Constructed around 1,000 years ago, Windsor Castle understandably has quite the history (to say the least!). The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, it’s been home to 39 monarchs and currently the Queen spends many weekends there.

If you’re going to be in London, it’s a historic icon that you absolutely must see – even if you aren’t particularly interested in the royal family.

We have the top Windsor Castle tours available, making sure you make the most of your time and money!

Best Tours Of Windsor Castle

	Half-Day Trip to Windsor with Castle Tickets From London	Royal Windsor Afternoon Tour from London	Private Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath from London
	Best Half-Day Tour	Best Budget Tour	Best Luxury Tour
Departure:	Earls Court Underground Station	Evan Evans Office 258 Vauxhall Bridge Road	Various departure points (round-trip transportation offered)
Start:	9:50 PM	1:00 PM	8:30 AM
Duration:	4 hours	7 hours	12 hours
Includes:	Entrance to Windsor Castle, Windsor Castle multimedia guide, round-trip transportation from London by luxury bus	Entry to Windsor Castle, English-speaking guide, personal audio headset	Bottled water, professional guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, private tour, transport by private vehicle
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Windsor Castle Tours For 2023

1. Best Half-Day Tour: Half-Day Trip to Windsor with Castle Tickets From London
2. Best Budget Tour: Royal Windsor Afternoon Tour from London From London
3. Best Luxury Tour: Private Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath from London
4. Best Private Tour: Windsor Castle Private Car Tour
5. Best Small Group Tour: Private Windsor Castle And Eton Tour
6. Best Day Tour: Windsor Castle Tour from London with Lunch
7. Best Guided Tour: Afternoon Trip London to Windsor Castle

Be sure to see our reviews of Buckingham Palace tours, Downton Abbey tours and Thames River cruises.

Windsor Castle Tour Reviews

1. Best Half-Day Tour: Half-Day Trip to Windsor with Castle Tickets From London

This is one of the most popular tours from London, and if you’re in the city looking for an educational, fun tour this one is hard to beat. The From London: Half-Day Trip to Windsor with Castle Tickets packs a ton in while still making it easy to fit into a busy schedule.

If you’re looking to explore Windsor Castle and get some fresh air walking around the grounds, take a good look here!

There are various central London meetup points, ensuring it’s as convenient as possible for you. Choose the one that works best for you and head out west on a bus tour in the morning. If you have London plans in the evening, this won’t conflict at all!

The bus is quite comfortable, with nice, big windows to see the beautiful city and landscape views as you head to the historic town of Windsor.

Once you and the rest of your group arrive, you’ll be taken through and told all about the Queen’s official residence. There’s no need to rush, either – they make sure you can take it at your own pace.

From the Norman Invasion and its origins to present-day relevance, you’ll practically be an expert on the castle! The history is obviously very interesting, but the castle and surrounding area itself is also quite beautiful!

We highly recommend heading to the left once exiting the castle to take the “long walk”. It’s a great way to also get away for a moment from the hustle-and-bustle of lively London.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

2. Best Budget Tour: Royal Windsor Afternoon Tour from London

Not everyone needs or wants a tour that will fit into busier schedules. Some want to pack in as much as possible, and don’t mind taking longer tours to do so. If that sounds like you, check out the London: Royal Windsor Afternoon Tour from London.

This 7-hour tour is led by a professional tour guide, who is undoubtedly knowledgeable and there to ensure you have a great time. The English-speaking guide will take you through the historic Windsor so you can explore the castle, see the famous St. George’s Chapel, and more.

Starting out as a Saxon village, it’s thought to have been inhabited from approximately 700 AD – as you can imagine there are quite a few stories to tell about the area.

Meet up at Evan Evans Office in London and head out to Windsor. We found the vehicles to be smooth, and the driver to be very safe and attentive.

Once you arrive to this beautiful countryside location, you’ll get to see the river, stroll about its cobbled streets, and explore its charming little tea rooms, shops, and more as your guide offers an intriguing commentary on its background.

After getting to know the town a bit, you’ll head over to the infamous Windsor Castle. It’s hard to miss, and you may have even caught a glimpse of it already as it rises high above the rest of the town.

Having been the ancestral home of the royal family for almost a thousand years, there are countless stories to learn about it.

The architecture alone is quite stunning, but the interior is really going to make your jaw drop. Take a tour through the state apartments, where all kinds of significant icons throughout history have laid their heads.

On the walls hang some of the most important pieces of art by legendary artists as well, and were luckily saved during a more recent fire.

