Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace Tour: A Full-Day Royal Escape
A Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace tour packs England's most storied castle and Henry VIII's riverside palace into a single day, without a car or a stitched-together train timetable. Here's what the day actually includes, what to expect on the ground, and how to get the most from both stops.
About This Tour
Cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund.
Lock in your spot today; you're only charged closer to the date.
A full 7 to 9 hour day trip, departing central London in the morning.
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, still a working royal residence.
Hampton Court Palace was built for Cardinal Wolsey, then claimed by Henry VIII; its Tudor kitchens and hedge maze survive intact.
You travel in a small group with a guide, and a snack pack is included for the ride.
Check Live Availability & Prices
Prices and time slots shift with the season, so check the live calendar below before you settle on a date.
Why Book This Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace Tour
Windsor and Hampton Court sit on opposite sides of London and are awkward to combine without a car. This tour handles the logistics in one seated coach day, so you get both royal residences without stitching together train changes and station transfers yourself.
If you've already mapped out the city half of your trip, planned hour by hour, this day trip is a natural third or fourth day: a change of pace from Tube platforms and museum queues to castle courtyards and riverside gardens.
The value beyond the tickets is the guide narrating the drive between the two sites, and a small group instead of a coach-load of forty. Confirm which entries are included on your specific departure before booking, since that detail can vary.
What You'll See
Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace each reward a slow look, and a guide narrating the journey between them fills in stories a self-guided day would miss.
- The State Apartments at Windsor Castle, still used for state occasions
- St George's Chapel, resting place of Queen Elizabeth II
- The view down the Long Walk toward Windsor Great Park
- Hampton Court's Great Hall and its hammer-beam roof
- The Tudor kitchens that once fed Henry VIII's court
- The famous Hampton Court hedge maze
- William III's baroque state apartments
- Windsor town's riverside streets during free time
What's Included (and What's Not)
Most departures of this tour include:
- ✓ Round-trip coach transport from central London
- ✓ A guide narrating the journey and both stops
- ✓ Windsor Castle entry, including the State Apartments
- ✓ Hampton Court Palace entry, including the maze
- ✓ A snack pack for the coach ride
Not included (confirm exact entries at booking, since they can vary by departure):
- ✗ Lunch at either stop
- ✗ St George's Chapel interior on Sundays, when it closes for services
- ✗ Gratuities for your guide and driver
How the Day Unfolds
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08:00
Departure from Central London
Your coach picks up from a central London point and heads west toward Windsor.
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09:15
Windsor Castle
Guided entry into the castle grounds, then time in the State Apartments and, most days, St George's Chapel.
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11:00
Free Time in Windsor Town
Wander the cobbled streets below the castle walls, browse the shops, or grab an early lunch.
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12:00
Drive to Hampton Court
Back on the coach for the ride along the Thames toward Hampton Court Palace.
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13:30
Hampton Court Palace
Explore the Great Hall, the Tudor kitchens, and William III's state apartments at your own pace.
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15:30
The Hedge Maze
Save the last stretch for the maze. Give it a full 20 minutes and don't rush the dead ends.
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16:30
Return to London
Board the coach for the drive back into the city, arriving early evening.
Know Before You Go
Not suitable for
- Travelers with mobility limitations, since both sites involve significant walking on cobbles and stairs
- Anyone on a tight one-day London schedule, since this trip takes most of a day out of the city
- Visitors hoping to see the Crown Jewels, those are at the Tower of London, not Windsor
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A layer for the coach's air conditioning and any wind at Windsor
- Cash or a card for lunch and any extra entries
- A camera for the Long Walk and the maze
Not allowed
- Large suitcases (day bag only)
- Flash photography inside the State Apartments
- Drones at either site
Insider Tips
A few things that make the day smoother:
- Do the State Apartments before the crowds build, then save the Long Walk photo for the end
- In St George's Chapel, look for the simple ledger stone marking Elizabeth II's resting place in the King George VI chapel
- At Hampton Court, protect the 20 minutes the maze actually takes, don't let free time get eaten elsewhere
- Ask about the Tudor kitchens' live fire days, they run occasionally and are worth timing for
- Eat lunch in Windsor town rather than the castle cafes, it's cheaper and faster
- Confirm which entries are included on your specific departure before booking
Where You're Headed
Who It's For
This day trip suits:
- History lovers who want two royal residences without renting a car
- First-time visitors who've already covered central London and want a change of scene
- Anyone curious about the Tudor period, since Hampton Court is one of the best-preserved Tudor palaces anywhere
Not ideal for
- Travelers with only one day in London, since this uses most of it
- Anyone who gets carsick on coach rides between stops
Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace Tour FAQ
Can I visit Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace in one day?
Yes. This tour is built around exactly that, with a coach connecting the two so you're not managing trains or transfers yourself.
Is St George's Chapel open every day?
No. It closes to visitors on Sundays for services, so if your castle visit falls on a Sunday you'll see the exterior and grounds rather than the chapel interior.
How much walking is involved?
Expect a fair amount. Both sites have cobbled courtyards, stairs in the State Apartments, and a good stretch of walking at Hampton Court, plus the maze if you take it on.
Is lunch included?
Usually not, beyond the snack pack for the coach ride. Budget for lunch in Windsor town or at Hampton Court.
Where does the coach depart from?
A central London pickup point, confirmed with your booking.
Is this a guided tour or just transport?
Both. A guide travels with you and narrates the journey, and you get entry to the State Apartments at Windsor and to Hampton Court Palace.
What Travellers Say
Getting to both Windsor and Hampton Court without renting a car made this an easy yes. Our guide's stories about Henry VIII carried the whole afternoon.
St George's Chapel was the highlight for us, seeing where the late Queen is buried. The maze at Hampton Court took longer than we expected, in a good way.
Long day but worth it. The coach ride between the two sites is when you actually get to sit and process what you just saw.