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Windsor Great Park
The Savill Garden & Virginia Water
At the south end of Windsor Great Park: the Savill Garden, a 35-acre garden created in 1932 (paid entry), and the lake of Virginia Water, with a 5.25-mile path round it.
windsorgreatpark.co.uk →
Windsor
A royal castle town on the Thames, with Eton and Eton College across the bridge
Windsor is a Berkshire town on the south bank of the River Thames, about 22 miles (35 km) west of central London, in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Windsor Castle, begun after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and used by monarchs since Henry I, stands above the town; St George's Chapel, inside its walls, is the burial place of Henry VIII, Charles I and Elizabeth II. South of the castle the Long Walk runs almost 2.5 miles into Windsor Great Park.
A pedestrian bridge from 1824 links Windsor with Eton, the smaller town on the north bank, where Henry VI founded Eton College in 1440. Its museums open free to the public on Sunday afternoons. Both towns are compact and easy to walk, and trains from London Paddington (changing at Slough) and London Waterloo end a few minutes from the castle gates. This guide has two parts: Windsor with the castle and the Long Walk, and Eton with the riverside west to Dorney Lake.
- Ab LondonAbout 35 minGWR from Paddington, changing at Slough (fastest about 22 min); direct South Western Railway trains from Waterloo take just under an hour
- Windsor CastleSince the 11th centuryBegun after 1066 for William the Conqueror and used by monarchs since Henry I
- Eton CollegeFounded 1440By Henry VI; its museums open free on Sunday afternoons
- PopulationAbout 31,600Windsor built-up area, 2021 census, rounded
Gegenden
2 places to begin
Each area has its own mini guide with 20 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay across the city.
Sehenswürdigkeiten
Highlights across Windsor
A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.
Castle & Town
Windsor Castle
Royal residence begun after 1066 and used by monarchs since Henry I, with the Round Tower and state rooms; tickets from the Royal Collection Trust.
Eton
Eton College
Boarding school founded by Henry VI in 1440; Lupton's Tower fronts School Yard. No heritage tours in 2026 because of building works.
Castle & Town
St George's Chapel
Late-Gothic chapel of the Order of the Garter inside the castle walls; Henry VIII, Charles I and Elizabeth II are buried here.
Eton
Windsor Bridge
Cast-iron bridge of 1824 between Windsor and Eton, closed to cars since 1970 and now part of the Thames Path.
Castle & Town
Changing the Guard
The new guard marches from Victoria Barracks up the High Street at about 10.45am on set days; the ceremony inside needs a castle ticket.
Eton
The Brocas
Open meadow on the Eton bank upstream of the bridge, on the Eton Walkway, with a view across the Thames to the castle.
Castle & Town
The Long Walk
Tree-lined avenue laid out for Charles II in 1682-85, running almost 2.5 miles from the castle to the Copper Horse.
Eton
St Mary Magdalene's Church, Boveney
Grade I listed 12th-century flint and chalk chapel on the Thames, built for bargemen; cared for by the Friends of Friendless Churches.
Fotos
1 / 9With kids in Windsor
Animal attractions, railways, science centres, beaches and caves from our Windsor guide, grouped by type. We hold no age ratings or child prices: check each place’s own site for age limits, height rules and family tickets.
Railways, trams and rides
LEGOLAND Windsor ResortTheme park, Castle & Town
Practical help: travelling with children and where to stay in Windsor.
Anreise
Arriving in Windsor
Windsor has two railway stations, both a short walk from the castle: Windsor & Eton Central (trains from Slough, connecting with London Paddington) and Windsor & Eton Riverside (direct trains from London Waterloo). Check the operators for current times and engineering work, especially at weekends.
Train from London Paddington
GWR says Paddington to Windsor & Eton Central takes around 35 minutes, the fastest about 22, with a change at Slough onto the 6-minute branch train. It can take longer at weekends and on public holidays.
Direct train from London Waterloo
South Western Railway runs to Windsor & Eton Riverside, the end of the line from Staines, usually every half hour, seven days a week; the journey takes just under an hour.
Day trip from London
Our day-trip page sets out a one-day plan from London, with the route, highlights and the castle's official site.
Journey times on this page are the operators' or Visit Windsor's own figures, checked on 3 November 2026. We do not publish timetables or fares.
Zu Fuß
Central Windsor and Eton are small: the castle, the High Street, both stations and Windsor Bridge are a few minutes apart. Visit Windsor publishes two signed walks, the Queen's Walkway in Windsor and the Eton Walkway.
