Windsor and Canterbury

I actually prefer Canterbury to Windsor. In addition to the Cathedral go see the ruins of St. Augustine's Abbey and learn about the Canterbury Tales.

These are not villages, they are significant towns! Windsor has a population of 32,000 and Canterbury has 55,000. Canterbury is usually classified a city because it was one of the largest and most important settlements in the country when the population was a lot less.

Windsor is near London and is usually visited as a day trip from London. It is near Heathrow, so you could go there first on your arrival. Taxi or local bus from Heathrow.
Canterbury is further away, but could be done as a day trip or staying overnight. Staying overnight Canterbury can be used as a base to visit other places such as Dover. I would say Canterbury has more to see and deserves more time.

Windsor and Canterbury are on opposite sides of London. To get from one to the other by train you need to go via London. And you need to get back to London (Kings Cross station) to catch a train to Edinburgh.

We are from Houston, so that is where the reference to the size of these locations as villages came from. But now I know they are towns! Thank you for the advice - very helpful in our planning!

I’m not certain how you plan to reach Canterbury, but since it is further away, I’d spend the two nights there. By the time you get there much of the day will be gone, so you can relax in the evening and still have an entire day to enjoy the town after you’ve rested. In Windsor, other than visiting the castle, the rest of the town doesn’t take long to see. It is worth the better part of a day.

I enjoy Canterbury. Stayed 3 nights by myself several years ago and starting our trip this year with 3 nights there. One day will be spent at Dover Castle and the other exploring Canterbury and getting over jet lag. I've been to Windsor 3 times. All of them day trips from London or near London. It is so close to London I wouldn't consider staying in Windsor. I personally think Canterbury deserves much more time than Windsor. It's possible to see the very small town of Windsor and the Castle in 3 - 5 hours.

Since Windsor is only a 15 minute taxi ride I would go there first, then you will need to go into London to get the train to Canterbury. If you leave from London Victoria Station and go to Canterbury East you won’t have to change trains. There is a great B&B a 8 minute walk from the station, if you would like to know more about it PM me. Canterbury City Center is only a 7 minute walk from the train station.

I would spend the 2 nights in Canterbury.

Ive never been to Canterbury, but Ive stayed overnight in Windsor and I loved it!! Lots of lovely B&B’s to choose from, the town is beautiful with lots of shops, restaurants, pubs, as well as parks and a riverside walkway. Boat rides available for reasonable prices, Windsor Castle, people watching along the river- there is even a restaurant called Browns that Jimi Hendrix performed at- its also easy to get to Heathrow- I stayed there the last night of my trip before flying home.

Happy Travels✨💫

Canterbury is the more interesting of the two. it's a city; city status is granted by Royal Charter and is not related to size. St Davis is the smallest city in the UK, with a population about 2,000. That's the same as lot of small towns and large villages in some parts of the country, but it does have a cathedral. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the cathedral that gives city status--Guildford, for example, has a cathedral and is a town.

Anyway, I'd recommend Canterbury over Windsor.

Many thanks to all who replied which helped us to decide. After we arrive at Heathrow, we will take a taxi and spend 1 night in Windsor and then the following 2 nights in Canterbury., and then on to Edinburgh. If any of you have recommendations for places to stay either place, please let me know.
Cheers and thanks!