LHR to Windsor and Kew Gardens transport

Are you assuming you can leave luggage at LHR?

Which terminal?

Where is your accommodation?

Do you experience jet lag?

Windsor is an 1 or 1.5 by train/tube from Kew gardens.

Kew gardens are lovely and massive.

Month and Year? Sorry, this is not possible. Both destinations are hours-long visits, and they are FAR on opposite sides of London. Have you applied Google Maps to this yet? Going back to LHR (on arrival day!) is like "hitting yourself in the head with a hammer because it feels so good when you stop."

Yes we plan to leave our luggage at airport. We land at terminal 3. Our hotel is the Kensington Phoenix. We know it will be a long day but we don’t have too much jet lag usually.

We’re coming in two weeks.

I would go into London and drop your luggage at the hotel and then go to either Kew or Windsor.

I wouldn’t try to do both in one day and I wouldn’t try to both in a day and then backtrack to Heathrow and then go back into the city.

they are FAR on opposite sides of London.

They are not. Both are on the west side of London, but on opposite sides of the airport.

Assuming you are landing early morning go to Windsor Castle for opening time (free rail transfer to Terminal 5) then 3 buses an hour- 50 to 60 minute journey time.

Then hourly bus at 4 minutes past each hour #702 Windsor to Hammersmith Broadway journey time 1 hour, then District line 5 stops towards Richmond to Kew Gardens. So if you leave Windsor at 1pm you should be at Kew by 2.30pm.

Kew is open to 7pm.

On the way back District Line to Turnham Green, change to the Piccadilly Line back to Heathrow. Then Picc Line back to Barons Court, cross the platform for a District line train to Bayswater.

It is a long arrival day, and both places would ideally have a full day, but if that is your wish and you think you will be fit enough after the flight that is how you do it.

I think it would be better to go straight to the hotel, leave the luggage then do Kew Gardens, leaving Windsor for another day.

Take your bags with you to Windsor.
There is a luggage storage facility, Stasher, located at 24 - 28 St Leonard's Road, Windsor, at "Mailboxes Etc.", a business.

If you are going to Windsor Castle, their website says this:
"Whilst you are in the Castle you can leave your luggage in the cloakroom free of charge but it must be collected before you leave."

From "Visit Windsor":
https://www.windsor.gov.uk/visitor-information/faqs

Frequently asked questions:
Is there anywhere to leave luggage in Windsor?

If you are visiting Windsor Castle, your luggage can be taken in with you but it will be scanned and therefore can only be accepted if it fits through Windsor Castle’s airport-style security scanners. Whilst you are in the Castle you can leave your luggage in the cloakroom free of charge but it must be collected before you leave. Luggage Storage Windsor (tel: 01753 581158) is fairly centrally located on Goswell Hill (what3words ///pushed.candle.finest) next to Patch on the Plaza and is open from 0900 to 2000 (please phone in advance to confirm). Storage charge is £5 per bag and bags cannot be held overnight. Mail Boxes Etc. Windsor on St Leonards Road also offers a luggage-storage facility for a daily charge; the shop is approximately 10-15 minutes’ walk from Windsor Castle.

Use the information provided by isn31c about bus travel to Windsor.
You can also use a taxi service for the very short drive from LHR to Windsor.
When you're finished in Windsor......I would strongly suggest taking the train to London to check into your hotel and drop your bags.

There are two train stations in Windsor. You want to choose the train that will arrive into Paddington Station, London.
Your hotel is within walking distance of Paddington Station.
Drop your bags at your hotel and then head out for Kew, if you wish; but I'd leave it for another day.

(EDITED)--I deleted my sentences about train stations, and will wait for isn31c and Nigel to give you advice about the trains.

Following through on Rebecca's thought there is also a Stasher open until 10pm right outside Kew Gardens tube station- at the Kew convenience store-109 North Road.

Oops. Rebecca has got her Windsor stations the wrong way round. Very, very easily done.

Riverside takes you into Waterloo. Central is the one that takes you into Paddington, change at Slough.

Actually though I also got it wrong earlier, in spite of getting the London rail map out. Sorry.

The easiest way from Windsor to Kew (taking 45 minutes) is train from W and E Riverside to Richmond, then District line to Kew Gardens.

isn31c, I have edited my post and am leaving all train info for you to give.
Thanks.

I don't usually disagree with Rebecca's advice, but the trains are backwards.

The Windsor and Eton Central - at the top of the hill opposite the entrance to Windsor Castle is the one which is operated by GWR (Great Western) into Paddington with an up and over at Slough.

The train down the hill at the river, Windsor and Eton Riverside is operated by SWR (South Western) and goes into Vauxhall and Waterloo, unfortunately a long way from Bayswater.

Despite the change, the service into Paddington is much more convenient.

Windsor Castle and Kew Gardens are both big time users - trying to do both on one day is courageous. Especially running in and out of Heathrow to get luggage.

Good luck

Nigel, thanks for coming to the rescue!
I always get confused about the Windsor trains!

oops - I see she and I and Stuart were all writing at about the same time. I didn't check because I know those lines well. What I didn't check was Elizabeth Line which also links Paddington and Slough, if the GWR service is now less frequent from Slough (I think it may be), the Elizabeth Line (although a slower train with stops whereas the GWR is first stop) may assist.

Do let us know if you decide to do one or the other in the day, or still do both (after considering everyone's thoughts above), then we can refine the transport advice for you.

I like Rebecca's thoughts on a taxi to Windsor if you opt for that over Kew- yes that would be a gentler start after the flight. I'm not usually that kind to myself, so good to be reminded by an experienced visitor.

This thread is a really good example of us working together in unison, and between us getting it right for you.

Thank you all for your help! What an amazingly helpful group this is! I think you’re all correct and we will just do Windsor as we already have noon tickets. From your advice, I think we should store bags in Windsor and then head into the city. Hopefully, we’ll have another afternoon to see Kew. One of our small group wants to go from Kings Cross to Highgate. Any advice on that? Again, thanks so much!

Take a High Barnet bound Northern Line train 6 stops from Kings Cross to Highgate, or a #214 red London Bus for a view (takes about half an hour).

If you are going to the Cemetery then Archway (the preceding station) is closer IMO. Or on the 214 get off the bus at Oakeshott Avenue