Gathering the gems worth your time…
Destination guide
Windsor
United Kingdom
Windsor and Eton are twin towns, in Berkshire, in the South East of England, separated by the River Thames and joined by Windsor Bridge. Windsor is an ancient town most famous for its castle, construction of which began in 1075, and which is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world.
Introduction quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Sources gathered & checked 5 days ago
At a glance
- Best time to go
- April–October
- Getting around
- Bus · Car · Foot
- Vetted picks
- 24 places — 2 backed by 3+ independent sources
- Real coverage
- 7 vetted creator sources
AI insights
AI-written from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and the video stats on this page
Prioritize your visit to Eton just across the river; it is significantly less crowded than the Windsor side and offers a quieter, more authentic look at the historic architecture away from the main tourist trail.
When visiting Windsor Castle, always book your tickets online at least one day in advance; if you fail to do so, arrive after noon to avoid the longest queues at the gate.
For the most iconic and unobstructed view of the castle, head to the River Thames or walk through Brocas Meadows; the river perspective is superior to any view you will get from the crowded streets.
If you are planning to visit Legoland, book your tickets well in advance, as they can be expensive when purchased on the day.
Avoid driving into town on summer weekends or race days, as traffic congestion near the main attractions can be severe; the town is compact enough to explore entirely on foot once you have arrived.
How these 24 picks are sourced
6 of 24 are named by a second, independent source — MemorySeekers, One Shot Adventures and Royal Collection Trust, and 5 others — and each card names its own. The remaining 18 rest on the reference article alone: we list them because Wikivoyage or Wikipedia documents them, not because anyone else vouched for them. We also watched 7 creator videos, 2 of them from local channels rather than visiting ones. 18 of the 24 descriptions are quoted word for word from Wikivoyage under CC BY-SA rather than written by us, as is the introduction above — each of those cards says so. What we add is the checking, the corroboration above, and the choice of which places are worth your time at all.What we can't promise is that it's still true. Venues close, hours and prices change, and we don't re-check them — a place here closed for good and sat on this page for a year before anyone noticed. The insights are AI-written from these sources and can be wrong too. Confirm anything you'd be sorry to be wrong about before you set out. Terms.
Watch first
Ranked by views and how well each landed with the people who watched it, judged against the other coverage of this place — plus a local creator where we found one.
WINDSOR, UK: Best Things to Do FROM A LOCAL | Travel Guide
One Shot Adventures · 49K viewsLocal
Windsor Castle Tour - The Queen's Royal Residence - England Travel Ideas
Ultimate Bucket List · 1.5M views
Video of Windsor, Berkshire | What's it like to live in Windsor?
Octagon Developments · 15K viewsLocal
Windsor Castle, England | A Walking Tour Inside Queen Elizabeth's Castle
Tours by Foot - London · 617K views
We've Never Seen Anything Like This Place! | Windsor, UK 🇬🇧
TriFate Lifestyle · 129K views
A Day Trip to Windsor - Windsor & Eton - Best things to do in Windsor + History
MemorySeekers · 179K views
Visiting WINDSOR CASTLE in England - Everything You Need to Know
She Run the World · 35K views
Best time to go
Best window: April–October
Kind weather all year — there is no month to avoid.
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Apr
May
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Oct
Nov
Dec
IdealGoodOkayOff-season
Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.
Getting around
By bus
Windsor has a reasonable bus service, both within the town and to the surrounding area, although frequencies can be quite low with little service in the evenings or on Sunday. First Berkshire, , provides most bus services in the area.
By car
Neither Windsor nor Eton is big enough to get really congested, although traffic delays can be severe on summer weekend mornings and evenings, when Legoland is popular, and on evenings when there is horse-racing at Windsor racecourse.
By foot
Neither Windsor nor Eton is desperately large and walking is a good way around the central area. For example it will take you no more than 15 minutes to walk from Eton College Chapel to Windsor Castle.
Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What to see
Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check. Single source means the opposite, said plainly: the reference article lists it and nothing else we checked does.
Windsor Castle
7 sources agreeAlso recommended by Lonely Planet and 6 others
Stopped here on camera: MemorySeekers, She Run the World
The world's oldest continuously occupied fortress, where you walk through the State Apartments and can time your visit to the Changing of the Guard.
Vetted sources
Eton College
Worth itAlso recommended by One Shot Adventures and 1 other
Stopped here on camera: MemorySeekers
Eton· Moderate
The most prestigious school in the United Kingdom, and also one of the most expensive, but only admits boys.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
St George's Chapel
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
A soaring Gothic chapel within the castle walls where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married, and where ten monarchs including Henry VIII are buried.
Vetted sources
Queen Mary's Dolls' House
Worth itAlso recommended by Royal Collection Trust
A perfectly detailed 1924 miniature royal residence built to 1:12 scale, down to running water and a wine cellar stocked with tiny real bottles.