You’ll then see St. George’s Chapel, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wed in 2018. However, it’s been around a lot longer than that: since 1528! It’s also the resting place of various monarchs.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Other Experiences You May Enjoy:

3. Best Luxury Tour: Private Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath from London

Next up, we bring you our longest tour and one that will take you all over some of the most legendary places in the country. You’ll not only get to see Windsor Castle, but many other points of interest!

The Private Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath from London tour will check a lot of boxes on your bucket list, and do so in one of the most convenient ways possible!

Start off by being picked up in a luxury, air-conditioned vehicle and head straight to Eton College, which is known as being the private school of choice for the royal family of the United Kingdom.

Commissioned over 500 years ago by King Henry VIII, it’s still one of the top choices for schools for some of the most powerful families on the planet.

Next, is Windsor Castle, where you’ll get to see the Royal Guards, inside the history of the castle, the courtyards, and even St. George’s Chapel. Your guide will take you through all the interesting nooks and crannies, and to the most iconic parts, as well.

Now, it’s over to both Woodhenge and Stonehenge. Woodhenge is an ancient Neolithic wooden monument built very close to Stonehenge in approximately 2500 BC. You’ll learn about why it’s so important, both throughout the years and present-day.

Hop on over to Stonehenge and your guide will also fill you in on the history behind this 5,000-year-old wonder, explore the visitor center, and take some photos!

After all this adventuring, you’re sure to have worked up an appetite. Sneak in a fantastic traditional pub lunch of fish and chips or sip on a traditional English tea.

Head on over to the beautiful, enthralling town of Bath which is filled with jaw-droppingly intricate architecture and a unique history. There’s some great shopping and dining here, and if you’d like you can also enter the infamous Roman Bath house!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Best Private Tour: Windsor Castle Private Car Tour

While our other tours are certainly smaller ones for more personalized attention, this one is even more so. This 5-hour tour comes in the form of a private car service picking you up from your hotel and taking you to Windsor Castle in a comfortable Mercedes Benz.

If that sounds like a good time to you, check out the Windsor Castle Private Car Tour! With a maximum group size of 3 people (plus the driver), you can be assured you’ll receive all the answers to your questions!

Considering the convenience and ability to learn so much with this model of tour, it’s surprising how affordable this one runs for. With such an accommodating, knowledgeable, attentive guide, it feels like a good friend is just taking you and showing you around Windsor!

As soon as you get in the vehicle, your guide will start telling you interesting facts and anecdotes about all the sites you see. You’ll even learn quite a bit about Windsor and Windsor Castle before you arrive!

This is the largest and oldest continuously-occupied castle in the world, and as one of the official royal residences of the Queen, it already draws a lot of interest.

Walk around and see St. George’s Chapel, which is over 500 years old and has been the place of many significant events throughout history.

Check out inside the castle, where the State Apartments sit and have been used to house important guests throughout these over 900 years. Not to mention, all of the beautiful furniture, tapestries, artwork, and more!

Then, you’ll get to check out the nearby Eton College, which is known for a top boarding school for the royal families of the world, including where Prince Harry and Prince William went to school.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Best Small Group Tour: Private Windsor Castle And Eton Tour

This tour is a crowd favorite, due to the time being easy to fit into the daytime while being able to tend to London plans in the evening. The Private Windsor Castle and Eton Tour lasts anywhere from 6 to 7 hours, depending on traffic and other factors.

Offered in 10 different languages, this is a comprehensive tour that will have you avoiding the large group tours that can be harder to learn or see the interesting points with.

You and the rest of your group will be picked up in central London, in a comfortable, spacious vehicle with air conditioning. The trip is quite scenic and your guide/driver will tell you interesting stories about the route as well as Windsor so you have a good background before arriving.

Starting out in the historic center of the town, you’ll check out hidden passages that connect the castle to certain pubs! You’ll see the famous “crooked house”, and even see the rear part of the castle that many visitors don’t get to see.

Next, you’ll see the more common, “touristy” parts of the castle though you’ll get to skip the long lines and just enter.

You’ll be able to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony, the amazing apartments inside where many important figures have stayed, artwork by some of the most famous artists throughout history, and much more.

You’ll also see St. George’s Chapel, which has been transformed into a royal wedding venue various times, and even holds the tombs of Henry VIII, Charles I, George VI, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and many others. The architecture itself is beautiful, and an excellent example of late medieval Gothic architecture.

