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Major city · United Kingdom

Windsor and Eton

Day trip from London if you only want the castle; sleep one night to add Eton, the Long Walk and a slow morning before the coaches arrive.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct; check event dates
avoid Busiest periods check (summer weekends, race days, school holidays)
Airports
LHR · LGW · STN
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

Windsor and Eton are twin towns on opposite banks of the Thames, 30–50 minutes by train from London. Windsor Castle is the anchor: the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, still a working royal residence. Eton is a 15-minute walk across Windsor Bridge and is dominated by its college. Almost everything worth seeing sits inside a 2 km walk, so the real choice is timing, not transport.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Windsor and Eton, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee2026 estimate£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course2026 estimate£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week2026 estimate£6–12 (≈ US$8–16)
  • Museum or sight ticketWindsor Castle adult ticket2026 estimate£26.50 (≈ US$40)
  • Budget bedHostel or pub bunk, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, mid hotel or inn, a night, per room£140 (≈ US$190)
  • High-end bedDouble room, mid hotel or inn, a night, per room£280 (≈ US$400)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £60 (≈ US$80) · Mid £110 (≈ US$150) · High £200 (≈ US$300)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Windsor CastleSt George's ChapelEton CollegeThe Long Walk and Windsor Great ParkChanging of the Guard
Airports
LHR Heathrow (About 8 mi by road via the M4; First bus 77 or 71 from Terminal 5 takes roughly 35–55 min.) · LGW Gatwick (About 1 h by road; no direct train or bus — go via London.) · STN Stansted (About 1 h 30 min by road; no direct train or bus — go via London.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Windsor and Eton: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C

2°C

11 rd

Feb

8°C

2°C

9 rd

Mar

11°C

3°C

10 rd

Apr

14°C

5°C

9 rd

May

18°C

8°C

9 rd

Jun

21°C

11°C

8 rd

Jul

23°C

13°C

8 rd

Aug

23°C

13°C

8 rd

Sep

20°C

11°C

8 rd

Oct

15°C

8°C

10 rd

Nov

11°C

5°C

10 rd

Dec

8°C

3°C

11 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk. Windsor Bridge and Peascod Street are pedestrianised, and Eton College Chapel to Windsor Castle is under 15 minutes on foot. Two stations: Windsor & Eton Central (from Paddington via Slough) and Windsor & Eton Riverside (from Waterloo). Local buses are thin in the evening and on Sundays. Driving between Windsor and Eton means a long loop out to the bypass — walking is faster.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

London

go

Door to door: 50–60 min

Train from Windsor & Eton Riverside to Waterloo, or Central via Slough to Paddington

Two trains an hour on each route; a return is about £13 (2026 estimate).

Runnymede

go

Door to door: About 30 min

First bus 41 toward Old Windsor, alight at the Bells of Ouzely

Meadows, Magna Carta memorial and the Air Forces Memorial; buses run Mon–Sat only.

Legoland Windsor

caution

Door to door: About 20 min

Shuttle bus from central Windsor

Aimed at younger children; book dated tickets and expect summer queues.

Reading

go

Door to door: About 45–60 min (check)

Train to Slough, change for Reading

Useful for onward rail west and a bigger choice of shops and food.

Ascot

caution

Door to door: About 30–40 min

Train via Slough or a short drive

Race days transform the town; check the fixture list first.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Central Windsor (Thames Street / High Street)

Walk to the castle gate in under 10 min and to both stations; priciest and noisiest on summer evenings.

Eton High Street

Quieter, 10–15 min walk over Windsor Bridge; a handful of pubs and small hotels.

Windsor riverside

Riverside walks and some cheaper rooms; walk time to the centre check.

Slough (budget fallback)

Chain hotels near the station, then a 6-min shuttle train to Windsor & Eton Central.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£55–85 (≈ US$75–120) excl. bed
Mid
£90–150 (≈ US$120–200) excl. bed
High
£160 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, mid hotel or inn1 × 1 night × £140£140
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £110£220
Windsor Castle adult ticket2 × £27 · 2026 estimate£53
Return train from London2 × £13 · 2026 estimate£26
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £8 · 2026 estimate£16
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£46
Trip total≈ £251 per person per day, bed included£501≈ US$700

2026 estimate

2026 estimate in pounds; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee2026 estimate£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course2026 estimate£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
Cream tea or cake and tea2026 estimate£6–9 (≈ US$8–12)
Windsor Castle adult ticket2026 estimate£26.50 (≈ US$40)
Eton College tour2026 estimate£10 (≈ US$14)
Return train from London2026 estimate£13.20 (≈ US$18)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week2026 estimate£6–12 (≈ US$8–16)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Local safety conditions check. The practical risks are uneven riverside paths after rain and traffic on the A308 and M4 approaches.
  • Windsor Castle closes some days and the State Apartments can shut at short notice; check the official site before you travel.
  • No photography or video in the State Apartments or St George's Chapel.
  • Buy castle tickets online a day ahead, or arrive after noon to dodge the worst queue.
  • Summer weekend mornings and evenings clog up with Legoland and racecourse traffic.
  • Eton College is a working school: tours run Friday afternoons May–Sep only, and term dates change access.

Emergency numbers

Emergency (police, fire, ambulance)
999
Emergency from any phone (EU-wide)
112
NHS non-urgent advice
111
Police non-urgent
101

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Windsor and EtonWindsor and Eton

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Emergency999
  • Emergency (any phone)112
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

No embassies in Windsor; most are in London. US Embassy: Nine Elms, London (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • London Paddington → Windsor & Eton Central: £9.40 (≈ US$13) single, about 30 min via Slough (2026 estimate)
  • London Waterloo → Windsor & Eton Riverside: £9.50 (≈ US$13) single, about 50 min (2026 estimate)
  • Return from London: about £13.20 (≈ US$18) (2026 estimate)
  • Heathrow T5 → Windsor, First bus 77: about 40 min (check)

Say or show

  • Excuse me / Sorry — Excuse me / Sorry (same as English)
  • Thank you — Thank you (same as English)
  • One adult ticket, please — One adult ticket, please (same as English)
  • How much is it? — How much is it? (same as English)
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card? (same as English)
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet? (same as English)

English is the only language you need here.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Windsor and Eton. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct; check event dates · avoid Busiest periods check (summer weekends, race days, school holidays) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for LHR: last bus 77/71 departures, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: castle and High Street, Eton and Brocas, the Long Walk and Great Park.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Windsor Castle, St George's Chapel, Eton College Chapel, Savill Garden) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Hostile arrival fixtures for race days and Legoland weekends so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources