Windsor Castle Day Trip

Enjoy a day trip to Windsor Castle

Map and

Directions

A day trip to Windsor Castle will fill your day with an abundance of photo opportunities and a fascinating lesson in medieval history. There is so much history behind this castle that we can only touch the surface here.

Windsor Castle is the largest castle in the world today that is still occupied. An official residence to the Queen, this 900 plus year old castle continues as a full working palace and covers an area of 26 acres.

The castle was first built after the Norman invasion in order to maintain Norman dominance along the western outskirts of London. It also overlooked and protected a strategic part of the River Thames, having a mote and bailey. Originally constructed of wood the castle was gradually rebuilt with stone to improve the fortification. Henry III built an elaborate royal palace inside the walls of the castle around the middle of the 13th century. Later Edward III rebuilt much of the palace with even more extravagance.

Windsor Castle has served as a home and fortress for Monarchs for it's 900 year history. It stood up to invasions during the First Barons' War in the early 13th century and during the civil war in the 15th century it served as headquarters to Parliamentary military forces. As recently as the Second World War the castle provided protection to the Royal Family from bombing campaigns.

Windsor Castle is only a short distance from Legoland so you may want to combine the two into a single day trip. It certainly possible however, to spend a full day exploring either each one separately.

Windsor Castle is open most days of the year for visitors and tours from 9:45 am to 5:15 pm except until 4:15 pm from November to February. You can get free admission to Windsor Castle if you have purchased the London Pass.

For more information about Windsor Castle including hours and admission charges visit their official website: Windsor Castle

Approach to Windsor Castle ©TourbyTransit.com

700 year old Windsor Castle Stonework ©TourbyTransit.com

Getting There on Transit
Tube Line	Tube Station	National Rail Connection
District, Circle, Hammersmith and City, and Bakerloo Lines	Paddington Station	Take First Great Western Line to Windsor and Eton Central Station
From Paddington Station Purchase a National Rail Ticket for the First Great Western Line to Windsor and Eton Central Station. There will be a transfer between trains at Slough Station. Total time on the train including the transfer varies between 26 and 50 minutes depending on which train you catch. When you arrive at Windsor and Eton Central Station take the Windsor Castle (east) exit and walk south on Thames St. then left on Castle Hill to get to the visitor entrance. Use the National Rail Journey Planner to get details and departure times for you trip. View Windsor Castle in a larger map

Getting There on Transit

Tube Line

Tube Station

National Rail Connection

District, Circle, Hammersmith and City, and Bakerloo Lines

Paddington Station

Take First Great Western Line to Windsor and Eton Central Station

From Paddington Station Purchase a National Rail Ticket for the First Great Western Line to Windsor and Eton Central Station. There will be a transfer between trains at Slough Station. Total time on the train including the transfer varies between 26 and 50 minutes depending on which train you catch.

When you arrive at Windsor and Eton Central Station take the Windsor Castle (east) exit and walk south on Thames St. then left on Castle Hill to get to the visitor entrance.

Use the National Rail Journey Planner to get details and departure times for you trip.

View Windsor Castle in a larger map

Windsor Castle Day Trip

Enjoy a day trip to Windsor Castle

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