If you’d like, you can stroll across the River Thames into Eton – home of Eton College. We’ve already covered quite a bit about this college, but we do recommend checking it out.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

6. Best Day Tour: Windsor Castle Tour from London with Lunch

Exploring and learning can really take a lot out of you, and what better way to take a tour then have one with a delicious lunch included to break up the walking? The Windsor Castle Tour from London with Lunch is exactly that, and more.

You’ll be able to see Windsor Castle, St. George’s Chapel, and other points of interest in one of the most convenient ways possible.

You and the rest of your group will meet at Victoria Coach Station bright and early, at 7:30 am. The 6.5-hour tour is great, because you’ll be in London in time for dinner or any other plans you may have.

The air-conditioned coach is very easy to relax in, with nice, big windows that are great for checking out the countryside as you travel to the historic town of Windsor.

As you head over, your guide will tell your group all about the castle, as well as any other notable places you may encounter.

If you don’t already know about it, you’ll learn about how it plays a very important role in British history and was originally built by William the Conqueror over 900 years ago.

It is one of the Queen’s official residences, and she sometimes still stays here so there’s always the chance she’ll be “in residence” while you explore around. Make sure to check out St. George’s Chapel as well, which is an incredible piece of Gothic architecture and holds the tombs of various monarchs.

Take some time to walk around the town of Windsor at your own pace. Set right next to the Thames, it’s absolutely beautiful, with charming little shops, pubs, and delicious food. Speaking of which, you’ll have lunch here at a pub with some traditional fish and chips!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

7. Best Guided Tour: Afternoon Trip London to Windsor Castle

Are you on the search for a more compact tour? One that will pack as much in as possible but still allows you to fit it into a busy schedule? If so, the Afternoon Trip London to Windsor Castle should catch your eye!

With hotel pickup and drop-off offered, you don’t even have to spend time getting to a station or central pickup spot! However, it’s important to keep in mind that this is a self-guided tour, with groups of up to 8 passengers.

Due to this design, it’s one of the best in terms of flexibility and is also a very comfortable way of getting out of the city and seeing this piece of history that’s still relevant today.

Do you ever feel rushed by tour guides? Now you won’t have to, as you can truly check out Windsor Castle at your own pace.

The audio guide is available in multiple languages and takes you through the State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel, Queen May’s Doll’s House, and much more!

Not only that, but this tour comes with tickets that allow you to bypass the lines which can save you around an hour!

We felt that this was a great experience for families, partners, and friends as you can talk amongst yourselves without interrupting a tour guide. Not to mention, with the smaller group sizes you’ll simply be able to move around easier and see more!

It also lets you choose how you want to spend your time, whether that’s in a certain wing of the castle or outdoors.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

London Travel Guide

Planning Guide For Your London Trip

• Airports & Entry
• Planning Tips
• Restaurants & Eating Out
• Nightlife & Entertainment
• Getting Around
• Accommodations
• Weather
• Attractions

If you’re planning a trip to London anytime soon, be sure to add one of the best Stonehenge tours from London to your itinerary. But which ones are the best? We’ve reviewed the top 5 Stonehenge tours and provided you with a guide for visiting both Stonehenge and London.

Most likely, your day trip to Stonehenge from London will be a small part of your vacation to this historic English city. Here, we offer a guide to visiting London, from the airport you will be arriving at to other attractions you may want to visit and even the weather.

Let’s help you make the most of your vacation to London!

Airports & Entry

There are five airports that service London, England. If you are traveling abroad, you will most likely be arriving at London Heathrow. For shorter flights departing European airports, should you be heading to London from a previous vacation spot, you may fly into one of these smaller London airports:

• London City
• London Gatwick
• London Luton
• London Stansted

To enter the United Kingdom, UK, you will need a valid passport. Your passport must be valid for your entire stay and can’t expire before your expected departure.

Planning Tips

Visiting London is unlike visiting any other city on earth. Because of this, you will want to keep some things in mind when planning and packing. We list our top 5 tips for visiting London below. Do you have additional tips to suggest? We’d love for you to comment them below!

Tip #1: Bring Your Walking Shoes

Much of your travel around the city will be walking. Even when you head out of town for a day tour, such as those to Stonehenge, most of the tours require quite a bit of walking. It’s best to be relaxed wearing athletic shoes instead of wearing more fashionable shoes that can make the necessary walking uncomfortable.

