Visiting Windsor, do I need a car?

[windsorwanderer]

Hello, I'm visiting Windsor for a couple of days but we're staying outside of Windsor.
My plan was to get the bus into Windsor but actually will I be better to take the car? Obviously we will be visiting the castle, is it a reasonable walking distance from the town centre?
What else is there to do and look at?
Any recommendations for good coffee shops and restaurants?
Is there a hop on/off tourist bus type thing?
Thanks in advance!

You'll be better on public transport. The car parks are extremely expensive and not all that big/usually full. If you're staying near a train station that may be a better option.

Windsor Castle is in the town centre.
Can't help otherwise I'm afraid.

The castle is at the top of the main shopping street, you can’t miss it! . Yes there’s a sightseeing bus plus you can get a combined ticket for boat rides. Eton is pretty and you’ll see the college. There’s loads of places to eat and drink.

Where are you staying

Yes once you’ve got into Windsor, it’s easy to walk around the town, castle and over to Eton.

Anyway I would take the car yes.
Windsor is extremely small and not that much to see. It's somewhere to wander around and enjoy but I would highly recommend heading to a part just outside called Saville garden which is part of the Windsor great park.
It's a beautiful part of the park you can enter for free or you can pay to go into an actual beautiful landscaped part. Either way it's beautiful and will add depth to the experience.

The Saville garden cafe is also very nice.

Runnyede is also worth visiting due to the magna carta.

Local here. We live in central Windsor and we don’t have / need a car. As others mentioned, the castle is right in the centre of town, you can’t miss it. You can walk along the riverside, feed the swans, go on a boat trip on the Thames. Hop on Hop off bus. Loads of restaurants, coffee shops. Too many if you ask me, not that many actual shops left. There is a M&S and Waitrose. If you like walking, make sure to explore the Long Walk, it takes you through to Windsor great park and Deer park. You can find more information on trip advisor and such, for recommendations on restaurants and places to visit here.

Unless your hotel/ accommodation comes with free parking, I would advise against bringing the car. Parking fees are extortionate here.

Hi @windsorwanderer
We always take the car to Windsor, it's just nice to get in the car after a long day.
There is a multi story carpark in Windsor but i always go to Alma Road, there's a couple of car parks there and reasonably priced. The car parks right next to the town centre are very expensive. Have a lovely couple of days xx

@windsorwanderer
Also, the drive from Windsor to Ascot is lovely! x

Have spent lots of time in Windsor as close friend works and lives in the castle. I have never brought my car. The train station is very near the castle.

Lovely walks along the river and everything is very accessible on foot. The area around the train station has some good cafes/restaurants - Carluccio’s, Bill’s and a few others. There is a good Indian restaurant not far from the castle but I can’t remember the name. Some nice pubs too. As others have said, there’s not a huge amount to see and do but I find it a lovely place to have a mooch about. Walking in the Great Park is nice in autumn. Going around the castle takes most of a day. You can go to a service in St George’s Chapel for free - evensong most days.

You can walk to the main sites in Windsor easily. The Castle is slap bang in the middle opposite the Central train station. There is a hop on and off tourist bus but many of the attractions are within walking distance.
Do a river cruise with French Brothers
http://www.frenchbrothers.co.uk/

You can walk to everything including over the bridge to Eton. There is the hop on off bus too. There is also a bus that takes you through the great park if you don’t want to walk miles. It’s the number 1 white bus service. Depending what day you go you could see if there is anything on at Windsor racecourse or the theatre. There is a brewery that does tours or you could do chocolate making at Dr Chocs in the high street. There is every type of restaurant you can think of! If you want a special mean that is not extortionate have a look at A La Russe a French restaurant, fabulous food.

Great info thanks people. We're staying in slough and I see the number 2 bus goes into Windsor so I just wanted to make sure if we do that we're not going to be miles from the castle. Looking forward to our little trip!

If you can get to Slough train station, there is a direct train to Windsor that takes like 5 mins, and is literally next to the castle :)

I agree with this - train to Windsor is usually quicker than the bus if close enough - and the station is right in the centre near the castle

Train would be a good option from slough unless you are at the copthorne or holiday inn the the bus will probably be just as easy than getting to the train station

If you do drive the car park at the Windsor & Eton riverside station is surprisingly cheap and just a short walk to the centre.