You're standing in the shadow of the Round Tower, looking at the stone that’s seen nearly a thousand years of history, and you realize you need to get back to central London. It’s a common scenario. Most tourists think the trip from Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace is a straight shot, a simple hop across the map. It isn't.
Actually, it’s kind of a logistical puzzle.
You have the M4 motorway, the South Western Railway, and the Great Western Railway all competing for your attention. If you pick the wrong one at 5:00 PM on a Friday, you’re basically signing up for a two-hour crawl through West London traffic that makes a snail look like a sprinter. I’ve seen people spend more time in a taxi than they did looking at the State Apartments. That’s a tragedy. To do this right, you have to understand the weird geography of Berkshire versus the sprawl of Westminster.
The Train Dilemma: Waterloo or Paddington?
Most people just head to the station. But here is where it gets confusing: Windsor has two train stations.
If you go to Windsor & Eton Riverside, you’re getting on a South Western Railway train. This goes to London Waterloo. It’s slow. We’re talking roughly an hour of stopping at every little leafy suburb along the way. Honestly, it’s a bit of a slog, but the upside is that it’s a direct shot. You sit down, you open your book, and you don’t move until you see the London Eye. From Waterloo, you’re looking at a 25-minute walk or a quick tube ride on the Jubilee line to get toward the Palace.
Then there’s Windsor & Eton Central.
This station is closer to the castle gates—literally right across the street. But there’s a catch. You have to take a tiny shuttle train (the "Slough Rocket") for about six minutes to Slough. From Slough, you hop on a fast train to London Paddington. This is technically the "faster" route if the timings line up. If you catch the Elizabeth Line from Slough, you’re in luck. The purple trains are sleek, quiet, and fast. Once you hit Paddington, you’re a short taxi ride or a few stops on the District line away from the Victoria area.
Which one actually wins?
It depends on your vibe. If you hate changing trains, go to Riverside. If you’re a speed demon and don't mind a platform sprint in Slough, Central is your best bet.
Driving the Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace Route (Don't Do It)
I’m serious. Unless you have a private driver or a very specific reason to haul a ton of luggage, driving is usually a mistake.
The distance is only about 22 miles. On paper, that’s a 45-minute drive. In reality? The M4 is one of the most unpredictable stretches of tarmac in the UK. You have the Heathrow airport traffic to contend with. Then you hit the Chiswick Flyover. By the time you reach the Hammersmith roundabout, you’ll be questioning every life choice you’ve ever made.
And then there's the parking.
Buckingham Palace doesn’t have a visitor car park. You’ll end up paying a king’s ransom for an NCP garage or trying to navigate the Congestion Charge zone, which is a headache and a half. If you must drive, aim for the weekend mornings. Before 9:00 AM on a Sunday, the road is actually quite pleasant. You see the greenery of Windsor Great Park fade into the urban density of Chiswick and Kensington. It’s a cool transition. But during the week? Forget it.
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The Secret Scenic Route: The River Thames
Nobody talks about this because it takes forever, but you can technically follow the water.
In the summer months, there are boat services that run between Windsor and various points toward London. Now, you won’t get all the way to Buckingham Palace by boat—the Thames meanders too much for that to be efficient—but taking a boat to Richmond and then jumping on the District Line is a world-class way to spend a day. You see the back gardens of the rich and famous. You see the rowers. You see the swans (which, technically, the King owns anyway).
It’s slow travel in its purest form. It’s not for the person who has a 2:00 PM tour booked at the Royal Mews. It’s for the person who wants to feel the breeze and see the "Old England" that the motorway bypasses.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Transition
People think the two residences are basically neighbors. They aren't.
Windsor is the "country house" (though it’s a massive fortress). Buckingham Palace is the "office." When you move from Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace, you are moving from a medieval stronghold to a Neoclassical palace. The energy shifts. Windsor is quiet, windy, and smells like old stone and grass. The Palace is bustling, surrounded by the roar of red buses and the constant chatter of thousands of tourists at the Victoria Memorial.
