Trains to Windsor Castle
How to get to Windsor Castle by train
There are two popular train stations very close to Windsor Castle: Windsor & Eton Central and Windsor & Riverside. If you’re visiting from London, you can reach Windsor & Eton Central from Paddington or Windsor & Riverside from Waterloo.
If you’re travelling from west of Windsor Castle, it’s easy to reach Windsor & Eton Central from Reading train station – via Slough – in under 30 minutes.
Windsor Castle is almost an equal distance from both train stations – it takes just five minutes to walk.
About Windsor Castle
The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, with the Queen spending most of her weekends within its walls, it’s no wonder Windsor Castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the UK.
Founded in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, Windsor Castle has been home to a total 39 monarchs. It’s open five days a week (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) for anyone to live and breath its thousand-year history.
There’s a wide range of tours on offer at Windsor Castle, including the free Castle Precincts Tour: a 30-minute guide to the rich history of the site the castle is built on.
The State Apartments Historic Route tour takes you through the rooms designed and built for Charles II and Catherine of Braganza, while the State Apartments Ceremonial Route Tour looks at the parts of the castle still in use today. Keep an eye out for rooms you might recognise in The Crown if you decide to take the Ceremonial Route Tour.
If you’re visiting at 11am on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, you have to see the Changing the Guard ceremony. Since 1660, this famous ritual sees the castle guards, dressed in their iconic red jackets and bearskin caps, handing over their duties to one another.
Other must-see attractions are St George’s Chapel – the wedding location for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – and The Royal Collection. Some of the Royal Family’s most precious items can be found in The Royal Collection, including coats of arms, furniture, paintings, and stunning sculptures.
