Windsor Castle Tours and Transport from London
Visit the Largest Inhabited Castle in the World on Day Trip by Train
Mar 18, 2009
According to Wikipedia, Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world, and also the longest continually inhabited castle in the world. It has been one of the main royal residences of the kings and queens of England since the time of William the Conqueror, who built one of the first castles in England on this spot. Windsor Castle is quick and easy to visit by bus or train from the centre of London, or even by taxi from Heathrow Airport.
Windsor Castle Location
The kings and queens of England thoughtfully built their castle in a spot which, centuries later, would be convenient for tourists wanting to visit. It is close to the town's two train stations, and the main bus stops, and only a few miles from Heathrow Airport.
Windsor Castle Tours
Most people do a self-guided tour of Windsor Castle using either the official guidebook or one of the audio guides that are included in the price. However, many people miss the fact that there is also an addition free guided tour of the castle grounds. These are given by one of the Castle Wardens, take place about every thirty minutes, and are included in the price of admission to the castle.
Windsor Castle Opening Hours
Windsor Castle is open daily throughout the year, with opening times varying slightly in summer and winter. Check the official Windsor Castle website for current details and prices.
Visiting Windsor Castle from London
The quickest and most convenient way to get to Windsor Castle from London is by train. Windsor has two train stations (Windsor and Eton Central, and Windsor and Eton Riverside), both only about a 5-minute walk to the castle. The Central Station is reached by trains from London's Paddington Station, and Riverside Station is served by trains from London's Waterloo Station. The Paddington service is quicker, being closer to Windsor Castle, but both services require a change of trains. It takes about 35-60 minutes to get to Windsor from Central London. There are also several regular buses from London's Victoria Collonades (close to Victoria Train and Coach Stations) to the centre of Windsor. Buses take about 75-90 minutes depending on the traffic
Visiting Windsor Castle from Heathrow Airport
Passengers flying into and out of London's Heathrow Airport often get good views of Windsor Castle. It is only about nine miles from Heathrow's terminals to the door of Windsor Castle. There are two ways of getting to Windsor from Heathrow, depending on the availability of both time and money. The cheap way is to get bus number 77 from Terminal 5, which drops passengers in the centre of Windsor, a few hundred yards from the castle. Journey time is about 45 minutes and buses run about every 30 minutes. Taxis are quicker but much more expensive, though often the best option if time is tight.
Further Information and Official Website
For full details of opening times and current admission prices visit the official Windsor Castle website at the Royal Collection and click on the Windsor Castle link.
