JoeTro

I'm planning a visit to Windsor on Saturday, but I can't stay real long. I'd probably need to get a train around 3:30 or 4.

I'd definitely like to see the Castle, St. George's Chapel and Jubilee Gardens. I can probably get to Windsor around 9, though I realize things won't start to open until 9:45 am.

I'm wondering how long the above mentioned stuff will take me, and whether there is time for anything else? Would there be time to see the town centre (I could see this a bit between 9 - 9:45) or Eton? Anything else I shouldn't miss? Is Eton - having come from Oxford - worth it?

Thanks.

PalenQ

To me Eton is very worth it and doesn't take too much time to hop along the main drag and peek into the schoolyards - right below the castle over the Thames bridge.

You should have plenty of time to do all you want - biggest snag may be line to get in castle.

JoeTro

Thanks. So maybe the self-guided tour of Eton, then? I'd try to arrive to the Castle at opening, to avoid a line.

janisj

Hi,

You'll have plenty of time to see all of it plus eat lunch in the approx 6+ hours you'll have free.

I'd go across to Eton for a look-see even though you live in Oxford.

You won't have time to wander in the Great Park much - but more than plenty for the castle, St George's, the town center, Eton etc.

janisj

I was posting the same time as both of you.

6-7 hours will be more than enough. And the worst lines will be for the Dolls house - which will not be crowded at opening time.

jay

3-4 hrs. at most.

flanneruk

You can't get in to visit Eton College till late (about 1030).

There's no debate that the chapel beats anything in Oxford: the wall paintings are among Britain's most remarkable treasures, and you really ought to investigate both the history of their being painted and the bizarre events surrounding their rediscovery.

The museum of Eton life might give you an insight into an aspect of British life you may not have seen after a year at a meritocratic academic institution. Depends on what your chums have told you. However, the greedy sods expect you to pay, even to see the chapel.

But your post reads as if you're in a hurry. Why?

Eton and Windsor have to be the most globally accessible sights on the planet. Even with BA's and BAA's spectacular inability to organise a pissup down their local boozer, Heathrow will remain the world's major international airport for a long time to come - and Windsor's a 20 minute bus ride away. Unless you seriously mismanage your life, you're a great deal more likely to have a few hours to spare in this part of the Thames Valley at some point in the next few years than almost anywhere else on earth.

I'd spend my time at the Royal Academy summer show. Nothing earth-shattering: but terrific fun and totally English.

JoeTro

Thanks for the comments, everyone. It seems like visiting Castle, gardens and Eton are quite doable. It really seems I should have planned Windsor in the fall, when more of the rooms were open to the public, but oh well. As Flanner says, I'm sure I'll be back!

PalenQ

Ah the Doll's House - janisj rightly upbraided me when my recollection of that was it wasn't much - then i remembered it better and you do not want to miss this part of the castle compound.

Bill_I

Not sure if you are interested in this type of thing, but just to throw another log on the fire, there are some Thames river cruises that leave from Windsor & give you a nice ride on that area of the Thames & get some views of the castle & other areas that you would not get unless being on the river. I think they have some that are 1 hr long & some that are 2 hrs long.

lyb

bookmarking

GeoffHamer

For boat trips from Windsor, see www.boat-trips.co.uk and www.salterssteamers.co.uk.