Day trip to Windsor Castle from London

Have you ever wonder how it feels like to be inside a castle? Situated just 20 miles west of London, you find Windsor Castle. On this post I will show you how you can take a day trip to Windsor Castle from London.

How to get from London to Windsor Castle on your own

Windsor Castle is located in the county of Berkshire, and it is just around 40 minutes away from London Paddington Station. This makes it one of the best places to visit as a day trip from London.

Getting to Windsor by train is really simple. Trains to Windsor leave every half an hour from Paddington and Waterloo stations. You can check out train schedules and prices at Trainline.

The closest station to the Castle is Windsor & Eton Riverside, which is just a 5 minute walk away from the castle. Super easy.

Tours to Windsor Castle from London

Although it’s pretty simple to get to the Windsor Castle from London by train, you might want to opt for booking a tour from London. There are many companies which offer tours in the city but I personally recommend using GetYourGuide because they offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour starts.

These are some of the different tours from London to Windsor Castle:

• Windsor half-day tour: this tour departs from Earls Court Underground Station in London and includes round-trip transportation and the entrance to Windsor Castle.
• Windsor + Stonehenge + Bath: if you want to make the most of the day, you can take this tour that also includes a visit to ancient Stonehenge and the city of Bath where you can visit the Roman baths. The tour includes a professional guide in english.
• Windsor + Stonehenge + Oxford: another option is to include Oxford in your itinerary. This is a full-day tour that includes the entry to Windsor Castle, entry to Stonehenge, a walking tour in Oxford and transportation to and from London.

Windsor Castle ticket price and tips for your visit

*Prices updated on March 2025

• The official admission ticket to visit the castle is £31 for adults and £20 for people aged 18-24

Buy discount tickets for Windsor Castle

• The ticket includes a multimedia tour which is really useful to learn and understand the significance of the Castle.
• If you buy the London Pass (includes entry to more than 80 London attractions) the entry ticket to Windsor Castle is included.

Windsor is the oldest and largest active castle in the world and the royal family still spends weekends and holidays in it. Because of this, some parts of the castle may close in presence of the Queen, so you should check this before going. No photos are allowed inside the castle, that’s why you will only see exterior photos on the post.

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Windsor Castle – the visit

The castle was built in the 11th century, after the Norman invasion of England. The size of the castle is impressive. An audio tour is part of the admission price, which is really useful to understand lots of the insights and decisions of the castle. You can basically wander around the castle on your own and stay as much as you like. Below you will find information and photos about the main places of the Castle.

• State Apartments

During your visit, you can enter the State Apartments, which are ornamented with furnishings and fine arts of the period. Before getting to the State Apartments, you pass through the north terrace, from where you can get a nice view of Windsor. From this terrace you can also access St Mary’s doll house, an incredibly precise palace in miniature, provided with electricity and water (Yes, royal childs needed this).

• St George’s Chapel

You can also visit St George’s Chapel, unless it’s Sunday, when it’s closed to visitors because services are held. Queen Elizabeth II is buried in the chapel with her parents, sister, and husband at King George VI.

The Gothic architecture of the chapel is amazing, the roof is impressive. Inside the chapel you can find the order of the greater, an English order of chivalry, where being a member of it is limited and includes the monarch of the United Kingdom. St George’s Chapel is definitely one of the most exciting parts of the Windsor Castle visit.

TIP: Not just the castle but Windsor town itself is worth a visit. If you visit the Castle by yourself, make sure you spend some time in the city before returning to London. You will find medieval streets with lovely houses, shops and tea houses, everything is pinturesque and worth the time.

Are you visiting London? Check out Things to do in London

I hope this article has been useful for planning your day trip to Windsor Castle from London. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment!

Other London posts that you might like:

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• London Pass vs London Explorer Pass
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• Best free museums in London
• Stonehenge day trip from London
• How to get to Oxford from London