How do I get from Heathrow to Windsor (and Legoland)?

The fastest sensible route is the train: take the Elizabeth line from Heathrow to Slough, about 20 minutes, then change to the GWR shuttle to Windsor and Eton Central, another 7 to 10 minutes. Total journey time is about 30 to 35 minutes, with a single fare that industry fare-comparison sites put at roughly £13 to £20 depending on how far ahead you book (check National Rail for the exact current single). Checked August 2026.

Train via Slough: the fastest option

All three Heathrow stations sit on the Elizabeth line, which runs to Slough in about 20 minutes. At Slough you change onto the Great Western Railway shuttle to Windsor and Eton Central, a short hop of 7 to 10 minutes, which puts you a few minutes' walk from Windsor Castle. On the fastest combination the whole trip takes about 30 to 35 minutes, though some journeys routed via Hayes and Harlington run nearer 51 minutes, so check your specific connection before you travel.

Windsor is beyond the Elizabeth line's TfL zones, so this is not the flat £15.50 Zone 1 single you may have seen quoted for other Heathrow journeys. Fare-comparison sites put a single for Heathrow to Windsor via Slough at roughly £13 to £20 depending on time of day and how far ahead you book. That range is drawn from third-party fare aggregators rather than a National Rail fare-finder quote, so treat it as approximate and check the exact single on National Rail before you travel.

The Elizabeth line itself runs every few minutes from Heathrow to Slough. The connecting Slough to Windsor shuttle is less frequent, roughly every 30 minutes, so overall you can expect about two through journeys an hour. Time your Slough arrival against the shuttle timetable to avoid a long wait on the platform.

Coach: the Flightline 703 (Windsor Express)

The Green Line, now branded Windsor Express, runs the Flightline 703 service from Heathrow to Windsor, operated by Thames Valley Buses (part of the Reading Buses group), in about 52 to 65 minutes, with a frequent daytime service. Airport express coach services like this one are excluded from England's £3 national bus fare cap, so do not assume the single fare is capped at £3. Check the current single fare on the Reading Buses or Thames Valley Buses website before you travel. It is a reasonable option if you are not in a hurry and want to save on the train fare, and the same route continues on towards the Legoland Windsor Resort.

Taxi or private hire

Windsor is about 7 to 9 miles from Heathrow, and a taxi typically takes 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic. A pre-booked private-hire car commonly costs around £35 to £45, while a metered taxi is often somewhat lower, roughly £30 to £40. Treat both as indicative and get a fixed quote before you travel. Ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Bolt and FreeNow operate at Heathrow but cannot pick up at the terminal forecourt, so you need to walk to your terminal's designated pickup point to meet the driver. See our Heathrow taxis guide for how that works.

Driving, and the honest trade-off

If you have your own car, Windsor is about 8 to 9 miles from Heathrow and roughly 15 minutes by road in light traffic. The catch is parking once you arrive, since Windsor town centre has limited spaces and what is available is paid, so factor that in if you are driving rather than taking public transport. If cost matters more than speed, the Flightline 703 coach is generally the cheaper option, at the price of an extra 20 to 30 minutes over the train, though as an airport coach service it is not covered by the £3 national bus fare cap, so check the fare before you travel.

Getting to Legoland

Legoland Windsor Resort sits a short distance from Windsor town centre. From Windsor, or from Slough if you are coming straight off the train, a shuttle bus connects to the Legoland entrance, and the Flightline 703 coach also continues on towards the resort. GWR sells a combined rail-and-entry Legoland ticket if you want to book train travel and admission together. Check current Legoland admission prices and shuttle times directly with the resort, since none are covered in this guide.

This is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Heathrow Airport. For other routes out of the airport, see our full routes overview, or read our guide to Heathrow to Canary Wharf if you are heading into London instead.

More

More: Overview, Routes from Heathrow, Heathrow to Canary Wharf, Taxis.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way from Heathrow to Windsor? The train, taking the Elizabeth line to Slough in about 20 minutes, then the GWR shuttle to Windsor and Eton Central in a further 7 to 10 minutes, for a total of about 30 to 35 minutes.

How much does the train from Heathrow to Windsor cost? Fare-comparison sites put a single at roughly £13 to £20, depending on time of day and how far ahead you book; confirm the exact fare on National Rail. Windsor is outside the TfL zones, so it is not the flat £15.50 Zone 1 Elizabeth line fare.

Is there a direct bus from Heathrow to Windsor? Yes, the Flightline 703 (Windsor Express), operated by Thames Valley Buses, runs from Heathrow to Windsor in about 52 to 65 minutes with no need to change buses. It is an airport coach service, so it is not covered by the £3 national bus fare cap; confirm the current fare with Thames Valley Buses or Reading Buses.

How do I get from Heathrow to Legoland Windsor? Take the train or the Flightline 703 coach to Windsor, then connect via a local shuttle bus that runs to the Legoland entrance. GWR also sells a combined rail-and-entry Legoland ticket.

Can I get an Uber from Heathrow to Windsor? Yes, but not from the terminal forecourt. You need to walk to your terminal's designated pickup point to meet the driver, and a pre-booked private-hire car typically costs around £35 to £45.

Last verified August 2026 by the Heathrow Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Heathrow Airport website before you travel.