Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle Escorted Tour from London

Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle in one day gives you two very different royal experiences: polished State Rooms in central London, then a working castle with nearly 1,000 years of royal history. I like the convenience of having both admission tickets and Windsor transportation arranged, and the included coach avoids the bother of figuring out trains and local connections.

I also like the chance to enter Buckingham Palace during its summer opening and to visit St George’s Chapel, where monarchs are buried and Prince Harry married Meghan Markle. The catch is the schedule. You may walk 10 to 15 minutes, or feel it is farther, from Buckingham Palace to the Evan Evans office, and many people find Windsor time too short for a relaxed visit.

Key points to know

• Two royal residences, two very different moods: Buckingham Palace is formal and ceremonial, while Windsor feels older, larger, and more like a living fortress.
• The morning starts at 9:15 am: Meet in front of The King’s Gallery entrance at Buckingham Palace, not at a hotel.
• The Windsor transfer requires a walk: After Buckingham Palace, you make your own way to the Evan Evans office for a 1 pm departure.
• Most sightseeing is self-guided: Buckingham Palace uses its own audio guide, and Windsor provides a free multimedia tour.
• Plan for 16,000 steps or more: Comfortable walking shoes matter, especially if you want the chapel, State Apartments, and grounds.
• Guide quality can vary: Some tour leaders, including Ruth, Deborah, Ursula, and Godfrey, have added helpful commentary, while other departures have felt mainly like ticket and transport service.

Two royal sights in one demanding day

This is a sightseeing day built around access and transport, not a traditional guided tour from start to finish. You meet in central London, enter Buckingham Palace, take a break between sights, walk to the operator’s office, then ride by coach to Windsor.

That distinction matters. If you want someone beside you explaining every room and royal connection, this may not match your idea of a guided tour. At both palaces, much of the actual visit is self-guided. If you mainly want the tickets, a planned route, and transport to Windsor, the arrangement can be useful.

The tour lasts about nine and a half hours, beginning at 9:15 am and finishing around 6:30 pm at Victoria Station. The group can include up to 53 people, so this is not an intimate small-group outing.

Buckingham Palace State Rooms and summer access

The first stop is Buckingham Palace, the King’s official London residence and one of the world’s few working royal palaces. Public access is seasonal. The State Rooms open to visitors during the summer, when the Palace is not being used for its official duties.

Inside, you see 19 State Rooms used for ceremonies and formal entertaining. The White Drawing Room is a highlight, with its crystal chandelier and carefully arranged furnishings. The Music Room has hosted presentations connected with State Visits, while the Throne Room has been used for important royal photographs.

You walk through the Palace at your own pace with an audio guide. That works well if you prefer to stop for details or move quickly through rooms that interest you less. It also means the tour leader usually cannot provide a room-by-room talk inside the Palace.

Allow the stated two hours for this part of the day. The visit is not simply a quick peek at one grand room. You will pass through a sequence of formal interiors, and the audio commentary helps explain how each space is used.

Before entry, you go through airport-style security. Bags larger than 45 by 20 by 30 centimeters are not permitted, so pack lightly. This is one place where arriving prepared saves time and stress.

The walk after Buckingham Palace

The main logistical wrinkle comes after the Palace. The Windsor portion leaves from the Evan Evans office at 1 pm, and you need to arrive by 12:45 pm for check-in. The operator does not provide a transfer from Buckingham Palace to that office.

The walk is described as 10 to 15 minutes, though the route can feel longer after you have crossed the Palace grounds and spent the morning on your feet. Leave the Palace promptly, follow your directions carefully, and do not treat the break as a leisurely lunch hour.

This gap is intended to give you time to find food along the way. Lunch is not included, so you need to budget for it and keep an eye on the clock. The arrangement is practical, but it can feel awkward because you shift from a palace visit to a separate office check-in rather than meeting a coach right outside the exit.

Coach ride to Windsor

The second part uses a superior coach with Wi-Fi and USB charging listed as onboard features. The charging equipment has not worked reliably on every departure, so I would arrive with your phone already charged. Wi-Fi is useful for checking directions or messages, but do not rely on the bus as your only source of navigation.

The drive can include traffic, especially on the return to London. That can reduce your time inside Windsor, so an early start and prompt movement between parts of the visit matter. Some tour leaders have added a running commentary on the road. Godfrey, Ruth, and other praised guides have made the ride more interesting by pointing out sights and sharing history. On other departures, the ride has felt much quieter.

This unevenness is worth understanding before you book. The advertised experience includes a guest service assistant and onboard commentary, but the actual amount of commentary may depend on the tour leader assigned that day.

Windsor Castle State Apartments

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. It has served as a royal home for almost 1,000 years and remains one of the King’s official residences.

The site covers more than 10.5 hectares, so the scale is far greater than the Buckingham Palace interiors. You can visit the State Apartments, which contain works from the Royal Collection and furnishings connected with royal occupants including Charles II and George IV.

The rooms show how Windsor changed over time. The State Apartments combine royal ceremony, art, furniture, and the marks of different monarchs’ tastes. You are not simply looking at empty stone walls. The rooms are furnished and arranged to show how the castle functioned as a royal residence.

Windsor provides a free multimedia tour for self-guided visits. From October through March, the Semi-State Apartments may also be open. These were George IV’s private rooms in the 19th century, but access can vary, as can access to parts of the State Apartments.