The "Changing of the Guard" Trap
Many travelers try to see the Changing of the Guard at both locations on the same day.
Look, it’s technically possible, but it’s a nightmare. The Windsor ceremony usually starts around 11:00 AM. The Buckingham Palace ceremony is also usually around 10:45 AM or 11:00 AM depending on the time of year. You can’t be in two places at once. If you see the guards at Windsor, enjoy it. It’s more intimate. You’re closer to the action. If you then rush to London to see the Palace, you’re going to arrive just as the crowds are dispersing and the guards are back in their barracks.
Pick one. Do it well. Don’t spend your day staring at a Google Maps ETA.
Logistics: The Nitty Gritty
If you’re using public transport, get an Oyster card or just use your contactless credit card. It’s much cheaper than buying paper tickets at the machine.
- Check the Windsor Castle opening times. It’s often closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Nothing is worse than arriving after a long trek from London only to see the "Closed" sign.
- The Long Walk. If you have time before you leave Windsor, walk a bit of the Long Walk. It gives you the best perspective of the castle’s scale. Just remember it's three miles long. Don't walk the whole thing if you're catching a train in 20 minutes.
- The Victoria Station Connection. If you take the train to Waterloo, you’ll likely end up taking a bus or the tube to Victoria. This is the hub for Buckingham Palace. It’s a 10-minute walk from Victoria Station to the Palace gates. Follow the signs; they are everywhere.
A Real-World Example of a "Perfect" Day
Imagine you start your morning at 9:00 AM at Windsor. You spend three hours exploring St. George’s Chapel (where the late Queen Elizabeth II is buried) and the State Apartments.
Around 12:30 PM, you walk down the hill. You grab a quick pasty or a sandwich from one of the shops on the High Street. You head to Windsor & Eton Central. You catch the 1:00 PM shuttle to Slough. You’re lucky—the Elizabeth Line is waiting. By 1:40 PM, you’re at Bond Street. You switch to the Jubilee Line, head to Green Park, and walk through the trees.
By 2:15 PM, you’re standing in front of the Buckingham Palace gates. You’ve done the Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace journey with zero stress. You have time to watch the flags fly (if the Royal Standard is up, the King is home) before the afternoon light hits the facade of the Palace.
The Cost Factor
Trains will run you between £12 and £20 for a return ticket depending on the time of day. A private Uber or Bolt from Windsor to central London? Expect to pay anywhere from £60 to £100. If there’s a surge or a strike, that price can skyrocket.
The bus (Green Line 702) is the cheapest option. It’s a coach service. It takes a while—sometimes 90 minutes—but it’s a direct link from Windsor to Victoria. It’s great for students or budget travelers who want to see the scenery without paying train prices. It drops you off very close to the Palace back gardens.
Final Practical Steps for Your Trip
To make this transition as smooth as possible, follow this checklist. Don't overcomplicate it, but don't wing it either.
- Download the Citymapper app. It’s infinitely better than Google Maps for London’s complex rail network. It will tell you exactly which carriage to sit in for the fastest exit.
- Check the Royal Standard. Before you leave Windsor, look at the flag. If it’s the Union Jack, the King isn't there. If it's the yellow, red, and blue Royal Standard, he is. It's a fun bit of trivia to check at both ends of your journey.
- Book the Elizabeth Line if possible. If you’re heading toward the Palace, the Elizabeth Line to Bond Street or Tottenham Court Road is just a much nicer experience than the older, cramped tube lines.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You are going to be walking on cobblestones in Windsor and pavement in London. This is not the day for brand-new boots or high heels.
- Avoid the rush. If you can, travel between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. You'll avoid the "commuter crush" where everyone is grumpy and there’s no room for your shopping bags or backpacks.
The journey between these two royal icons is more than just a commute. It's a bridge between the medieval history of the monarchy and its modern, ceremonial heart. If you plan for the Slough change or the Waterloo walk, you'll actually enjoy the transition instead of just enduring it.