When I am planning a big trip overseas, I try to be mindful to breakup with a variety of activities and sceneries so that each day is new and exciting and so that your pace and energy can be maintained.  Traveling can be exhausting to say the least.  You get up early, walk perhaps way more than you would at home. Climb stairs, hills and, if in a large city, fight through the crowds.  I’ve found that too many days of this ware you down to the point where you’re having a hard time truly enjoying the trip.  We need days that have a more restful feel to them, and visiting Windsor Castle can be just one of those days to breakup your London trip craziness. 

Should I take a bus tour to Windsor Castle?

I would say that by far, the most common way most people see Windsor Castle is by taking a bus tour from London.  The tours are a super popular way to get to Windsor Castle.  Many of the tours are combined tours where you can see Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath or perhaps Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford all in one, fast-paced day.   Wow! To me, that sounds exhausting, but, to each their own. Having visited Windsor, Bath, and Oxford, I can’t imagine trying to have fit those in all in one day!  While I think bus tours definitely have their place in our travel plans.  For example, I love using bus tours when I am somewhere where I feel somewhat less safe or somewhere where I feel less confident in navigating the public transportation system, but to me, bus tours always feel like the lesser of two evils: not seeing the place, or taking the bus tour.  Maybe it works for other people, but I hate being herded through places like cattle, having to be on someone else’s timetable, and being at places at their most crowded times.

Windsor Castle, the full-day experience

So how do you do the full-day independent traveler Windsor Castle experience?  Well, first off you will need to catch a train from London to Windsor.  Several stations in London will take you to the Windsor and Eton Riverside train station which is the stop you will want to get off at to go to Windsor Castle. The train ticket will cost you about $20-$30 per person (depending on the time you travel) for a round-trip, same-day ticket, and the ride is only about 30 minutes each way.  You can book an “Anytime Day Return” ticket that will allow you more freedom to stay in Windsor until you have had your fill of it.  Trains back to London leave about every 30 minutes or so, so you have lots of options to catch a train to leave when you’re ready.   The trains are not super crowed, so you should have little getting a seat on the train. 

Is navigating the London train stations difficult?

I would say everyone should be able to handle navigating the train stations.  The only tricky part is that the track your train will be leaving from only posts maybe 10 minutes before your train leaves.  The nice part is, if you are confused, just as someone who works there.  They can help direct you to the track you should be at.  I recommend just getting to the train station early so you have enough time to get your bearings and know which track your train will be leaving from.   When you arrive at the Windsor Eton Riverside Station, you should have zero trouble knowing where to go.  You can see Windsor Castle when you get off the train, so just start walking towards it. 

What’s the Cost for Getting into Windsor Castle?

The cost is pretty steep for getting into Windsor Castle about 23 pounds for adults (which is about $30 US), but the good news is that Windsor Castle is typically included on the London Pass, so if you have bought that you will not have to pay anything to get in to Windsor Castle. 

What Can I Expect When I Get There?

Honestly, when you get off at the train station, you will probably feel like you have arrived at a Disney park where everything is themed and there are cute little shops and restaurants.  The area right outside of Windsor Castle is super cute and relaxing, and other the McDonalds, you could probably get transported back in time by the little town. 

Spend Some Time Walking in the Village and Walking over to Eton

Eton is only a short walk away, and it is a delightful little walk which river views, swans, etc. My husband and I grabbed a cup of hot coco over at Esquire Coffee and took the lovely walk over there before departing for London.

Eat Dinner at a Great Pub with a Great View

We ate dinner at The Horse and Groom which is a pub that is located super close to the exit from Windsor Castle.  The food was delicious there.   I had fish and chips, but everything else on the menu is probably super delicious, and the people who work there are super friendly and wonderful.  To top that off, if you eat upstairs, you get a view of Windsor Castle while you eat.  Not bad if you ask me!