The stated time for Windsor Castle is about an hour and a half, with another 20 minutes listed for St George’s Chapel. In practical terms, that is a tight window. If you want to take the multimedia tour slowly, study the art, see the chapel, and enjoy the views, you may need to move steadily.

St George’s Chapel deserves priority

Make St George’s Chapel one of your first targets at Windsor. It is associated with the 2018 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, but the royal connections go much further back.

The chapel is also the burial place of monarchs including Henry VIII and Charles I. The interior adds a more personal and historic dimension to the castle visit, after the formal display of the State Apartments.

St George’s Chapel is closed to visitors on Sundays. If your trip falls on another day, check the day’s access when you arrive, since royal ceremonies or other official uses can affect opening. If time is tight, go to the chapel before wandering through every corner of the castle grounds.

You may also see the Royal Standard flying from the Round Tower if the King is in residence at Windsor. That is not guaranteed, but it is a small detail worth noticing.

How much walking should you expect?

This is not a sit-down sightseeing day. You walk through Buckingham Palace, cross from the Palace area to the afternoon meeting point, move around Windsor Castle, and return to central London.

A practical estimate from the experience is more than 16,000 steps for some people, with one account describing over four miles of walking outside the coach. Your total will depend on how directly you move and how much of Windsor you explore, but the point is simple: wear supportive shoes.

The castle grounds also include slopes, broad paths, and long distances between areas. A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. If stairs, long walks, or standing are difficult for you, consider visiting the two royal sites on separate days.

Price and what the $172.25 covers

At $172.25 per person, the price is not low. The value comes from the bundle: Buckingham Palace admission, Windsor Castle admission, coach transportation, a guest service assistant, and a planned meeting structure.

The price is easier to justify if you want both sights in one day and do not want to arrange Windsor transport yourself. It is less convincing if you are comfortable buying admissions separately and taking the train to Windsor. The castles themselves provide audio or multimedia material, so the tour’s added value is mainly convenience, coordination, and the coach ride.

Lunch is extra. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also not included. You finish at Victoria Station, which is useful for continuing around London, but you must make your own way to the first meeting point and home from the final stop.

I would also think about the cost of your time. Windsor Castle is large, and a separate visit would let you explore at a calmer pace. This combined tour gives you breadth, but not much spare time.

The guide makes a real difference

The strongest departures appear to be those led by an active tour leader. Ruth has been praised for adding historical stories on the coach, while Deborah, Ursula, Lesley, Eileen, and Godfrey have each been described as friendly, engaging, or well informed.

A good guide can make the transfer feel like part of the day rather than dead time. Stories about London and the road to Windsor help put the sites in context. Some guides have also brought humor and lively touches to the outing.

Still, you should book this with realistic expectations. The Palace and castle visits are largely self-guided, and the tour leader’s role may be checking tickets, giving directions, and organizing the group. If your guide offers more commentary, treat that as a welcome bonus rather than the main product.

Clear meeting instructions are especially important. Keep the office location, departure time, and return instructions handy. The Windsor coach leaves at 1 pm, and missing the group can create a serious problem because the bus is not waiting at the Palace exit.

Who should book this royal day?

I would choose this tour if you have limited time in London, want to see both royal sites, and prefer a coach connection over arranging transport yourself. It also suits first-time visitors who value a fixed schedule and included admissions.

It is a good fit for people who enjoy audio guides and independent exploring. You can set your own pace inside the State Rooms and castle, while still having someone organize the larger movements of the day.

I would hesitate if you want a slow, detailed visit to Windsor, dislike long walks, or expect continuous expert commentary. Families with young children and anyone with limited stamina should think carefully about the length of the day and the transfer between sites.

The tour is offered in English. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, subject to the stated conditions. The experience also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation by the operator may lead to another date or a full refund.

Should you book Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle together?

Book it if your priority is seeing both royal residences in one London day with admissions and Windsor transport arranged. The coach removes one layer of planning, and the chance to enter Buckingham Palace is seasonal and special.

Skip it if you want depth over coverage. A separate Buckingham Palace visit and a full day at Windsor would give you more breathing room, less rushing, and a better chance to complete every audio stop.

My practical verdict: this is a useful but demanding royal sampler. The sights are worth your time, and a strong guide can make the day memorable, but the walk to the Windsor meeting point and the short castle schedule keep it from being an easy, leisurely outing. Bring light luggage, eat efficiently, wear good shoes, and put St George’s Chapel near the top of your Windsor plan.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at 9:15 am in front of The King’s Gallery entrance at Buckingham Palace, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour finishes at approximately 6:30 pm at London Victoria Station.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Is lunch included?

No. You need to arrange and pay for lunch yourself during the break between Buckingham Palace and the Windsor departure.

How do I get from Buckingham Palace to the Windsor coach?

You walk to the Evan Evans office. The transfer is described as a 10 to 15 minute walk, and you should arrive there by 12:45 pm for the 1 pm departure.

Are Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle admissions included?

Yes. Admission to the Buckingham Palace State Rooms and Windsor Castle is included.

Are the visits guided?

The visits are mainly self-guided. Buckingham Palace provides an audio guide, and Windsor Castle provides a free multimedia tour. A tour leader may add commentary during transport and help organize the group.

Is St George’s Chapel open every day?

No. St George’s Chapel is closed to visitors on Sundays. It may also be affected by official use or other access changes.

What size bag can I take into Buckingham Palace?

Bags larger than 45 by 20 by 30 centimeters are not permitted. Entry also includes an airport-style security check.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund under the stated policy.