Heathrow to Windsor
 

I'm so sorry. I typed Cambridge on my original post and meant Windsor.

I have a day to fill while waiting for my daughter who's at Heathrow on business. We're staying at the Sofitel Hotel in Heathrow for 1 night before continuing on to London for a long weekend. Since I need to occupy myself with something close to Heathrow, it looks like Windsor Castle is a good option.
I've found buses 71 and 77 which leave from Term. 5 and go to Windsor. Where do I buy my ticket for the bus? I don't see anything on the website or the airport map to indicate a bus ticket office. Also can I purchase an Oyster Card there for use on the bus as well as while in London?
Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

You just buy the tickets on the bus (right money isn't needed, within reason)

These buses aren't operated as part of TfL. To the best of my knowledge, Oyster doesn't yet operate on them(though apparently it will in the next few years).

You can buy Oysters at the T5 tube station - but Heathrow's the Western boundary of their validity.

See my post on your other thread (I didn't see this one before I posted there)

Thank you both for your info.

We took the bus from Terminal 5 last fall. There is a ticket office and people to help. I remember a longish slog through Slough, but for us it was the rush hour.

Have you considered staying in Windsor that one night? Or does your daughter's business keep you at that hotel? Windsor would be more fun than an airport hotel. You can take the train into London from Windsor.

Mimar,
My daughter is staying at the hotel at Heathrow for her business meetings which are being held there. At the end of the day that I visit Windsor, we'll both be traveling into London for a weekend of sightseeing.
Do you remember how what the fare is from Heathrow to Windsor? And is the bus stop close to the castle?
Thanks.

Nope, can't remember the bus fare. But the taxi drivers wanted something like L50, so by comparison the bus fare was immaterial.

The bus doesn't stop all that close to the castle. You walk around the corner and you're on a pedestrianized shopping street, at the top of which is the castle. Maybe 2 or 3 blocks IIRC. Though now that I look at the map maybe we got off too soon. Ask the driver.

And it's bus # 71, BTW.

I'm back from my visit to London with my daughter. The day in Heathrow turned out great.
I landed at Term. 3 took the Heathrow Express to Term. 5 where my daughter was staying at the Sofitel Hotel. I rested for a few hours and freshened up. Right outside Term. 5 I took bus #77 to Windsor Castle and spent a great day touring the castle and walked around the town. I took bus #71 back to Term. 5. The round trip fare was £5.60. The trip on Bus #71 is a slightly longer but a little more scenic. Both routes are about 30-45 mins.

thanks for the update!

glad it worked out so well.

My wife and I have a 7 hour layover at Heathrow in December. Assuming the weather is not rainy or nasty, we thought we could go to Windsor for a walkabout and tea for a couple of hours before returning for our onward international flight. Do you know how often buses 71 and 77 stop at T5?

It's under "buses" on the Heathrow Airport website

http://www.heathrowairport.com/porta...12871120103a0/

But the pdf is here

http://www.heathrowairport.com/asset.../Bus_Table.pdf

Taking both buses together it's 4 times an hour