Day Trips from Reading to Windsor Castle and Eton: A Practical Guide

Getting from Reading to Windsor by Train

The simplest route is the Great Western Railway service from Reading to Windsor & Eton Central, changing at Slough. Journey time is roughly 30 to 40 minutes depending on the connection, and trains run frequently through the day. An anytime return typically falls in the £10–£16 band, though off-peak and advance fares are cheaper. If you are staying in central Reading, Reading station's north entrance on Station Hill puts you straight onto the main concourse. Book a hotel within a 10-minute walk of the station and you can leave your bags and be in Windsor before lunch.

A second option is Reading to Windsor & Eton Riverside via Staines, which is useful if you want to arrive on the Eton side. It takes slightly longer and often costs a little more, so most travellers are better off with the Slough change. Driving is around 30 to 40 minutes via the M4 and A332, but Windsor's town-centre car parks fill quickly on weekends and bank holidays. If you do drive, aim to arrive before 10am, or park at Windsor Leisure Centre and walk in. I would book the train every time for this trip.

Windsor Castle: Tickets, Timing and What to Skip

Windsor Castle opens to visitors Tuesday to Sunday, generally from 10am, with last admission in the mid-afternoon. Book a timed slot online in advance, especially between April and September, when queues at the Castle Hill entrance can run to 45 minutes. Adult tickets sit around the £30 mark, with concessions and family rates available. The State Apartments and St George's Chapel are the core of the visit; allow two to three hours. Changing the Guard happens on selected days, usually around 11am, and it is worth checking the schedule before you commit to a slot.

If your time is tight, skip the Long Walk crowds and head straight for the State Apartments, then St George's Chapel. Queen Mary's Dolls' House is a highlight but the queue moves slowly on busy afternoons — go early or leave it. The Castle is closed on some dates for state occasions, so check ahead. Combine the castle with the town rather than trying to bolt on Legoland in the same day; it does not work. November to March is quieter and cheaper, and the castle interiors are no less impressive in low season.

Eton: The High Street, Chapel and Riverside

Eton is a 10-minute walk across Windsor Bridge from the castle, and it is a genuinely different visit. Eton College offers guided tours at set times, usually in the afternoons during term breaks, and the chapel is worth seeing even if you only walk the High Street. Independent shops, antique dealers and cafes line the street, and the walk down to the river at Brocas or the Eton College boathouse gives you the classic view back towards Windsor Castle. Budget an hour or two here, more if you tour the college.

Eton High Street is narrow and gets congested with coaches mid-morning, so arrive before 11am or after 3pm for a calmer stroll. The riverside path towards Datchet is a pleasant 20-minute extension if the weather holds. For food, Eton's cafes are quieter and often better value than the castle-side options, though Windsor has more choice overall. If you are travelling with children, the riverside and the bridge walk tend to land better than a second historic interior. I would book the Eton college tour if it is running, otherwise treat Eton as a relaxed hour between the castle and the train home.

Where to Base Yourself in Reading

Reading works well as a base because it sits on fast lines to London, Oxford, Bath and Windsor, and its hotel stock covers most budgets. Central options cluster around Station Hill, Friar Street and the Oracle riverside, where mid-range rooms commonly fall in the £80–£140 range midweek and higher on Saturdays. If you are driving, the Reading Gateway and M4 junction 11 area offer free parking and easier access, but you lose the walk-to-station convenience. For a two-night Windsor-focused trip, I would pick a hotel within 10 minutes of Reading station and leave the car at home.

West Berkshire villages such as Pangbourne and Goring are quieter and prettier, with direct trains into Reading, but you will rely on connections for Windsor. Demand for Reading and West Berkshire stays is steady through spring and summer, so book a week or two ahead for weekend dates. If you are coming from outside the region, note there is also a Reading in Massachusetts — check your booking page carefully so you do not search the wrong continent. For this itinerary, central Reading is the practical answer.