Tip #2: Bring a Converter or Transformer

Your electric and electronic devices made for use in the US will not work in the UK without a converter or transformer. A converter is made to use with electronics such as your phone or tablet and a transformer with electric devices such as a hairdryer. The US runs on 120 V and the UK on 240. This means that using your US devices without a voltage converter or transformer in the UK may damage them.

Tip #3: Start Planning Your Trip Early

London receives millions of tourists each year. This means that you will most likely have to book tours well in advance. You should also book your accommodations and reservations in restaurants as soon as possible. This is especially true for tickets to theater events and shows.

Tip #4: Always Bring an Umbrella

It doesn’t matter what time of year you’re visiting London, quick showers and rainstorms are always a possibility. It’s best to bring an umbrella with you as purchasing one at a convenient location in the city will most likely cost much more. A collapsible umbrella that is easy to carry with you is ideal.

Tip #5: Start Budgeting in Advance

London is quite an expensive city to visit but it’s worth it. Be sure you have budgeted for your flight and accommodations as well as your daily meals. You should have plenty of British pounds, the local currency, on hand as taxis and some stores may not take debit or credit cards. Also, keep in mind that the farther out your trip is planned, the better deals you will get, especially on accommodations.

Restaurants & Eating Out

There are several Dishoom restaurants located around the city. These restaurants serve high quality and delicious Indian food within a modern atmosphere. London is one of the best places to enjoy Indian food outside of India. These restaurants often have a wait but the wait is well worth it.

Not only will you want to experience the delicious Indian food, it also wouldn’t be a trip to London without an afternoon tea. There are plenty of places around town to enjoy your tea, but afternoon tea at The Savoy Hotel, London is something not to be missed. Sketch is another afternoon tea hotspot offering a unique experience.

If you’re looking for a meal with a great view, you’ll want to make reservations at the Duck & Waffle. However, don’t miss out on the opportunity to enjoy the most popular meal in London, fish and chips, at many local hotspots.

Nightlife & Entertainment

Nightlife in London can be anything you’d like it to be. There are nighttime tours of the city and surrounding areas for something a little more low-key, or you can head to a nightclub or one of the many music venues to turn up the entertainment dial.

From standup comedy and dramatic theater to the trendy clubs of the West End and even the casinos that can be found around town, nightlife in London is perfect for everyone.

Getting Around

As mentioned, visiting London requires a lot of walking. However, you can also choose to ride the subway, board a boat, or even hop on a bus or take a taxi. You may find the subway also referred to as “the underground” or “the tube.”

The cost of transportation by any of these methods will be determined by your destination’s distance from central London. The city and surrounding areas are divided into zones that determine distance and cost. If you’re going to be visiting for at least a few days, you may want to invest in a daily or weekly Travelcard pass.

Accommodations

There are many choices in accommodations when visiting London. You may find a great Airbnb location, and you can also find everything from a small hostel to a five-star, luxury hotel. The accommodations you choose should be determined by your budget, but also by the type of experience you’re looking for. An Airbnb can instantly make you feel like a local.

A hostel can provide plenty of opportunities to meet other tourists and learn more about attractions and eateries. If you’re looking for a luxury experience, the Camden Enterprise Hotel or even the Dorset City London can provide it.

Weather

The average low temperatures during the winter months are in the mid-40s Fahrenheit or around 7°C. These mild winter temperatures make London an ideal vacation spot for the holidays. July, London’s hottest month of the year, usually doesn’t reach the 70s Fahrenheit, or above 18⁰ Celsius.

Even with mild temperatures during the summer, it can feel quite humid and you may run into a short shower or two. Once again, always have an umbrella handy.

Attractions

A vacation to London necessitates a visit to Buckingham Palace. Other attractions include the Coca-Cola London Eye, the Ferris wheel easily seen in every London skyline, as well as historical landmarks such as Kensington Palace, the London Tower, or the Churchill War Rooms.

While in London, be sure to visit one of the many museums and art galleries that can be found in nearly every area of the city. Parks, waterfronts, and bridges provide great photo ops and can provide a beautiful place to rest and take in the local sights.

The History, Beauty, in the Cotswolds and Oxford

When planning your vacation to London, be sure to plan for a day trip to the Cortswods while there. A guided tour of Oxford and the Cotswords will allow you to experience the English countryside.

However, that doesn’t mean you can skip on visiting the many museums and art galleries, enjoying some of the best food available, and taking time to appreciate the beautiful mix of modern style and historical sites that London provides.

Enjoy your trip to London!