Windsor Castle Day Trip From London: Is It Worth It?
If you're planning a trip to London, Windsor Castle is one of the most popular day trips. But is it worth giving up precious sightseeing time in the city?
After visiting with our two kids during our six-day London trip, we'd absolutely recommend it for most first-time visitors.
That being said, it's not the right choice for everyone.
Before our trip, we had the same debate... Windsor Castle is an iconic landmark, but we weren’t sure if it was worth taking half a day of our trip to check it out.
However, we really wanted to see a castle. It seemed silly to travel all the way to England and miss out on a site like that. And who doesn’t want to explore a real-life castle?
Ultimately, we decided we’d regret not making the trip and added it to our 6-day London itinerary.
At a Glance
Our verdict: Windsor Castle is definitely worth a day trip from London if you have the time. We loved exploring the castle grounds and wandering the halls of the iconic castle.
Best for: Families who love castles, the Royal family, and British history
Maybe skip if: You only have a few days in London or you don’t want to deal with taking day trips
Time commitment: Half a day was plenty for us, but if you like to take your time in museums, you could spend a whole day there.
Kid appeal: It was one of the highlights of the trip. With all of the armor and coats of arms, they felt like they’d walked into an episode of Scooby Doo.
Our Verdict: Is Windsor Castle Worth Visiting From London?
Our day trip to Windsor Castle ended up being one of our favorite days of our trip to London.
It was surreal stepping into a working royal palace where countless notable monarchs throughout history had taken up residence.
As American travelers who had never before stepped into a castle, it completely lived up to our expectations.
What Makes Windsor Castle Worth the Trip?
It Feels Like Stepping Into England’s History
We were blown away by how beautiful and peaceful the grounds felt. We got so many beautiful photographs outside. (Unfortunately, you can’t take photos inside of the castle.)
It was surreal to think we were walking into a castle originally built by William the Conqueror! And so many major figures were learned about in history classes in school had walked those very same grounds.
I especially enjoyed visiting St. George’s Chapel, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married in 2018. When I watched the wedding with my mom and daughter, I never imagined I’d actually be there one day to see it in person!
It Gives You a Break From Busy London
It can be overwhelming trying to create an itinerary for a London trip. There’s so much to see! We wondered if visiting Windsor Castle was worth losing time in London.
For us, it was definitely worth it.
Not only was the castle itself amazing, but it ended up being a nice break from the bustle of the city. Windsor is a smaller town, and the streets near the castle are lined with cute shops.
Kids Can Actually Picture Life in a Castle
Our kids, 7 and 9 at the time, thoroughly enjoyed their time at Windsor Castle. It had enough novelty to keep them interested.
While I could see younger ones not understanding the significance of what they’re seeing, most little ones are familiar with the ideas of castles and princesses. Visiting Windsor Castle is like entering into a real-life fairytale.
We couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather when visiting Windsor Castle on a day trip from London in early May 2025.
Our Experience Visiting Windsor Castle With Kids
First Impressions
When you walk out of the train station, the castle is right there. I mean right there!
It was interesting to step off the train and immediately see a castle.
The castle itself is beautiful, and the surrounding gardens were really nice. We were lucky and visited on a sunny day, so we had perfect weather.
A Kid’s Perspective
Daughter, 9 at the time: “It was my second favorite thing. It was just very pretty and historical.”
Son, 7 at the time: “There was a game of bows and arrows, and it was really fun.”
Both kids had a great time during our day trip. Our daughter was fascinated by the history, and our son enjoyed posing for pictures next to cannons on the grounds.
What We Loved Most
When planning the trip, we were focused on looking into the interior of the castle. We didn’t really consider the grounds. They were absolutely beautiful. We saw the Moat Garden as we headed toward the castle’s entrance and just had to stop and take in the scenery. It was beautiful!
We loved walking through St. George’s Hall and seeing all of the coats of arms, armor, and statues. As Americans who’d never visited a castle before, we felt that the hall was exactly what we’ve pictured the inside of a castle would look like.
What We’d Do Differently Next Time
We’d enjoy exploring the grounds more. They were truly breathtaking, especially in the sunshine.
We’d consider making time for Queen Mary’s Dollhouse. It wasn’t a top priority for us, and the line was very long, so we skipped it.
I’d budget in some money for souvenirs. They had some absolutely gorgeous jewelry in the gift shop!
Who Will Love Windsor Castle (And Who Should Skip It?)
Windsor Castle is a great choice for a day trip if:
You’ve always dreamed of seeing a castle
You are fascinated by the Royal family
You love British History
You want to pay respects to past monarchs at St. George’s Chapel
You may want to skip Windsor Castle if:
You have limited time in London (it’s probably not worth it if you’re there for three full days or less)
You’re on a very tight budget (it’s outside of London, so you’ll have to arrange transportation in addition to buying tickets)
You’ve been to many other castles before
Windsor Castle vs. Other London Day Trips and Experiences
One of the great things about visiting London is that there’s easy access to so many incredible day trips. The challenge is figuring out which ones to prioritize, especially when you have limited vacation time. I would recommend only taking day trips if you have 4 or more full days in London so that you have plenty of time to see the major sites within the city.
