7.5 hr layover at Heathrow - Windsor help
 

We are looking at flight options for our May trip to Europe and one of the options has a 7.5 hour layover at Heathrow. (We prefer longer layovers if it means we can get out of the airport and see something new.) We would be flying in from the US on British Airways and then out on British Airways to Spain. Is this enough time to leave the airport and go to Windsor and Eton?

Our interests in Windsor would be (in order of priority):
- having lunch at a pub
- walking around the neighborhoods and seeing the castle
- tour of the castle
- anything else we should think about seeing?

Questions:

- After subtracting time for immigration, storing our carry-ons, getting back to the airport for the next flight and transportation to/from Windsor, I think that leaves us with 3.5-4 hours if everything is on schedule. Would that be enough time for a visit?

- Our arrival time is around 11 am. Is this a peak time for immigration for non-EU people and should we expect long lines?

- Is there enough time to visit and tour the castle or would it better to just view the exterior? How much can you see without paying for entrance?

- Is a taxi the best way to get to Windsor?

Thanks for your help!

W/ an 11:00 arrival, you might clear through immigration, Left Luggage and out to the taxi rank by noon if things go well, 12:30+ if there are hiccups.

You'll want to be back at the terminal at least 2 hours early since you'll have to queue at left luggage. So yes, you do have time.

From outside the castle you just see big stone walls/windows, an archway w/ some bits looming over the top. Don't worry about 'neighborhoods' -just stick to the central area around the castle and the river. But by all means have a nice lunch, walk along the river, and catch a cab back. You don't have to decide until the day -- depending on if you land on time, how you feel, what the weather is like, etc.

If you have 7.5 hours between flights I don;t think you are going to have 4 hours in Windsor.

Heathrow is notorious for being delays - so you need to leave at least 2.5 hours from Windosr back to heathrow to pick up your carry-ons, then get through security and onto the flight.
Even if your flight is on time you would need to allow at least 1.5 hours to deplane, get through immigration, check you carry-ons and get to Windsor. These times are assuming there are no delays anywhere.

So - at best - you might have 3.5 hours, but more likely 2.5 or 3 hours in Windsor. Certainly enough time to have a pub lunch - but I don;t know how much you would be able to see.

I think your best bet is to find out all of the details in terms of getting to and from Windsor - and making a final decision at the time - when you see what time it is when you can leave the airport and catch transit to Windsor.

Thanks! I'm assuming we can get a taxi at the airport when leaving but do we have to call one in advance on the return?

Shouldn't have to - there are taxis in Windsor. But if you get nervous about it, you can always have the restaurant call one for you.

You might also find that there are long queues to actually get in to Windsor Castle - if you happen to arrive at the same time as a tour bus, the wait can be up to 1/2 hour. Once inside you can wander around, but if you decide to take one of the indoor tours you may run out of time.

If you do get to Windsor, walk across the bridge towards Eaton, then along the tow path beside the river. There's quite a good view of the turrets inside the castle walls from there.

There are plenty of good places to eat along the main street, including a pub, if that's what you're looking for. Di

I didn't recommend going inside/touring the castle. Simply not time.