Vetted sources
Windsor Parish Church
Single sourceby the Guildhall
St. John the Baptist, built 1822, replaced earlier church edifices that stood since 1084 on the site, 80 m from the Henry VIII Gate of Windsor Castle.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Brocas Meadows
Single sourceEton· Free
Just across Windsor Bridge. These attractive meadows offer a spectacular view across the river of Windsor and the Castle.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Changing of the Guard
Single sourceStopped here on camera: She Run the World
Windsor Castle· Free
The guards are stationed at Victoria Barracks and march up to and from the Castle accompanied by the guards band playing traditional military marches as well as popular songs.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Guildhall
Single sourceby Windsor Parish Church
Built by Sir Christopher Wren, it is famous for its pillars, which were insisted on by the towns burgesses, even though Wren insisted they were unnecessary.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
What to do
The Long Walk
3 sources agreeAlso recommended by Royal Collection Trust and 2 others
Stopped here on camera: MemorySeekers
A tree-lined avenue running three miles dead straight from the castle gates to a hilltop statue, laid out in the 17th century for royal carriage rides.
Vetted sources
Royal Windsor Racecourse
Single sourceMaidenhead Road, Windsor· Cheap
Accessible on race days by the X77 shuttle bus from Windsor & Eton Riverside station (round trip or boat shuttle from Thames Promenade (round trip.
Vetted sources
Theatre Royale
Single sourceThames Street, Windsor
Excellent, medium-sized Victorian theatre, that always has a variety of touring productions, with a host of well-known British actors.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
French Brothers Boat Tour
Single sourceWindsor Promenade, Windsor· Cheap
Run 40-minute and 2-hour trips, principally up-river and with views of Windsor Castle, Eton College, Brocas Meadows, Windsor Racecourse, Bray Film Studios (2-hour trip only) and Monkey Island (2-hour trip only).
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
City Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour
Single sourcein front of Windsor Castle· Cheap
Provides a hop-on, hop-off service visiting Windsor Castle, Victoria Barracks, The Long Walk and Eton College.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Salters Steamers Boat Tour
Single sourceThames Side, Windsor· Cheap
Run half-day trips down-river to Staines and up-river to Maidenhead.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
What to eat
The Boatman
Worth itAlso recommended by London Pass
Windsor's only riverside pub, where you eat classic fish and chips looking straight out over the Thames.
Vetted sources
Viceroy of Windsor
Single source49-51 St Leonards Road· Pricey
Well-established Indian restaurant, a "Top Hundred Restaurant" in the British Curry Awards. Locally voted "Restaurant of the Year 2008-9". Very popular. Hot curries are very spicy.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Gilbey's Bar & Restaurant
Single sourceHigh Street, Eton· Pricey
Well known for fine wines and cuisine. The bistro and bar overlooks the High Street, whilst the conservatory restaurant adjoins the courtyard garden at the rear.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Browns Restaurant & Bar
Single sourceThe Promenade, Windsor· Pricey
With views across the Thames, this famous listed building offers a reasonable atmosphere and low end food and drink.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Nando's
Single source10 Thames Street, Windsor
Portuguese peri-peri chicken house, with many other food varieties on offer.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Vansittart Arms
Single source105 Vansittart Rd, Windsor SL4 5DD
Though it does get busy, this Fuller's pub has nice outside seating.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Caffe Nero
Single sourceRoyal Train Station (Concourse area)
Nationwide coffee chain, very good coffee.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Where to stay
Beaumont Estate
Single sourceBurfield Road· Expensive
This is a hotel and event venue offering over 400 bedrooms and 75 event suites.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Holiday Inn Express Windsor
Single source71 Alma Rd
Within walking distance of town in a good neighbourhood. Good rooms and reasonable breakfast included. Limited covered parking available for fee.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Little Acre Serviced Apartments
Single sourceWindsor, SL4 4AZ
An executive apartment in an impressive building on Hermitage Lane backing onto Windsor Great Park.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Build your day
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Where to next
Nearby cities in United Kingdom we’ve vetted too.
- LondonWorld-class museums, West End theatre, and the country's densest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants.
- OxfordWander the honey-stone quads of an 800-year-old university that inspired Tolkien and Lewis Carroll.
- BrightonA pebble-beach seaside town with the exotic Royal Pavilion and Britain's most vibrant LGBTQ+ nightlife scene.
- Stonehenge / SalisburyA 5,000-year-old stone circle beside Salisbury's cathedral, home to the best-preserved of the four original Magna Carta copies.
- CotswoldsHoney-colored limestone villages like Bourton-on-the-Water and Bibury define the English countryside idyll.
- CambridgePunt the River Cam past King's College Chapel, one of the finest examples of late Gothic architecture.
Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.