Getting to Windsor
Situated approximately 21 miles (34 kilometres) west of central London and 7 miles (11 kilometres) from Heathrow airport, getting to Windsor is easily accessible by car, bus, or train.
By car:
Windsor is conveniently located near the M4 motorway, but parking in Windsor is limited and the castle doesn’t offer any public parking. Street parking is strictly limited and has strict time limits for those without a residence permit.
If you are hoping to find street parking in Windsor, you will find most streets are resident only during castle hours.
Below are a few of the public parking options with daily rates:
River Street: This lot is a short walk from the castle entrance and offers both short-term and long-term parking options. The park charges by the hour. An hour will cost £6.80 and a stay over five hours caps at £25.50. While convenient, it is an expensive option and spaces fill up quickly during peak times, especially weekends and holidays.
King Edward VII Avenue Car Park: A much cheaper option to the Windsor Castle Car park, located off King Edward VII Avenue on the Datchet border but also within walking distance of the castle entrance. This park also charges by the hour. An hour costs £2.20 and the daily max is £12.80.
Meadow Lane: This parking facility is in Eton, but still within walking distance of the castle. This park also charges by the hour. An hour costs £2.20 and the daily max is £15.30.
Click here for a full list of Windsor parking options.
Local tip:
Avoid Central Windsor around the time of the guard change. (see our How to Watch the Guard Change page here). Traffic is at a standstill getting in and out of the area surrounding the castle.
Free parking is available at the Long Walk Gate Car Park near the Queen Anne’s Gate. It is a gravel lot approximately 1.3 miles from the castle, but if walking the Long Walk was in your plans, you’ll be treated to spectacular views as you walk along the Long Walk toward the castle.
If you find yourself in a real bind with all lots full, https://www.yourparkingspace.co.uk is like Airbnb for parking spaces. Rates and proximity to the castle vary greatly.
Avoid driving in central Windsor around the time of the Guard Change.
By Bus:
The Windsor Express: runs busses to and from Heathrow and Central London. The £2 charge makes it by far the most economical choice for getting to Windsor.
From London, the Reading 702 is £2 and has several stops in Central London near Victoria Station, Hyde Park Corner, Royal Albert Hall, and Hammersmith.
Flightline 703 from Heathrow offers service from terminal 5 into Central Windsor with dedicated luggage racks.
Local tip:
Windsor Express busses can feel like a bit of a slog (Heathrow to Windsor is around 50 minutes and from London around 1 hour 20 but they have upstairs tables with charging stations, and every seat has a phone holder. Take advantage of the free wifi to brush up on your history during your trip.
By train:
Windsor is served by two train stations, both situated with a five-minute walk to the castle. Windsor is outside London Fare zones, so Oyster cards are not valid.
Windsor & Eton Central is managed by Great Western Railway, and the train that runs approximately every twenty minutes to and from Slough.
From Slough, there are many train options that can be found here, including the Elizabeth line, and an express train that will get you to Paddington in under 20 minutes.
Trains between Slough and Windsor & Eton Central station leave every twenty minutes.
‘Windsor & Eton Riverside’ is managed by Southwestern Railway and serves 13 stops between Windsor and London Waterloo.
Tickets can be purchased at the station, or online apps such as Trainline.
Local tip:
When leaving Windsor, if making a tight connection at Slough, boarding the last car will have you deboarding closest to the stairs leading to other platforms.
Whether you plan to make your journey by car, train, or bus, Windsor is most convenient when planned.