Windsor Castle vs. Stonehenge
Windsor Castle and Stonehenge were our favorite two day trips. But they couldn’t be more different. If you only have time to visit one…
Choose Windsor if you:
Are more into modern history
Are a British history buff
Haven’t visited a castle before
Have little ones obsessed with princesses and knights
Want a day trip that’s closer to London
Choose Stonehenge if you:
Are more into ancient history
Are fascinated by the mystery behind it
Don’t mind spending a little more time traveling
Have seen castles before
Want a bucket-list day trip
Stonehenge ended up being our favorite day trip from London. (Yes, it was the kids’ favorite, too!) It’s such an iconic site, and we never dreamed we’d get to see with our own eyes. But Windsor Castle was wonderful in a different way, and we were very glad to see both. You can’t go wrong with either.
Windsor Castle vs. Harry Potter Studio Tour
These options are completely different experiences, but many travelers may be torn between them when planning their London itinerary.
Choose Windsor if you:
Want more of a cultural experience
Want to feel immersed in history
Have little ones who are too young to appreciate Harry Potter
Choose Harry Potter if you:
Are a huge Harry Potter fan
Are already seeing other major historical sites in London
Would regret passing up the chance to see the real sets, soundstages, costumes, and props from the movies
I think this largely comes down to which thing you are more passionate about: British History or the Harry Potter fandom. If you’re looking for more of an authentic, cultural British day trip, I’d recommend Windsor Castle (especially if you’ve never been to a castle before).
However, die-hard Harry Potter fans may regret being so close to seeing the Wizarding World brought to life and not taking the opportunity to visit. If Harry Potter is a huge part of your life, it’s worth making the trip to do the studio tour.
Windsor Castle vs. Tower of London
Choose Windsor if you:
Want the “wow” factor
Want to explore a working castle
Want to marvel at both the manicured gardens and exquisitely decorated interior
Don’t mind going outside of the city
Choose the Tower of London if you:
Want something conveniently located within London
Want to see the Crown Jewels
Want to enjoy the informative and entertaining Beefeater tour
Are interested in the grittier side of British history
Both of these attractions are worth it, but if your time is limited, the convenience of seeing the Tower of London is hard to beat, as it doesn’t require a day trip. However, if you’re looking to be swept away by the grandeur of beautiful grounds and furnishings, Windsor Castle fits the bill.
Windsor Castle vs. Spending More Time in London
There is so much to do within London that day trips are not necessary. You won’t run out of things to do within the city.
If you only have 3 full days to explore, I’d recommend staying within London.
If you have 4 full days, a day trip to Windsor Castle is worth considering.
If you have 5-7 days (or more), then you have plenty of time to visit Windsor Castle, as well as other sites outside of the city. We were in London for 6 days and managed to visit Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter.
And don’t forget, you can always plan a return trip to explore more!
Is Windsor Castle Worth It If You've Already Visited Other Castles?
If you’ve visited numerous other castles before and aren’t especially interested in British history, probably not. At some point, a castle is a castle.
How Much Time Do You Really Need for Windsor Castle?
We did Windsor Castle in half a day, although you could certainly spend more time there.
In our case, we had tickets for 10:00 a.m. We booked roundtrip tickets from London that allowed us to return at any time that day, so we could stay as long as we liked.
We were there long enough to eat lunch and continue our tour.
We had heard Windsor was a nice town to explore. We thought we’d want to spend more time there, but in reality, we’re not big window shoppers and didn’t feel like there was much else to do or see beyond looking in shops. If you enjoy shopping, though, there are plenty of cute stores lining the streets.
Tips for Making Windsor Castle Work With Kids
Get your train tickets (or make other transportation arrangements) as far in advance as possible.
Get the audio guide. We didn’t, but it would have been helpful to better understand the significance of what we were seeing.
Take your time and enjoy it.
Read some books or watch some videos about British monarchs with your kids so there’s some meaning attached to what they’re seeing.
Final Thoughts
We loved our day trip to Windsor Castle during our 6-day London vacation. We loved getting to explore a real castle and having the opportunity to bring history to life by seeing such a significant site in person. If you’re looking for a fun day trip for the whole family, Windsor Castle is definitely worth the trip.
Continue Planning Your London Trip
Planning a trip to London can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be.
We've put together practical guides based on our family's experience to help you make the most of your vacation—from choosing what to see to building a realistic itinerary.
Check out the articles below to continue planning your trip:
