6 Best Day Trips to Windsor from London

The city of Windsor is just 37 kilometres from London and is a beautiful destination for getting in touch with English history. A favourite spot of the royal family, this city in the county of Berkshire has plenty of charm.

As always, the best option is to book an excursion, as you can relax and enjoy the trip while the guides take care of everything else. What's more, you'll learn all the details and stories behind the city of Windsor. But if you prefer to go it alone, you can get there by train, car or taxi. Find out about all the options, with their advantages and disadvantages.

If you're short on time but don't want to miss one of the most iconic castles in the United Kingdom, I recommend this half-day excursion to Windsor Castle from London. It's an ideal option for those looking for a quick and convenient visit, with transport included and direct access to the castle.

For around five hours, you can explore this royal residence at your own pace, which has been home to the British monarchy for over 900 years. Tour the royal apartments, St George's Chapel and the surrounding gardens before returning to London in a comfortable air-conditioned coach.

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• Price: from £88
• Duration of the excursion: approx. 4 hours
• Advantages: quick and economical option to see Windsor from London.
• Disadvantages: the tour is self-guided and does not include a tour guide.

There are many options for excursions to Windsor from London, as it is a very popular destination, but one of the most popular is the excursion to Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath, as you will not only visit the city and the traditional Windsor Castle, the oldest castle in the world still inhabited today, but you will also discover two of the most charming places in the United Kingdom:

• Bath, where you can marvel at the Green Abbey and Pulteney Bridge, one of the five inhabited bridges in the world. You can also visit the Ancient Roman Baths, which are still in operation.
• Stonehenge, where you can discover the deepest traces of England's past, and indeed of human history, with a stone structure dating back to 3,100 BC. These are definitely two must-see places if you visit the United Kingdom.

What's more, thanks to the expert guide, you'll learn all about the construction and history of the incredible Windsor Palace, as well as its close relationship with the British royal family. You'll visit iconic places such as Saint Mary's Dollhouse and the beautiful Saint George's Chapel, which has been used to celebrate the weddings of members of the royal family.

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• Price: from £163
• Duration of the tour: approximately 11 hours
• Advantages: you don't have to worry about a thing, and you'll learn all about these three places and their history.
• Disadvantages: It can be a bit tiring for older people or very young children.

Another option is to book an excursion to Windsor, Stonehenge and Oxford, where you can enjoy a walking tour of the charming and picturesque city of Oxford, one of England's most shining jewels. With its honey-coloured buildings, touring the city and its prestigious university is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. An excellent option to complement your visit to Windsor.

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

On this tour, you will have the opportunity to discover these three places in detail, without having to worry about transport and other organisational issues. Please note that the bus is equipped with all the amenities you need to enjoy the journey to the fullest. This is one of the best excursions from London, so don't hesitate.

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• Price: from £116
• Duration of the excursion: approximately 11 hours 30 minutes
• Advantages: you don't have to worry about a thing, and you'll learn all about these three places and their history from your expert guide.
• Disadvantages: The itinerary is fixed.

Another very popular option is to book an excursion to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, where an expert guide will tell you all about the history of two of the most important monuments for the British royal family.

As always, visiting a place you don't know with a guided tour is the best option, as you can learn much more than if you go on your own, as well as avoiding all the logistics of transport and tickets to the various attractions. So, as you can imagine, this option also includes tickets and an audio guide.

Discover both monuments in great detail: the royal rooms of Buckingham Palace with their elegant furnishings and St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. To round off the tour, you will visit Harrods, the largest department store in Europe.

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• Price: from £140
• Duration of the tour: approx. 8 hours 30 minutes
• Advantages: includes admission to both palaces.
• Disadvantages: there may be up to 50 travellers.

For those who want to make the most of the day, the best option is this excursion to Windsor, Stonehenge, Salisbury and Bath, a comprehensive tour of some of the most iconic destinations in southern England. All this in the company of an expert guide and with the option of adding tickets to each monument.

During this day trip, you will explore Windsor Castle, walk among the mysterious stone circles of Stonehenge, admire the majestic Salisbury Cathedral — home to a copy of the Magna Carta — and end the day in the elegant city of Bath, famous for its Roman baths and Georgian architecture. Who could ask for more?

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• Price: from £84
• Duration of the excursion: approximately 10 hours
• Advantages: very comprehensive tour, with multiple destinations and a guide throughout.
• Disadvantages: long day with many stops in a single day.

If you are looking for a more exclusive and personalised experience, this private tour to Windsor Castle is ideal for you. With a private guide and transfers from your accommodation, this option allows you to enjoy the tour at your own pace, with all the attention focused on your interests.

