visiting much more. In Windsor, Bath or Oxford you have a lot to see, as 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 the chance 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 year you visit Windsor, you may need a rain coat or poncho. Keep in mind that England is a country famous for its changeable weather and grey skies, so it wouldn't hurt to bring an umbrella as well. Remember to always check the weather forecast for the day beforehand, so you know what to expect. From May to September temperatures are very pleasant, so you won't need thick jackets or other heavy clothing, but between October and April temperatures drop significantly, with lows of 2 degrees Celsius in the winter months.
• Spend the night in Windsor or Bath: Spending the night in Windsor or beautiful Bath can be a very interesting experience. If you are visiting on your own, I recommend you consider it. Anything that escapes the classic tourist experience will bring you closer to the rhythm of life of the locals.