My wife and I plan to visit Windsor Castle in early September. Wondering if we should allow extra time to have lunch and explore the town of Windsor prior to visiting the castle, or afterwards. We'd also like to hear comments about choosing between Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, if we need to. (We are "well-ripened" seniors but still curious about traveling ... just don't want to overdo things, especially if there are super- long lines. Any tips from veteran fellow travelers would be much appreciated!
Yes, please give yourselves time to have lunch, explore the town, stroll through Windsor Great park, and perhaps even walk over to Eton. I just love Windsor.
We had a wonderful visit to Buckingham Palace and bought the tickets that included the gardens as well. It was lovely and a really nice experience and I'm so glad I had the opportunity. The Queen was still on the throne and there was a special exhibit of the wedding clothes from her wedding. I appreciated that we weren't rushed through and could enjoy the palace.
If I could only choose one, I'd spend the day at Windsor, but I wouldn't want to miss out on either one.
We'd also like to hear comments about choosing between Windsor Castle
and Buckingham Palace, if we need to.
I've not been to the interior of Buckingham - was never top of my list - but in our minds there was NO choice between a townhouse built in the 1700's (and added on to in successive centuries) and a fortified, motte-and-bailey castle with origins dating to the 11th century and the oldest continually occupied castle in the world. Yes, it has also been added onto over time but it is immensely more important, historically, than Buckingham. Shoot, the late HRH Elizabeth II didn't particularly like Buckingham and much preferred Windsor as a residence.
The other structure I'd give equal time to is the Tower of London: Its history dates back to approximately the same time as Windsor, and both have very long and very interesting histories; much more than Buckingham's. Do some reading up on all three?
Yes, we spent some time exploring the town of Windsor and enjoyed it very much. LOL, got good and happy at a pub with some VERY friendly locals!!
My visit to Windsor Castle in June (2025) was not a pleasant experience. This was not my first visit, but I had brought a companion to see it for the first time. Crowds and crowd control were lacking - too much commotion to enjoy the audio which I frequently couldn't hear due to chattering school groups and crowds too dense to see the rooms properly. The queue for Queen Mary's Dollhouse was over 45 minutes wait. We skipped. I was quite sad and hope that this was an aberration.
If you do go, it is worth while to stroll the town including over to Eton as suggested above. We enjoyed a cruise on the Thames as well.
I visited Buckingham Palace a couple years back. Very much enjoyed it. The art collection is stunning. I had a ticket also to the gardens which I enjoyed. Being inside the Palace after seeing so many TV documentaries with Throne Room, meetings of Heads of State, etc was perhaps not the older historical experience noted above, but was very meaningful to me none-the-less.
We really enjoyed Windsor Castle, but have not visited Buckingham Palace to compare. Like ORD we went in late June, so we also saw quite a few visitors. We got a very early start, I think our tickets were the first block available in the am, so that might help a bit if you can plan for that. Maybe September will offer lighter crowds. We walked across the bridge to Eton and had a nice lunch in Windsor. The Queen had just been interred right before our visit in the Chapel, so seeing her resting place and paying our respects was something I won’t soon forget.
Having been to both, they are just different.
I have been to Windsor Castle 3 times and love it - but would certainly not enjoy it under the circumstances ORDtraveler experienced. The town is nice to wander and yes, if you go, allow time.
Buckingham Palace (I didn’t get to go to the gardens) was not time-consuming. It is a guided tour (90min?) with a definite beginning and end.
If you visit in September you're unlikely to have the sort of unfortunate experience ORD did. Summer is coming to an end, and schools have only just started, so you're not likely to come across school groups on excursions.
I'll be in Windsor in late September and am looking forward to it.
But agreed, try to do both. If you really can't manage both, I would choose Windsor Castle as more historically significant. Not to mention the King actually lives there (part time).
If you have time, do go int the Church of St John the Baptist with its memorials to the great and good of Windsor, golden mosaic reredos behing the altar and the the royal pew with the two thrones being given by Princes Augusta, the daughter of George III who regularly worshipped here, when she lived at Frognore House. Later, King George V and Queen Mary also attended the church when Prince and Princess of Wales.
Schools in England don’t start the new school year until early September. It is still very much Summer holidays here (he said from his rented apartment overlooking Crantock beach in Cornwall).
If I had to pick one, I would pick Windsor Castle, as there's a lot more to see (including the chapel), plus you have the town itself, Windsor Great Park, Eton, etc. If you're feeling up to it you can even walk along some of the Thames Path. I do still think Buckingham Palace is worth visiting as you do get a great look at the state rooms and the wonderful art collection.