Windsor Castle is a popular destination for people coming from London. This magnificent castle in the UK is home to British kings and queens for over a thousand years! I would like to share with you how to get to London to Windsor Castle.
You can reach Windsor Castle from London by train, bus, car, taxi, tour, or steam train. The road distance between London and Windsor Castle is 42 kilometres or 26 miles while the direct distance is 35 kilometres or 22 miles. It takes about 55 minutes to travel this distance by car.
They say a visit to the UK is not complete without getting to see Windsor Castle. I couldn’t agree more – so if you’re in London, consider taking that day trip to Windsor and see this castle in its full splendor.
Read more: 33 Best Places to Visit in the UK
How to get from London to Windsor Castle
OPTION 1: How to get from London to Windsor Castle by Train
- Travel Duration: about 22 minutes
- Travel Fare: from £14.78
Travelling by train is the fastest way to get from London to Windsor Castle. More than 200 trains travel to and from these two destinations daily.
The trains depart from London Paddington and Waterloo stations and arrive at Windsor & Eton Central train station. From there, Windsor Castle is just a short ten-minute walk.
The major train operators that service London and Windsor are Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, and Thameslink. Here are sample timetables so you know what to expect:
Train from London Paddington to Windsor & Eton Central
| ARRIVAL | DEPARTURE | DURATION | FARE | |
| Earliest trip | 5:05 am | 5:36 am | 31 minutes | £14.78 |
| Latest trip | 11:18 pm | 11:46 pm | 28 minutes | £14.78 |
| Fastest duration | 10:20 am | 10:42 am | 22 minutes | £14.78 |
Train from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Central
| ARRIVAL | DEPARTURE | DURATION | FARE | |
| Earliest trip | 4:27 am | 5:36 am | 1 hour 9 minutes | £14.78 |
| Latest trip | 11:03 pm | 12:36 am | 1 hour 14 minutes | £14.78 |
| Cheapest fare | 5:18 am | 6:32 am | 1 hour 3 minutes | £18.60 |
| Fastest duration | 8:52 am | 9:42 am | 50 minutes | £18.60 |
Some trains are direct trips while others require you to make transfers along the way. Even so, traveling by train to Windsor from London still proves to be your best bet if you are in a hurry.
When planning for your trip to Windsor Castle, make sure to book train tickets in advance with Trainline so that you get the best deals and secure your preferred time of departure.
Keep in mind that you cannot use your Oyster Card when going to Windsor from London.
OPTION 2: How to get from London to Windsor Castle by Bus
- Travel Duration: about 1 hour and 18 minutes
- Travel Fare: from £7
You can catch Green Line 702 and this will take you to Windsor.
This option is definitely the cheapest one. If you do not mind going through multiple stops along the way, consider riding a bus to Windsor from London.
Green Line 702 departs from London Victoria Station. It passes through:
- Hyde Park Corner
- Royal Albert Hall
- Kensington High Street
- Hammersmith Bridge Road
- Langley
- Slough
From Windsor, Theater Royale, the Windsor Castle is just 2 minutes or roughly 200 steps away.
You can check out Reading Buses to know more about the journey. Get great deals by booking your tickets in advance.
You can also download the Green Line app on your phone to enjoy other perks such as using a contactless payment method when you board.
Here’s a sample timetable of bus travel from London to Windsor Castle:
Bus from London Victoria Station to Windsor, Theater Royale
| ARRIVAL | DEPARTURE | DURATION | FARE | |
| Earliest trip | 6:46 am | 8:41 am | 1 hour 55 minutes | from £7 |
| Latest trip | 11:06 pm | 12:24 am | 1 hour 18 minutes | from £7 |
| Fastest duration | 11:06 pm | 12:24 am | 1 hour 18 minutes | from £7 |
Taking a bus from London to Windsor Castle will do you good if you are not pressed for time; make sure to take into consideration the traffic condition on the time of your journey.
If you can, choose an afternoon departure in order to avoid the crowd.
OPTION 3: How to get from London to Windsor Castle by Car
- Travel Duration: about 38 minutes
- Travel Fare: from £102.48
It is possible to reach Windsor Castle from London by car. As the journey is not quite long, you can consider this option especially when you intend to go back to London after your Windsor Castle visit.
If you do not have your own car, Discover Cars offers rental deals which you can book online. The price to rent a car is obviously far from the other options, so I still highly suggest using public transportation.
