End Your Trip Right: What I Did on a Windsor Layover from Heathrow

On my recent trip, I discovered the perfect way to end a European adventure: a Windsor layover from Heathrow that gave me castle views, deep sleep, and one last dose of charm. Windsor is a postcard-perfect town just 20 minutes from the airport (about 8.6 miles by car).

Why Windsor?

Instead of hauling all my stuff into London for one last blitz of sightseeing, I opted for something calmer and closer – Windsor, home of Windsor Castle and the occasional clippity-clop of a royal horse. I found a two-bedroom apartment on Hotels.com, and guess what? It was directly across the street from the back of Windsor Castle (37 Thames Street, Windsor). I could literally see the castle from my bed! And yes, I could hear the horse patrols clomping by like it was no big deal.

The apartment was:

• Recently redone
• Spacious and peaceful
• Complete with a full kitchen and a luxurious bathtub (a rare treasure after a month of European hotels with only showers)
• Located above a Chinese restaurant across the street from Windsor Castle (And no, there were no food smells drifting upstairs – promise!)

Want to see what it’s like to wake up next to Windsor Castle? Watch my video tour!

Wandering Windsor

That first night, I went out exploring. Just steps from the apartment, I found Windsor’s lively pedestrian shopping area full of tourist shops and cute boutiques. One offshoot street led me to a nostalgic department store, Daniel of Windsor, established in 1901.

Now, this place was a total throwback: think 1970s American department store vibes. It had toys, kitchenware, even a tiny musical instrument section, the kind of stuff you’d never find in modern U.S. department stores unless you’re wandering through Target. I loved every minute of poking around.

It brought back childhood memories of going to Macy’s, Sears, or the Emporium with my Mom and her leaving me alone in the toy department to browse while she shopped! Ahhh, Gen X memories!

There was also a vegetarian café inside called Garden of Eden. While I’m not vegetarian, I gave it a shot. (Note to self: figure out what I ordered. Some kind of veggie pasty? It was good!) It was a surprisingly charming way to wrap up a travel day.

Want to stay in Windsor and check out the attractions there?

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Day Trip into London: The Parliament Tour

The next morning, I walked 10 minutes from my apartment rental to Windsor & Eton Riverside Station, hopped on a train to London Waterloo (the ride takes about 57 minutes), and strolled over to the Houses of Parliament for a 90 minute guided tour. To book a tour you need to go to the UK Parliament’s official website.

The tour was a history lover’s dream:

• I used a headset to follow along, which made it feel like I was part of an important diplomatic mission.
• We started in St. Stephen’s Hall (the last place photos are allowed), then continued through Westminster Hall, Central Lobby, The House of Commons Chamber and The House of Lords Chamber.
• Our guide explained ancient traditions, like the ceremonial door knocking at each new session. It sounds like something from a Monty Python skit:
  • Someone is sent with a rod from the Lords Chamber to the Commons Chamber to tell the MPs to come hear the King’s Speech. Then the door of the Commons is slammed in their face to symbolise the Commons independence! He or she then bangs three times on the door with the rod. The door to the Commons Chamber is then opened and all MPs – talking loudly – follow them back to the Lords to hear the King’s Speech.

If you’ve watched The Crown, The King’s Speech, or any British political thriller, this tour makes all those scenes come alive. It was thrilling.

A Quirky Bite Near Oxford Street

After Parliament, I took the Jubilee Line from Westminster to Bond Street and walked to Mercato Mayfair, a food hall inside a deconsecrated church. Beautiful space, very Instagrammable… but sipping a latte by the altar felt a little too irreverent for me. Still, it’s a pretty cool place, so check it out if you’re interested!

So I moved on to Selfridges on Oxford Street for some department store nostalgia with a modern twist and got lunch there at Aubaine, a French bistro with adorable decor. It was peaceful, a little posh, and a great spot to reflect on the day.

Evening Wrap-Up in Windsor

Back in Windsor that night, I had a riverside dinner at the French Côte Windsor, which I thought seemed very “exotic”. Turns out it is part of a chain with dozens of restaurants throughout the UK. But, still, it felt exotic to me!

I FaceTimed with a friend in Santa Cruz who was eating lunch while I was eating dinner. There’s something so fun about sharing a meal across time zones. You just need to prop your phone up, use your AirPods and just speak at a normal level.