Windsor Castle Review | London Day Trip, Highlights & Tour Options

Windsor Castle is one of the best royal day trips from London. Still used as an official royal residence, it offers more than a castle exterior: inside are the State Apartments, St George’s Chapel and Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House. This guide covers how to get to Windsor Castle from London, what to see, how it compares with Buckingham Palace, and whether it is better visited independently or as part of a Windsor, Bath and Stonehenge day tour.

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Why Windsor Castle Is Worth Visiting

History and the House of Windsor

Windsor Castle was founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and has a history of more than 900 years, with links to 40 monarchs. It is not simply a historic site or museum, but one of the clearest physical expressions of the British monarchy’s long continuity. A visit here is not just about architecture and collections, but about seeing how royal power has been preserved through residence, ritual and history.

The name Windsor itself also carries political meaning. During the First World War in 1917, King George V changed the royal family’s German-sounding surname, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, to Windsor, formally adopting Windsor as the royal surname. In other words, the name itself reflects a moment when the British monarchy reshaped its identity and public image.

Windsor Castle Vs Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace feels more like the royal façade of the capital: the centre of state ceremony, official imagery and outward-facing royal presentation. Windsor Castle, by contrast, feels more like where royal history has actually settled. It is not simply a palace, but a castle, where defence, religion, residence and ceremony all overlap, giving it greater historical weight.

In practical travel terms, the difference is just as clear. Buckingham Palace State Rooms are generally only open to the public in summer; in 2026, the public opening period runs from 9 July to 27 September. So if you are not visiting Britain in summer, Buckingham Palace interiors are usually not something you can treat as a standard sightseeing plan. Windsor Castle, by comparison, is the more stable and easier royal interior visit to arrange.

Read More：Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guard: Times & Photo Spots

Even Sceptical Parents Stop Complaining

My mother is a very typical older Asian parent who usually says everything is a waste of money. She kept complaining that paying more than thirty pounds just to look at “where other people live” was not worth it; but once she actually went inside, she went quiet.

Once she saw the scale of the rooms, the density of the collections and the overall sense of ceremony in person, she felt it was worth the ticket, even though photography is not allowed inside.

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How To Get To Windsor From London

Train

The most common way to get to Windsor from London is by train. You can take a direct train from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside, which has the advantage of requiring no change.

You can also travel from London Paddington to Windsor & Eton Central via Slough, which is often quicker overall.

Both stations are very close to the castle, and you can simply walk there after arriving.

Drive

If you are driving, Windsor Castle itself does not have visitor parking. The most practical option is to park in one of Windsor town centre’s public car parks and walk to the castle from there.

Day Tour

If your time is limited, or you already want to combine Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and the Roman Baths in Bath in one classic England route, a day tour is the more efficient option. All the transport and transfers are handled for you, which makes it much easier for first-time visitors to England who do not want to piece the route together themselves.

• Day Trip From London - Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath

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What To See Inside Windsor Castle

State Apartments

The State Apartments are the core interior highlight of Windsor Castle. Inside, there are large numbers of weapons, silverware, armour and highly ceremonial displays, and the effect is immediate: this is a complete visual language Britain once used to project national power, wealth and royal legitimacy.

St George’s Chapel

St George’s Chapel is not just an attached chapel, but a core royal space tied to religion, remembrance and dynastic legitimacy. Queen Elizabeth II is also buried here.

If the State Apartments represent a space of power, this represents the other side of monarchy: bloodline, memory and religious legitimacy.

One important point is that the chapel is not open to general visitors on Sundays, only to worshippers attending services.

Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House

Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House sounds like a toy by name, but in reality the level of detail is extraordinary. Even people who normally have no interest in dolls’ houses will usually end up stopping to look more closely once they see it in person.

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What Else To See In Windsor

If you are planning your own Windsor Castle day trip or half-day trip, Windsor itself is worth leaving some time for as well.

After visiting the castle, you can head straight into the town and find a pub for lunch or dinner.

Windsor Royal Station, the town centre streets and the riverside walk are all good for a stroll as well; the route from the station to the castle and into the town centre is straightforward, so there is no need to take any extra transport.

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