England 2 Day Itinerary (No Tourist Traps)
Two day trips out of London, ordered by booking difficulty rather than distance: Windsor Castle first, since it needs the least lead time, then the Warner Bros Studio Tour, the one sight in England with zero walk-up tickets. Add a day at a time with our 3-day through 7-day versions of this same trip.
Book these before you go:
- Warner Bros Studio Tour : from GBP 58.50, no walk-up ticket exists, book the exact date first
- Windsor Castle entry : GBP 32 advance, GBP 36 on the day, can close short notice for state visits
| Day | Focus | Travel time from London |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Windsor Castle: State Apartments, St George’s Chapel | 22-28 min (Paddington/Slough) or 55 min direct (Waterloo) |
| 2 | Warner Bros Studio Tour, Leavesden | ~20 min to Watford Junction, then a shuttle bus |
Day 1: Windsor Castle
Take the fast train from Paddington to Slough, then change onto the branch line into Windsor & Eton Central, 22-28 minutes total, or go direct from Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside in about 55 minutes. Either station puts you a five to ten minute walk from the castle gate. Book Windsor Castle tickets or through rct.uk directly, GBP 32 in advance versus GBP 36 on the day.
Is Windsor worth a full day, not a half day?
Yes. The State Apartments hold Van Dyck, Rembrandt and Canaletto pieces from the Royal Collection, and St George’s Chapel holds the tombs of ten monarchs, including Henry VIII. Both are dense enough to fill a proper day, and the three-mile Long Walk south to the Copper Horse statue is free and worth the whole round trip if your legs hold out. Arrive at opening to beat the 11am-2pm crowd surge in the Apartments.
Day 2: Warner Bros Studio Tour
There’s no walk-up ticket here, ever, so this only works if you booked ahead. The cheapest route from central London is Euston to Watford Junction by train (about 20 minutes), then the dedicated shuttle bus from the station forecourt, GBP 3 return, card only, roughly every 30 minutes. Paying for the Golden Tours coach direct from Baker Street or Victoria costs closer to GBP 44 round trip for the same last leg.
Why does this need booking before Windsor does?
Because Windsor can usually be booked a week out and still find a slot, while Warner Bros Studio Tour entry, from GBP 58.50, sells out weeks ahead in school holidays and on weekends. Lock in the date for this one first, then fit Windsor around whatever day is left.
Before you go
Contactless bank cards and phones work on the London legs of both days exactly like an Oyster card, same fares, same daily cap, so don’t bother buying a physical Oyster just for this trip. Neither day requires a car. Pack a proper umbrella regardless of season, rain doesn’t wait for a specific month in England, and comfortable shoes matter more at Windsor than almost anywhere else on this list, the grounds are cobbled and the Long Walk is three miles each way.