A Windsor Castle day trip is an easy add-on to any visit to London!
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Said to be Queen Elizabeth’s favorite London castle, Windsor Castle is this fascinating mix of historic site and the everyday someone’s (a wealthy someone’s) home. It’s also an easy day trip option outside London.
A Windsor Castle Day Trip
I find palaces fascinating: can you imagine living in a historic building, where every decoration was picked out by someone who’s studied in history books?
You can’t take photos inside, but the rooms are beautiful. Much of the house feels a bit more modern than some of the other palaces I’ve visited (like Buckingham or Neuschwanstein). The interiors aren’t contemporary, but it feels like much of the decor was chosen in the past century.
You can tell which rooms are the ones the family probably actually hangs out in, versus the ones displaying hundreds-years-old prizes. Some, like the Waterloo Room (a dining room) are beautiful in that “formal occasions and state dinners” way, but then there’s the living room where you can absolutely picture someone leaving a magazine on the side table that the docents tuck away after the family leaves.
One tip: be sure to speak to docents! The vast majority are local and have been around forever, so they have a unique perspective on the royal family. They’ll tell good stories, or point out favorite corners of the house, or historic tidbits you won’t get in the history books.
Windsor Castle Day Trip Logistics
Getting to Windsor from London isn’t complicated. You take the tube from Paddington station up to Slough, then change trains to Windsor. The second train only goes between Slough and Windsor, so you don’t even have to pay attention!
Palaces are only open when the royal family isn’t in residence, so make sure to check the schedule in advance! (This applies to all palaces, not just Windsor Castle.)
I recommend buying tickets in advance. After all, you’re taking all the time to get out there – it would suck if you were turned away!
As with all museums, going earlier in the morning is always better. There are fewer crowds if you can convince yourself to get up earlier. If possible, do the Doll House first – that often has the longest line of any section of Windsor Castle.
If you’d rather keep it simple, there are tons of organized day trips on Get Your Guide. These are especially great if you want to combine destinations (like adding on a visit to Bath) or see Stonehenge – not possible with public transport!
What to See: Outside
The exterior looks like the centuries-old fortress you want a building called “castle” to look like. Dating back to 1070, the fortress’ main entrance conjures all the history it holds.
Windsor Palace also feels very much in the country. I can see why this one lets the royal family get away from it all while still being within easy reach of London.
If you’re here on Thursdays and Saturdays, go watch the changing of the guard at 11 am. Get there a little early to get a good spot!
Another spot that seems so perfectly homey is the pool and surrounding area! To be clear, I mean homey as the super wealthy person’s definition of homey: somewhere you can see relaxing on a sunny afternoon, less like a historic palace.
If you follow the royal family much, you’ll recognize Windsor Castle’s famous drive. Called the Long Walk (don’t you just love the British approach to naming things?), it’s a 2.6 mile (mostly pedestrian) path leading to the castle. It’s inside the Windsor Great Park, which is open to the public. You can see it from inside the house, and it’s open to the public to walk if you want to stretch your legs after lunch!
Windsor Castle’s Speciality Exhibits
Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House
it sounds like a small thing, but make sure to see the doll house. It’s fascinating! Made 100 years ago, the attention to detail is amazing. Everything is made to scale, and many things actually work! From the lawn mover to the pipes (yes, there’s running water in there), there’s a constant rotation of restoration on the accessories.
China Exhibit
The China displays are a smaller display, but since it’s right next to the Dolls’ House, it’s worth sticking your head in. You can see centuries of royal china patterns. If you fall in love with one, many recreations are on sale (both here and in the main gift shop) for a pretty penny.
Christmas Displays
If you can, visiting around the holidays is especially beautiful because they decorate to the nines for Christmas! I missed visiting with their decorations by a week, but typically they decorate the last week of November, so check their website to plan your time. This isn’t a specific area; the whole place is decorated!
St. George’s Chapel
While you may be museum-ed out after covering the entire castle, don’t skip St. George’s Chapel! It was built in the late 15th century and is striking in the same being as many of the great Gothic churches in England.
In case you visited Westminister Cathedral and wondered where the more recent royalty is, you’ll find them here! Queen Elizabeth II, George VI, Henry VIII, and Charles I are all here, among others.
Note that the Chapel is closed to visitors on Sundays.
Around Windsor
By now, you’re probably ready for lunch and a chance to sit down or maybe see a bit of Windsor!
If you’re craving a pub lunch, go to The Duchess of Cambridge. It’s just around the corner from Windsor Castle and has a good modern pub menu. They also have some patio seating out back if you want some fresh air.
If you’re craving brunch, try Millar’s Eatery! They do a full brunch menu all day and also have some international lunch options.
This side of Windsor is cute and charming, so if you want to kill some time, take a wander after lunch. Make sure to see the Crooked House, and if you want a quiet moment, head to Barnes Pool.
Find yourself here and want to stay overnight? check these hotels!
Want more England tips? Check my England page for all my favorite spots!
