Easiest round trip from Southampton to Windsor

[Verokaren]

We are going to be in Southampton for a full day before disembarking the next day. We would love to use this day to see Windsor Castle, but cannot find any specific tours for this only. I've reached out to some private car companies like Twelve Tranfers, but they have not responded for this tour. Should we rent our own car?  I understand taking a train is too complicated.  I appreciate any input and help!!

[gumshoe958]

Train from Southampton to Windsor is a bit slow but not complicated at all - just one easy transfer at London Waterloo.

 

Southampton to Waterloo and Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside both run every 30 minutes. Total journey time about 2 hrs 30 min each way.

 

Alternatively rent a car, there’s a couple of places in town near the cruise terminals or a wider selection at the airport which is a 5 minute train or 20 minute cab ride from the city centre.

 

Edited June 14, 2023 by gumshoe958

[John Bull]

 

It's unusual for ships to overnite in Southampton - but if you're flying out from Heathrow next day that overnite makes this a difficult one to call.

 

Heathrow is only about 6 - 8 miles from Heathrow, so it's worth comparing the cost of

......... a round-trip Southampton - Windsor - Southampton (yes, renting a car would be the cheapest option), dinner and bed aboard, then back to Heathrow next day.

As well as the car rental fee, allow for

- a usually-high premium for zero-excess insurance or take the risk of an excess of up to about £1500 (third-party insurance is always included in the rental price, the financial risk is only damage to the vehicle and potential loss of rental fees until repaired)
- fuel, about £20

- parking in Windsor (£10 - £12?)

- transportation Southampton to Heathrow next day

 

versus

 

Forego the "free" dinner & bed on-board and book a hotel in the Heathrow / Windsor area

- train to Waterloo (advance fare from as little as £15  per person) & train from Waterloo to Windsor (about £10 pp),

- taxi to hotel in or near Windsor, drop luggage, & taxi into Windsor to sight-see..

- taxi back to hotel.

- dinner in Windsor or at  hotel

- next morning, pre-booked taxi to Heathrow (about £30 - £35) for flight home.

 

JB 🙂

[Verokaren]

Yes, we are sailing on Oceania Vista, and they unfortunately, cancelled the call to St. Malo, which gives us one full day in Southampton before we disembark the following day.  I had already built in a London day, so on disembarkation day, we have a private car hired to take us into the city to our hotel for a day.  We will fly out of Gatwick the day after that, so no opportunity to be close to Heathrow.  

 

Thank you for your input, JB!!  I have followed your posts for awhile and have gleaned much knowledge from them! 🙂 

[TwyLady]

There is an alternative rote to Windsor, which is faster & cheaper, although you do have to change trains twice. It is not complicated though.

 

southamton to Reading, then Reading to Slough - virtually every fast train to London stops at Slough (usually the only stop). Then you can catch a train to Windsor- it’s a branch line that just shuttles between Slough & Windsor. The whole trip is about 2 hrs.

 

Windsor is great to visit - do pre-book the castle, if you are planning to visit it, as otherwise the queues are very long.