How to Visit Windsor Castle by Train

Windsor Castle is one of the most iconic of the UK’s Royal residences and has been home to our Royal Family for over 900 years.

But my favourite thing about Windsor Castle isn’t its grandeur (it has plenty), its famous occupants (always intriguing) or its beautiful stonework (hard not to be impressed).

It’s that Windsor Castle is just across the road from not one but two train stations.

Windsor and Eton Central station and Windsor and Eton Riverside station are both within easy walking distance of Windsor Castle entrance.

Although the route to the castle from GWR’s Windsor and Eton Central has less uphill.

I travelled with my favourite train line GWR from Devon changing at Reading and then Slough. I especially loved the single platform journey into Windsor and Eton Central, which crossed the River Thames via Brunel’s Windsor Railway Bridge.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s constructions pop up everywhere once you start travelling by train.

I particularly love walking across Brunel’s bridges (not possible with all of them).

Windsor Central station or Windsor Riverside station?

Getting to Windsor by train was easy and I found enough to explore to make me add the trip to my adventures by train pages.

Which station you choose for your trip to Windsor will depend on a few factors.

1. From London you can opt for London Waterloo (direct to Windsor and Eton Riverside) or Paddington (change at Slough for Windsor and Eton Central).
2. If you don’t mind changing trains at Slough (it’s very easy) the journey with GWR into Windsor and Eton Central offers tantalising glimpses of Windsor Castle.
3. So far Windsor and Eton Central is top of my ‘most chilled railway station’ list. The shops and eateries set under the impressive cover of the Victorian station space, make Royal Windsor Station (its previous name) a destination in its own right.

Although the two Windsor stations make a really easy station to station walk (they’re less than a kilometre apart) they don’t have a direct train line between them.

Check out my station to station walking routes here.

Who lives at Windsor Castle?

Windsor Castle is the world’s largest inhabited castle.

Famous former Windsor Castle residents include Henry VIII (also quite large), Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II. You can still see the Royal Standard flying over Windsor Castle today if the King is in residence.

If he isn’t you’ll see the Union Flag instead.

Windsor Castle’s Royal residences, including Adelaide Cottage where Prince William and his family live and Frogmore Cottage once home to Harry and Meghan, are quite rightly kept from public view.

Everyone needs a bit of time out.

But the State Apartments and some other areas at Windsor Castle are open to the public as part of the Royal Collection Trust.

Is it worth visiting Windsor?

Even if you aren’t a fan of the Royal Family, Windsor is a really interesting town to visit. The castle itself sits like a centrepiece to the town.

 And curiosity will almost certainly pull you in.

Whether you choose to visit Windsor Castle or not, Windsor has plenty to offer its visitors.

Where to go in Windsor if you’re not visiting Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is absolutely worth a visit, not least because if you choose to pay for entry to the castle, you’ll get a close-up view of iconic places you’ve seen during televised Royal events and historic items you’ve only previously seen in pictures.

My favourites included Henry VIII’s armour and the restored St George’s Hall.

But if you decide not to purchase a ticket to Windsor Castle, Windsor and its cross-river neighbour Eton, have plenty to offer in their own rights.

Here are my five top suggestions of things to do in Windsor if you’re not visiting Windsor Castle.

Note: Windsor Castle is not open every day.

1. Walk to Eton College

Eton College is a short walk from Windsor Castle across the River Thames. Don’t forget to look in the windows of the uniform shops on the way and perhaps enjoy lunch at Côte Windsor or The Boatman pub (both on the riverside).

2. Visit Windsor’s Crooked House

Despite its wonky appearance, Windsor’s Crooked House is nowhere near as old as Windsor Castle but it is one of Windsor’s most photographed (and Instagramable) buildings. Claiming to be the UK’s oldest tea shop, it looks like it belongs in Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley and is currently The Shambles cafe bar and bottle shop.

3. Walk a section of the Thames Path

The Thames Path is 185 miles long and runs all the way from the great river’s source in the Cotswolds to Woolwich a few miles from the sea. 185 miles is a long way but this route can be walked in sections.

UK long distance paths you can walk by train.

The Thames Path has many options for station to station walks.

About an hour downstream will take you through Windsor Home Park (open to the public) then across the river to Datchet station. If you continue for another hour along the Thames Path from Datchet, you’ll come to the Runnymede Boathouse from where you’ll be able to join a boat trip back to Windsor (check the French Brothers website for times and booking).

The boat trip back will give you amazing views of Windsor’s parks as well as the castle.

How about this train adventure? A beautiful boat trip from Devon to Cornwall.

4. Watch the changing of the Windsor Castle Guard

You’ll need to be inside Windsor Castle to see the Windsor Guard changing ceremony but before and after this, the New Guard and Old Guard march along High Street. One of the best places to watch this march is from the raised Guildhall area opposite the Castle Hotel. The Guard doesn’t march every day and not always to music. Times and dates are available on the Changing Guard website.

Note: Occasionally and without warning, the Guard doesn’t march past the Guildhall. Unfortunately this happened on my visit so I don’t have any splendid photos of the event.

5. Walk Windsor’s famous Long Walk

Windsor’s Long Walk is beautiful straight tree lined path. It joins Snow Hill in Windsor Great Park with Windsor Castle and gives amazing castle views. You’ll recognise it from various Royal occasions including the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The Long Walk is free for the public to use but as part of Windsor Great Park, it may be closed on some occasions.

Author’s visit to Windsor

Visiting as I did in the middle of August, I had expected Windsor to feel overcrowded but it really didn’t. It was definitely a tourist town but these were polite and respectful tourists.

There were plenty of people around during the day but in the evening it was much quieter and the only times we had to queue were for understandable security checks at the the entrance to Windsor Castle and to walk past the Royal Vault in the King George VI Memorial Chapel (at St George’s Chapel).

A memorable experience.

I stayed with a friend for one night and was very pleased to find our apartment a short and very relaxed walk away from the train station through the Royal Windsor Station shopping area. My favourite thing was the almost instant view of Windsor Castle.

I could even glimpse it from my bed.

Windsor Castle is very much at the centre of Windsor and exploring that as well as enjoying a wonderful boat trip on the Thames (I recommend heading downstream past the Royal Parks) didn’t leave much time for walking. Although we did wander across the river to take a peek at the buildings of Eton College (fascinating).

I plan to go back and explore further afield on foot.

I’m not generally a fan of the South East and I didn’t think I would want to visit Windsor more than once but I do. It has a unique rarefied atmosphere.

And is super easy to visit by train.

There were plenty of highlights on my trip but I’ve listed my five top things to do in Windsor below.

1. Pay the ticket price and visit Windsor Castle
2. Take a boat ride on the River Thames
3. Stroll along the Long Walk
4. Dine out in a cobbled street
5. Cross the Thames to discover Eton College

And definitely arrive by train. The car parks and coach areas were super full.