Day trips to Windsor Castle and Hampton Court from London
 

We will be in Lindon for three days, May 18 -MAY 20.We would like to do day trips to both Hampton court and WindorCastle.would this bepossible to do before we depart on May 20? Would riding the train to both places be the best Mehod of travel? Any suggestions appreciated.
Regards

train is certainly the quickest - but you could use the boat one way to Hampton court; not both ways as it takes too long.

However, if you do both H/C and windsor, you'll only have one day left for London. if it rains, I'd pick Windsor, if nice, go to H/C.

Do you arrive on May 18 - or on the 17th? If on the 18th -- you don't have 3 days you have less than 2 full days.

So really, we need more info before we can give useful advice. What time/day do you land, and which airport? What time do you depart on May 20 - and which airport?

Hampton court can be fascinating - but it's a palace - not a true castle. Windsor Castle is - but the areas you can see are quite limited. The best Castle in the area is the Tower of London - which will take at least 4 to 5 hours to see.

With so little time I wouldn;t head out of London unless you've already seen the major sights there.

YOu may also want to check out www.walks.com explorer days that do guided affordable tours on public transport. With only 3 days in London I wouldnt bother doing day trips if this is your first time to London. Just the Tower (the best site in London in my opinion) takes 1/2 day!

Since this thread is up, how long should we budget for Windsor Castle?

We spent a whole day at Hampton Court Palace (including a boat back to London, which was a lot of fun). One of our best days on the road.

This thread is six years old so you probably should start a new thread of your own. But you should allow all or most of a day for Windsor too. It takes time to get there then the Castle, a meal and wandering around the town a bit before catching a train back into London. If you rush a bit you could be back in town by mid afternoon.

Thanks Janis.

a nice addition to Windsor is to bop over to Eton, just across the Thames and in view of the castle and see the famous private school's environs.

>>see the famous private school's environs.<<

Years ago when PQ visited that was possible. But security and construction precludes wandering around Eton.

You can still see the guys in their suits and tie running around the High Street and poke thru the gates I presume - still a nice stroll - some really neat old pubs there too!

If going by train to Windsor go one way perhaps -the main route from Paddington but also go one way by the route from Eton-Riverside station, right under the castle, as it takes a leafy Thames-side route much of the way to London proper!

And you can also hit Runnymede - the meadow where the Magna Carta was signed - a monument there to that and Americans too - take bus from Windsor right to site- if a hiker you can hike like I did about 3-4 miles thru Windsor Great Park (deer park) up to the big equestrian statue - hang a left - go thru some upscale housing area to the site - and catch the bus to go back or onto some rail station.

Visits- with tour guide -recommence next month - March 2017 so you again can visit the Eton school area:

http://www.etoncollege.com/Public-Visits.aspx

There is not much of interest around Hampton Court IME as a Windsor Castle - but there is a nice short stroll along the Thames to the Moesley Lock, interesting in itself as is the area around it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molesey_Lock

It says in Victorian Days the Lock was a very popular day out - and even now it is a place to sit -on a nice day -maybe picnic -watch the boat action go through it.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mole...HZb9AggQsAQIGw