Windsor opinions needed.

Yes, you can buy on-the-day tickets at Windsor Castle. I’m struggling to envisage how arriving at midday would not allow you to see everything, so I wouldn’t stress about it.

Thanks. We just have no idea of how long it will take to clear customs, get to Windsor, check in and drop off our bags then get to the castle. I now have hope :)

We arrive noonish on Thursday
We just have no idea of how long it will take to clear customs, get to Windsor, check in and drop off our bags then get to the castle.

Are you saying you will arrive at Windsor "noonish", or somewhere else at that time (where?) and then need to "clear customs, get to Windsor check in and drop off our bags"?

I am guessing (and I prefer people to explain their plans, not leave it to the responders to guess) you are flying into Heathrow airport (from where?). In which case the standard answers are:

• If the flight is intercontinental, it could be up to 1 hour late.
• Customs takes zero time. It is immigration (passport control) that takes time. 30 minutes to 2 hours typical.
• Plus getting through Heathrow's endless corridors, another 10-30 minutes.
• There are local buses from Heathrow to Windsor. Details depend on which terminal you arrive at (which is it?).
• Windsor is close enough that a taxi from Heathrow may be an option (18 Km, 15 minutes driving time + traffic delays).
• Where is your hotel? How far from the castle?

Of course all the above is on the assumption you are flying into Heathrow and then want to go direct to Windsor.

Thanks. We just have no idea of how long it will take to clear
customs, get to Windsor, check in and drop off our bags then get to
the castle. I now have hope :

Ah, I realise I misunderstood. So you arrive at an as yet unspecified airport at noon? I thought you meant you’d arrive at Windsor Castle at noon.

Your first post made no mention of arrival anywhere else but Windsor, and when you talked about taking some to get through, I thought you mean Windsor Castle queues.

I think you know what you mean, but if you look back you’ve made no mention of airports or anything similar!

So I'm afraid that until we have more specifics any answer may either give false hope or make completely invalid assumptions....

Please come back with the details....

We are flying from Portland Oregon (on Delta) to Heathrow.

and where is the hotel?

So when you say “we arrive noonish”, you mean you arrive at Heathrow at noonish? I’m still not entirely clear. If that’s what you mean, ignore my reassurances about being able to see all of Windsor Castle. I was working on the basis that your noonish arrival was at the venue that your question referenced, namely Windsor Castle.

I’m not sure how we were supposed to guess you were arriving at Heathrow, or that you needed to go to a hotel first (and we still don’t know where that is) in order to work out whether you’ll be able to get to the state apartments in time.

On the website, it looks like last entrance is at 4 and castle closes at 5:15. Sorry to ruin your plans, but if you don't get to Heathrow until noon, there's a strong possibility you won't make it to Windsor before the last entrance. Of course, it will help you get out of the airport faster if you don't check any luggage. I think it's unlikely that you can make it to your hotel and to Windsor in time, unless your hotel is in Windsor. The castle website does say that large pieces of luggage must be checked, so it appears that you could go there directly from the airport with your luggage. And be warned, the line at Windsor can be long.

Wow, some of you people really like to jump down the OP’s throat. Chill out a bit! While I agree the post could have been clearer, no need to berate the OP about it!

Also keep in mind the 8-hour time difference between UK and Oregon. The OP may be sleeping when our UK friends are trying to help, and vice versa. For the record, Nigel and Chris have a long history of extending lots of help to many people, and This Person Who Writes Stuff (is that one of those multi-barrelled British names?) has been very helpful also with a shorter history.

And our friends have given all the reasons a scheduled noon arrival at LHR probably won't allow a satisfactory visit to Windsor Castle that same afternoon (and I agree based on much more limited experience). Too bad. But, that said, you don't have to make any reservations and Windsor is a very nice town, so if you get a room there your first night and just get there as soon as you can after landing, you might get lucky -- flight on time, minimal delays on the ground, quick transport, and several hours to see the castle and chapel. And if you're not lucky, you're still lucky to spend your first night in such a pleasant town.

I admit I did get annoyed. I answered the question as given, and the OP then said - oh that’s great, you’ve given me reassurance - and then threw in a whole load of new parameters.

I hated the feeling that I’ve somehow told the OP they’d be able to get to Windsor successfully based on duff information.

I try to give helpful and accurate advice but I felt the OP was not helping herself.

just returned from london and the custom at heathrow was terrible - long lines with only a few windows open, took me 2 hours to clear. So think about your time to get to the castle. There are some work going on now so the state room route is the only thing you can see inside, maybe take no more than 2 hours. windsor and eton are both small but enjoyable towns, don't rush just to see the castle.