It takes less than an hour to get to Windsor Castle from London by driving via M4. However, you should factor in the UK road traffic conditions which may affect your trip.
If this is your first time driving in the UK, I have written this helpful article about UK driving tips which you can read.
OPTION 4: How to get from London to Windsor Castle by Taxi
- Travel Duration: about 1 hour
- Travel Fare: from £84.85
If you do not wish to drive yourself, I recommend hailing a taxi so that the local driver can take care of the navigation.
This is especially a great option to consider if you are travelling as a group. While the fare is definitely high (and can get higher depending on the traffic conditions,) you can split the cost among yourselves.
Keep in mind that there is a difference between day and evening rates. It is also expected for you to tip at least 10% of your fare.
There is also a private taxi tour from London to Windsor Castle. All the details are shared by London Cab Tours.
OPTION 5: How to get from London to Windsor Castle by Tour
- Travel Duration: Half Day
- Travel Fare: from £67
If you wish to have the utmost convenience, let Get Your Guide to take care of all the necessary arrangements. From transportation to tour tickets, everything is set; you just have to book it and go!
This is a great way to explore the Royal residence of Windsor Castle, wander around the castle grounds, and then extend your sightseeing itinerary by adding in a tour of the historic town of Windsor.
You can also group your visit with other Windsor destinations such as:
- St George’s Chapel
- Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House
- Dr Choc’s Windsor Chocolate Factory
- Legoland Windsor Resort
You can choose from a wide range of tours, with your personal preferences in mind. You can join an open tour and meet fellow visitors, or you can choose to get a private car tour and enjoy the activity by yourselves.
OPTION 6: How to get from London to Windsor Castle by Steam Train
Fulfill your childhood dream and ride a steam train going from London to Windsor Castle.
With one-way trips that run only in specific months of the year, the train departs from the London Waterloo station and goes on a classy journey that is truly scenic and memorable.
While the train operation has stopped for the time being, it is set to come back in the year 2023 – just in time for you to experience this one-of-a-kind way of travel.
More About Windsor Castle
FAQs on How to Get from London to Windsor Castle
How far is it from London to Windsor Castle?
London and Windsor Castle are 35 kilometres or 22 miles away from each other. Their road distance is 42 kilometres or 26 miles.
How do you get from London to Windsor Castle?
You can get from London to Windsor Castle by train, bus, car, taxi, tour or steam train.
Is Windsor Castle worth the trip?
Yes, Windsor Castle is worth the trip! Being the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, aren’t you most intrigued? Windsor Castle is one of the highlights of every UK itinerary.
Is Windsor Castle a day trip from London?
Yes, Windsor Castle is a day trip from London. In fact, I consider it one of the nicest day trips from London (UK) which you can take. Good thing both destinations are well-connected!
How long is it from London to Windsor Castle?
The trip from London to Windsor Castle takes at least 22 minutes. It can also take as long as 2 hours, depending on the mode of transportation which you will choose.
How much is a taxi from London to Windsor Castle?
An estimated taxi fare from London to Windsor Castle is priced at £84.85. This can go higher depending on the traffic conditions.
Is there a direct train from London to Windsor Castle?
Yes, there is a direct train from London to Windsor Castle. You can catch the trains departing from London Paddington and Waterloo stations. They travel directly to Windsor & Eton Central train station.
What is the fastest way to get from London to Windsor Castle?
The fastest way to get from London to Windsor Castle is by train. It only takes about 22 minutes to reach Windsor station.
What is the cheapest way to get from London to Windsor Castle?
The cheapest way to get from London to Windsor Castle is by bus. The bus fare starts at £7 only.
What is the best way to get from London to Windsor Castle?
The best way to get from London to Windsor Castle is by train. It is the fastest way to get there, and if you book in advance, you can get a ticket for as low as £14.78.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Everything Zany
Travel Blog
Everything Zany Travel Blog exploring the UK and beyond. Sharing travel guides, tips, history, and culture. Our travel media brand is founded by travel and hotel industry expert – Ryazan Tristram, a Dual Citizen (British – Filipina) based in Birmingham, UK. Everything Zany is a reputable and award-winning travel blog. Our work and contributions have been featured in Huffington Post, CNBC, Discovery Channel, GMA, Readers Digest, and Lonely Planet. Our missions are to build a great travel community and resource of travel tips, visas, and travel guides for travelers. Join us as we travel around the UK and beyond with a mission to share the best of the world.
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