Starting Point: Car Rental at Heathrow Airport
I decided to rent a car at Heathrow to visit the castles to avoid driving in the city center and due to the proximity to Windsor Castle. I also chose to drive because taking the train would only allow me to visit one castle in a day. There are several options for car rentals at Heathrow Aiport.
Directions: Take the train to Heathrow Airport. Directions from here will depend on the car rental company you choose.
Car Rental at Heathrow Airport
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a royal residence notable for its long association with the English and later British royal family and for its architecture. The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion of England by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I, it has been used by all monarchs, and is the longest-occupied palace in Europe.
Directions: The drive takes around half an hour from Heathrow airport. From the Northern Perimeter, exit the airport on the closest main road. This will depend on which car rental company you choose. Take a left (west) on M4. From there, continue to Slough. Take Exit 5 from M4. Continue on B470. Turn right onto Windsor Rd/B470. Continue onto Thames Ave/B3022. Thames Ave/B3022 turns right and becomes River St. Parking is available on the right.
Hampton Court Palace
Redevelopment of Hampton Court Palace began to be carried out in 1515 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a favorite of King Henry VIII. In 1529, as Wolsey fell from favor, the King seized the palace for himself and later enlarged it. Along with St James’s Palace, it is one of only two surviving palaces out of the many owned by King Henry VIII. In the following century, King William III’s massive rebuilding and expansion project, which destroyed much of the Tudor palace, was intended to rival Versailles. Work ceased in 1694, leaving the palace in two distinct contrasting architectural styles, domestic Tudor and Baroque.
Directions: Head southeast on River St toward Thames Ave/B3022. River St turns left and becomes Thames Ave/B3022. Turn right onto Thames St/B3022. Continue onto Kings Rd. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Albert Rd/A308. Slight right to stay on A308. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Windsor Rd/A308. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A30heading to M25/London/Staines. At the roundabout, take the 4th exit and stay on A30 heading to A308/Bagshot/Egham/Windsor. Use the right 2 lanes to take the M25 (S)ramp. Merge onto M25. At junction 12, Use the left 2 lanes to merge onto M3 toward Richmond. At junction 1, take the A308 exit to Staines/Kingston/Sunbury. At the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Staines Rd E/A308. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Hampton Ct Way/A309. Turn Left. Parking is available at the Palace.
Eternal Horizon 