Private Windsor Castle Tour from London — Castle Only or with Marlow

Which Windsor Castle day trip from London suits you?

One car and driver, two routes, one fixed fare per car. Pick the route by name when you book.

How far is Windsor Castle from London, and how does the day run?

Windsor is about 25 miles (40 km) west of central London, around an hour by car. From Heathrow it is about 20 minutes.

1. Pickup at your hotel

   Your driver meets you at your hotel at the time you choose, between 8am and noon. A 9am start reaches the castle gate as it opens at 10am.

2. Windsor Castle, two and a half to three hours

   Through security, then the royal apartments, the chapel and Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House. Big bags and coats stay in the car.

3. Windsor town and Eton, about an hour

   Lunch below the castle walls, then across Eton Bridge to Eton High Street. Ten minutes on the Long Walk gives the classic photograph of the castle.

4. Back to your hotel

   About an hour to central London, so the castle-only day ends around six hours after pickup.

5. Or on to Marlow and Henley

   On the eight-hour route Marlow is 25 minutes past Windsor and Henley-on-Thames about the same again, with about an hour in each town. The drive back from Henley takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.

What do you see inside Windsor Castle?

Windsor Castle is the oldest occupied castle in the world and one of the King’s official homes. One ticket covers the whole visitor route, with a free multimedia guide.

Photography is allowed in the castle grounds but not in the State Apartments or the chapel. Outside guides may not give commentary inside, so the castle’s own guide tells the story of each room.

How much are Windsor Castle tickets, and when is it open?

Buy your castle ticket online first, then send us your entry time and we set the pickup around it.

Prices and dates checked 22 October 2026.

Which day is best for Windsor Castle?

• Thursday or Saturday for the guard ceremony. The ceremony starts at 11am inside the castle walls, so a 9am pickup puts you through security in time. It can be cancelled in bad weather.
• Not Sunday if the chapel matters. St George’s Chapel holds services instead of visits, though the rest of the castle is open.
• Winter means fewer crowds and shorter days. With last entry at 3pm, start in the morning and see the town before dark.

Can we add Eton, Hampton Court or Stonehenge to the day?

Yes. On a private day the route bends to your plans, and your driver waits wherever you stop. Any change is confirmed in writing, with the fare agreed before the day.

• Runnymede — the Thames meadow where Magna Carta was sealed in 1215, ten minutes from Windsor.
• Windsor Great Park and Virginia Water — a lakeside walk in the royal park, best in spring. Cars cannot enter the park, so your driver drops you at a gate and collects you there.
• Hampton Court Palace — Henry VIII’s palace is about 30 minutes away, so a morning there and the castle in the afternoon fit eight hours. See the Hampton Court and Kew half-day trip.
• Stonehenge and Bath — a twelve-hour day with Windsor first, sold as its own route on the Stonehenge and Bath day trip.

Is Windsor Castle suitable for children, older guests and wheelchair users?

Yes, with some planning. The castle sits at the top of a steep hill, with long distances and old floors inside.

• Wheelchairs and walkers. Wheelchair users can follow the main visitor route, with staff help at steep points and a lift to the State Apartments. Manual wheelchairs are lent free, and an access companion ticket is free.
• Drop-off at the gate. There is no visitor parking at the castle, so your driver sets you down as close as the streets allow and collects you from the same spot.
• Children. Child seats for every age are free; tell us the ages when you book. Pushchairs are not allowed in the State Apartments, so leave them in the car.
• Luggage. The castle advises against suitcases and runs airport-style security. On the way to or from Heathrow, your bags stay locked in the car.

Watch the day before you book

A short film of the day: your hotel pickup, Windsor Castle, lunch by Eton Bridge and the Long Walk. Its last part shows Marlow's white bridge and Henley-on-Thames, the two river towns of the eight-hour option.

What does the private Windsor Castle tour cost, and what is included?

Fares are per car, return. Fuel, tolls, parking, waiting time and child seats are included; castle tickets, food and a guide are not. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.

Mercedes E‑Class

Up to 3 passengers2 bags

For couples and small families.

Castle only · 6 hours£320

With Marlow · 8 hours£470

Book this car

Mercedes V‑Class

Up to 7 passengers7 bags

For families and groups, with room for seven bags.

Castle only · 6 hours£410

With Marlow · 8 hours£560

Book this car

Listed on VisitWindsor, the official tourism website for Windsor.

Questions before you book your Windsor Castle visit

Other trips outside London

Hampton Court Palace & Kew half-day trip

Henry VIII’s Tudor palace on the Thames and the Kew glasshouses, with the driver waiting at both gates.

From £230(≈ $310)

See the Hampton Court trip

Available to book

Oxford day trip

Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian and Christ Church with your own driver, and Bicester Village or Blenheim on the way back.

From £440(≈ $595)

See the Oxford trip

Available to book

Stonehenge tour from London

The prehistoric stone circle on its own, or with the golden Roman city of Bath in a ten-hour day.

From £520(≈ $700)

See the Stonehenge trip

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