Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING AROUND
By Train:
Take advantage of British Rail's discounts for day-trippers from London. The
“off-peak day return” ticket is a round-trip fare that costs virtually the same as one-way,
provided you depart London outside rush hour (usually after 9:30 on weekdays and any-
time Sat-Sun). Be sure to specifically ask for the “day return” ticket (round-trip within a
single day) rather than the more expensive standard “return.” You can also save a little
money if you purchase tickets before 18:00 the day before your trip.
By Train Tour:
London Walks offers a variety of “Daytrips from London” tours year-
bridge itinerary (see
here
for more on London Walks).
Windsor, a compact and easy walking town of about 30,000 people, originally grew up
around the royal residence. In 1070, William the Conqueror continued his habit of kicking
Saxons out of their various settlements, taking over what the locals called “Windlesora”
(meaning “riverbank with a hoisting winch”)—which eventually became “Windsor.” Wil-
liam built the first fortified castle on a chalk hill above the Thames; later kings added on
to his early designs, rebuilding and expanding the castle and surrounding gardens.
By setting up their primary residence here, modern monarchs increased Windsor's
popularity and prosperity—most notably, Queen Victoria, whose stern statue glares at you
as you approach the castle. After her death, Victoria rejoined her beloved husband, Albert,
in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore House, a mile south of the castle in a private sec-
tion of the Home Park (house and mausoleum rarely open). The current Queen considers
Windsor her primary residence, and the one where she feels most at home. She gener-
ally hangs her crown here on weekends, using it as an escape from her workaday grind
at Buckingham Palace in the city. You can tell if Her Majesty is in residence by checking
to see which flag is flying above the round tower: If it's the royal standard (a red, yellow,
and blue flag) instead of the Union Jack, the Queen is at home.
