Windsor is the perfect day trip from London and should be added to any London itinerary, especially for those who love a royal palace or castle! In this post we round but the best ways to get to Windsor and the best things to do in Windsor with kids! 

How to Get to Windsor with Kids

Getting to Windsor from London is really simple and is a perfect day trip idea! 

It is a simple train ride from Waterloo or Paddington direct to Windsor! The Paddington train is the quickest but you should pick the route you are staying closest too!

Alternatively you can drive but there is limited parking and I wouldn’t recommend it for those traveling in peak times!

For those that have a short London stopover Windsor is just a short distance away from Heathrow!

Best Things to Do in Windsor with Kids

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is the main reason most people visit Windsor! It is one of three of the Queen’s official residences!

From March – October the doors open at 10.00am every day, including Sunday, and close at 5.15pm. During Winter season (November to February) opening time is 10:00 am, closing 4.15pm. Last entrance is 90 minutes prior to closing time.

During the peak season and weekends Windsor can get exceptionally busy so it is best to book your tickets in advance!

You can book your tickets online here! 

Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle

Though the London changing of the guard is more famous, Windsor also has its own version! The Windsor Changing of the Guard takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday! Please note that this is weather dependent!

The best way to watch the changing of the guard at Windsor is to buy tickets and see it inside the castle or if you arrive at no later than 10:30 outside of the castle you can see the changing of the guard for free from the street!

Windsor Hop On Hop Off Bus

To get a great overview of Windsor and Eton with a great and informative commentary we recommend taking the hop on hop off bus tour!

We recommend booking your tickets in advance here!

Boat Trip Down the Thames

Windsor is a beautiful riverside town and one of. the best things to do in Windsor with kids is to explore the river by boat! You can take a lovely scenic cruise down the Thames but for the more adventurous you could take the amphibious duck tour!

Best Free Things to Do in Windsor with Kids

Walk round historic Eton

Eton is home to the famous boys boarding school, which both William and Harry attended. Walk across the river and explore this beautiful town!

Enjoy the Long Walk

The Long Walk in the Great Park is one of my favorite spots in Windsor and it is a great place to have a picnic and let children have a run around after a day of cultural exploration in the Castle!

The Royal Windsor Maze

A one way chess themed maze located at The Goswells Park on Goswell Road! This is a real child pleaser! Younger children will just enjoy following the path round the maze while older children can try and solve the riddle finding all the chess pieces before reaching the centre of the maze!

Things to Do Near Windsor

Cliveden House and Gardens

We love a National Trust property! Cliveden has recently become more famous as the place the Meghan Markle stayed the night before her wedding! You can go and explore the grounds and historic house! It is a really beautiful day out for those who have more time in Windsor!  Our favorite time of year to visit is May to see the beautiful Rose Garden in full bloom but there really isn’t a bad time to visit Cliveden! 

Legoland Windsor

And for those traveling with lego addicted children, a visit to Legoland Windsor is a real must!

Top Tip: Book your tickets online in advance to avoid the queues!