You can choose between travelling by train or by private car with a driver. Once in Windsor, you will have direct access to the castle and tour its halls, St George's Chapel and gardens in the company of an expert guide. You can also add a stop at Hampton Court, another fascinating royal residence.

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• Price: from £655
• Duration of the excursion: from 5 to 9 hours
• Advantages: 100% personalised experience with a private guide.
• Disadvantages: higher price than other group options.

There are three different routes you can take to visit Windsor from the English capital. There is not much difference in terms of travel time, although using the A4 and then the M4 may take a few minutes less. Alternatively, you can take the A40 and then the M4.

The journey by car, travelling at an average speed, takes around 40 to 50 minutes, making it a fairly quick and economical option, as you will only spend around £4 to £5 on fuel, assuming 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 approximately £60.

Of course, although 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 most essential attractions to visit. In addition, you will have to plan your routes and spend time buying tickets for Windsor Castle, St. George's Chapel, Stonehenge, Oxford, and other attractions.

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• 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, and you also have the opportunity to explore nearby areas and be in control of your own time.
• Disadvantages: you won't have a guide to explain the details of each attraction, and you'll have to buy tickets and learn the best routes.

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 is to take the train from Paddington Station to Windsor. You'll travel through London to Slough, and from there directly to Windsor. The total journey takes an average of 47 minutes and is highly recommended for seeing the suburbs of the capital. The train will drop you off at Eton Central Station in Windsor, and from there it's only a 5-minute walk.

Travelling by train is definitely the easiest and cheapest way to get to Windsor from London, although you will, of course, have to book and pay separately for a guided tour and tickets to the various attractions. This is an ideal option if you already know Windsor and just want to stroll through its gardens and the interior of the palace, or if you're not interested in history and just want to see a different city without straying too far from London.

From Eton station in Windsor, it's only about a 200-metre walk to the castle, and you'll see the palace walls from the platform.
After visiting on your own, you may want to experience one of the 10 best tours and excursions in London. You'll see why this is one of the favourite options for visitors to the English capital.

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• Price: approximately £17 (round trip).
• Journey time: approximately 47 minutes.
• Advantages: it's the cheapest way to get to Windsor.
• Disadvantages: there is no guide to explain the details of each attraction, you have to buy tickets yourself and you cannot visit nearby areas such as Bath or Stonehenge.

Taxi to Windsor, one of the fastest ways to get to Windsor

Taxi to get to Windsor, one of the fastest ways

If you prefer to visit the city and Windsor Castle on your own and are looking for a quick way to get there, a taxi is definitely the best option. This way, you can manage your time as you wish. However, keep in mind that you will not have a specialised guide to show you around. If you choose this option, you will also have to take care of getting tickets, such as for St George's Chapel or St Mary's Doll's House, among others.

If you want to book your taxi from London to Windsor, you can do so directly online or by phone. There are many companies that offer this service, given the proximity to Windsor and the popularity of the place. Visiting Windsor by taxi is a great option if you are travelling with children, as you are in control and can decide your own schedule, and it is one of the fastest ways to get there.

You can book your taxi from London to Windsor without hesitation, as most of these companies provide excellent service and scams are very rare. What's more, when you book the service on the company's website, you can rest assured that everything will be taken care of.

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• Price: from £65 per trip.
• Journey time: approximately 50 minutes (one way).
• Advantages: it is one of the fastest ways to get to Windsor from London.
• Disadvantages: you don't get to visit other places or have a guide to explain the history of the area, and you don't have your tickets sorted.

Although there is a lot 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. So if you are on holiday in London and are planning to visit Windsor, there are a few things you should bear in mind.

• Bring a snack: Whether you're taking an organised tour or visiting the city on your own, be sure to bring a snack and something to drink. These types of tours do not include lunch, and although there are places to buy food later, they tend to be more expensive than in London.
• Research the places you will visit beforehand: Doing a little research never hurts. It will enrich your visit if you don't opt for a guided tour and allow you to enjoy the places you are visiting much more. Whether in Windsor, Bath or Oxford, there is a lot to see, as these are places steeped in history. Not to mention Stonehenge.
• Choose the best music for your road trip: If you decide to visit Windsor from London by car, be sure to put together a playlist with the best of British pop, the Beatles and Oasis to accompany you on your journey through England. A road trip is always better with good music in the background.
• Bring a coat: Depending on when you visit Windsor, you may need some kind of coat or rain 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. Always remember to check the weather forecast beforehand so you know what to expect.
• Spend the night in Windsor or Bath: Spending the night in the city of Windsor or beautiful Bath can be an extremely interesting experience. If you are visiting on your own, I recommend you keep this in mind. Anything that escapes the classic tourist experience will bring you closer to the rhythm of life of the locals.