Bus to LEGOLAND
Visit Windsor says the LEGOLAND shuttle, service 702 run by Reading Buses, links Windsor town centre with the resort, about two miles away.
Bikes and taxis
Bikes can be hired in Windsor, and Windsor Great Park has traffic-restricted roads that suit cycling (no off-road riding). Taxi ranks are on Thames Street outside the castle and outside Windsor & Eton Riverside station.
On the river
French Brothers runs 40-minute and two-hour boat trips from Windsor Promenade, and a boat to Royal Windsor Racecourse on race days.
Beste Reisezeit
Windsor through the year
Windsor is open all year. In 1991-2020 the nearest Met Office station, Heathrow, averaged a July high of about 24 °C and a January high of about 8 °C. LEGOLAND and the summer racing have seasons, and the castle's guard change runs on set days each month.
FrühlingMärz bis Mai
LEGOLAND's main season starts in March, the river boats run daily, and the gardens of Windsor Great Park come into flower.
SommerJuni bis August
The warmest and busiest months, with summer Monday evening race meetings at Royal Windsor Racecourse and the longest boat-trip days.
HerbstSeptember bis November
Quieter streets and autumn colour on the Long Walk; LEGOLAND's main season ends in early November.
WinterDezember bis Februar
The quietest time; the boat trips run at weekends until just before Christmas, and LEGOLAND opens for its Christmas event.
Tagesausflüge
Außerhalb der Stadt
Ideas for a day away from Windsor. Check the operators for times and tickets.
FAQ
Gut zu wissen vor der Reise
How do I get to Windsor from London?
By train from London Paddington, changing at Slough (GWR says about 35 minutes, the fastest about 22), or directly from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside in just under an hour.
When is the Changing of the Guard at Windsor?
On set days each month, at about 11am; the new guard leaves Victoria Barracks at about 10.45am and marches up the High Street. Visit Windsor says the Army sets the schedule, so check before you go.
Can I visit Eton College?
Eton College's museums and galleries are free and open to the public on Sunday afternoons, 1.30pm to 4pm. The college says there are no heritage tours in 2026 because of building works.
Is Windsor Great Park free?
Yes. The Windsor Great Park website says entry to the park is free and it is open all year; parking, the Savill Garden and some activities are paid for.
How far is LEGOLAND from Windsor?
About two miles from the town centre, according to LEGOLAND. Visit Windsor says the 702 shuttle bus links the town centre with the resort.
Nearby places
Guides near Windsor
Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.
Fotonachweise
- Windsor (header): Diliff, CC BY 2.5, source
- Castle & Town: Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Eton: Derek Harper, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Windsor Castle: Diliff, CC BY 2.5, source
- Eton College: Evka W, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- St George's Chapel: Aurelien Guichard from London, United Kingdom (changes by Rabanus Flavus), CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Windsor Bridge: The original uploader was Wyrdlight at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Changing the Guard: Sandy B, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- The Brocas: Jonathan Thacker, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- The Long Walk: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Mary Magdalene's Church, Boveney: UKgeofan (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- The Savill Garden & Virginia Water: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- The Copper Horse: Michael Coppins, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dorney Lake: dsearls (Doc Searls) profile at Flickr website, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Windsor Guildhall & Museum: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Theatre Royal Windsor: Jim Linwood uploaded and derivative work: MrPanyGoff, CC BY 2.0, source
- Alexandra Gardens: Steven Haslington, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Romney Lock: Nigel Cox, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Royal Windsor Racecourse: Gerald England, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- LEGOLAND Windsor Resort: Rob Young profile, CC BY 2.0, source
- Windsor & Eton Riverside Station: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Gründlich planen
More guides for Windsor
- Where to stay in WindsorWelches Gebiet zu welchem Reisenden passt, mit allen von uns geprüften Unterkünften.
- Getting around WindsorMit und ohne Auto, nach offiziellen Verkehrsseiten.
- When to go to WindsorWetter, Tageslicht und Packliste Monat für Monat.
- Rainy-day ideas in WindsorAktivitäten drinnen, nach Gebiet.
- Events in WindsorFestivals, Märkte und saisonale Veranstaltungen der Veranstalter.
- Attractions in WindsorSehenswürdigkeiten und Museen mit geprüften Angaben zu Eintritt und Zugang.
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