We have a long layover at Heathrow and would like to travel out to Windsor Castle by taxi/Uber for the 2 hour tour & maybe a quick meal at the cafe. Has anyone done this recently to be able to advise on travel times, since I see that it’s not really very far, but I understand that traffic can be crazy. We would be arriving at Heathrow on Friday by lunchtime, and I’m guesstimating an hour travel time each way - is that realistic? Any recent information to help since obviously we don’t want to be caught short? Thanks in advance!
Posted by
OP
48 posts
Forgot to ask…..can anyone chime with in on what we might be expected to pay a taxi/Uber for a one way trip?
Posted by
Austin, TX, USA
39 posts
Have you thought about just taking the train? I just did a quick check on TheTrainline.com and found that trains leave from both Heathrow Terminal 5 and Heathrow Terminals 2&3, take between 40-55 minutes with 2-3 transfers; about $16/ US for a ticket. I took the train for a visit out to Windsor and the Castle from 'in-town' London back in October with no real problems. The train station is right by the castle and there are lots of restaurants and shops. Windsor Castle requires a timed ticket entry so something else to check on to confirm/book your ticket if that is what you want to do. There is A LOT of walking inside the castle grounds to get around -- and the walk is NOT flat. Also, there is full airport type metal detector type security that you need to go through that will take some time, so adding some extra time for queuing up in advance of your entry slot is probably a good idea. I do not have any feel if the crowds are always that large as I was there about a month after the Queen's funeral and burial.
Posted by
Lake District, England
7393 posts
Take the Elizabeth line to Hayes and Harlington, change there for Slough, change again for Windsor and Eton Central, or even easier take the Green Line bus 702 direct from Terminal 5 bus station only (free transfers by train from any other terminal) at 10 past each hour for the 50 minute journey, or mix and match - bus one way, train the other.
Two trains an hour.
https://images.reading-buses.co.uk/downloads/Green%20line%20703%20times.pdf
You don't HAVE to pre-book, and I wouldn't in case of flight delays. Just turn up. There is plenty to do and see in Windsor anyway if you can't get in for any reason
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5429 posts
There is also the 8 bus from Terminal 5 although this is a bit of a circuitous route. Private hire car / minicab would be £15-£20.