How to walk from Maidenhead to Windsor: Thames Path Day 12

Todays walk from Maidenhead to Windsor was very pleasant. Short and sweet, giving me enough time left over in the day to clean my bathroom and go for a food shop.

Looking across the river to a big house on the other side with a neatly cut lawn inferno and big trees, at the start of the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor. — The interesting tree

Looking over the boat in the lock to a cute lock house on the other side, on the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor.

What to expect on the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor

There is definitely a shift in terrain for this one. A lot more path, that I probably could have got away with trainers. In fact, I think I will switch over to trainers as we get closer to the city.

A gravel path leading ahead on the left, with a strip of unkempt grass on the right then the river, on the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor. There is a big boat on the river. There are trees lining the path ahead.

Most of the walk is trees. Path lined with trees, which was quite welcome today as we are entering our heatwave era.

A wide dirt path leading ahead under darkness from the woodland trees on the walk between Maidenhead and Windsor.

A dirt path leading through the woodland bushes and trees, with light at the other end.

Most of the route was quite peaceful, without many other walkers about. That is until Windsor. You know you are somewhere people like to visit when you reach Windsor. But I can forgive the crowd because I saw morris dancers.

Lots of people and morris dancers standing on the paved ground with shop buildings ahead, at the end of the walk in Windsor.

Looking along the road, with a view of the top of Windsor castle behind the trees ahead. There is a Tudor building below the trees, and a red bricked building on the side of the road to the left. There is a car driving along the road.

You cross under the M4 today, which sounds aggressive, but actually, it’s forgettable. It was noisy for a bit, but it soon drowns away.

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Logistics

Start: Maidenhead, Berkshire.
Finish: Windsor, Berkshire.
Distance: 7 miles
Time: 2h
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Path, road, some well maintained grass.
Dog friendly: Yes.
Time of year: I walked from Maidenhead to Windsor at the end of June.

Public transport

Maidenhead and Windsor both have train stations. Windsor actually has two. Windsor and Eaton Central takes you to London Paddington, and Windsor and Eaton Riverside takes you to London Waterloo in under an hour.

Maidenhead is on the Elizabeth Line, or the Great Western Railway Line. From Paddington, journey time is about 40min and 22min respectively.

There are quite a few different route options, so it is possible to do both journeys on a return ticket to Maidenhead, you just need to make sure you get on the correct train when at Windsor.

It was too much for my brain so I went with single tickets, and waited until I reached Windsor to buy my ticket home, when I knew which train I would get.

Just be aware, phone signal isn’t good in Windsor and I had to walk around with my phone in the air to be able to buy my ticket.

In Maidenhead, it’s a bit of a walk to reach the river, so if you want to catch the bus, it’s the 6, 53, and 63 buses.

Amenities

Lots in both Maidenhead and Windsor. Interestingly, nothing along the route. Except some benches.

If you need supplies when you arrive in Maidenhead, there is a big Waitrose on the way to the river. If you want something less posh, there is a Sainsbury’s and Tesco in Town. There is also a big selection of pubs, cafes, coffee shops, restaurants etc.

In Windsor there are a number of public toilets about, and lots of options for food and drink.

Accommodation

No campsites around. In Maidenhead you have options from hotels, to bed and breakfasts, or Airbnb. The cheapest I could find is the Wilson Lodge or the Thames hotel. Neither are pet friendly. You can check out what else is available here.

In Windsor there is a lot of accommodation options, the best value I could find is the George Inn right next to the river (not pet friendly), but you can have a look here to explore your other options.

Map for the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor

Read the previous section: Day 11 Marlow to Maidenhead

Route description: How to walk from Maidenhead to Windsor

Knowing it was a 30 min walk from the station to the river, I had fully intended to get the bus today. Except I timed it all wrong, and upon arriving in Maidenhead, the next bus was 40min away.

So here we go. To get to the river, a bit of navigation is involved. Out of the station, walk towards the big O’Neills building, and follow the road curving around it.

Walking across the road to the central reservation, with masses of other people. There are tall apartment buildings on the other side. It's a grey day.

Then keep on the road as it curves right a little further along.

When you reach the stream river thing, walk alongside it on the right side. This is quite pretty. Too bad it’s short lived.

Looking along a strip of water lined with trees, and red bricked apartment budding to the left, and apartment buildings ahead on the other end of the water.

At the end, turn right at the lion, and stay on this road, past the Waitrose to get to the big main road where you turn right. This big long road will lead you to the river and bridge.

A big metal silver lion statue in Maidenhead.

Looking down and along the river, towards a mass of green leafy trees ahead.

I have to say, the walk here wasn’t so bad today. It wasn’t hot yet, and my feet were fresh.

Start the river walk from Maidenhead to Windsor

Go over the bridge, and you might see a Thames Path sign pointing right. Ignore that and go left toward the housing area, then go through a gate on the left to get onto the riverside. Walk under the bridge and away you go.

looking through a gap in the metal gate, with the right side covered in green ivy.

It’s an easy path to start, then a little further along you will be directed back up to the road.

a path on the left leading through the green with the river to the right. There is a big trees on the left side of the path. There is a wooden bench on the green, facing the river.

The river with ripples from the small boat, heading towards an archway bridge. There is a walkway on the right. There is a big white walled building on the other side of the river.

Looking across the river to a mass of green leafy bushes and partially hidden house, at the start of the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor.

Looking along a road lined with Tudor house on the left and parked cars in front. The road leads towards a red bridge ahead.

Continue under the next bridge and along more road. The arrows will say ‘Maidenhead Boundary Walk’. This is correct though.

Looking under the curved bridge over the river, on the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor. There is a big Tudor house on the other side of the rive, and a big tree in the river next to it.

Looking over the green to the river, with a green barge moored to this side, and hoses and trees on the other side, when walking from Maidenhead to Windsor.

A wide road lined with bushes, hedges and trees. There are a few orange trees on the ground.

A white trail sticker on the fence wall on the left, pointing ahead along the gravel path. There are neatly cut hedges lining the path ahead.

You will eventually reach the more dirt like path and trees.

A dirt path lined with masses of bushes and trees when walking from Maidenhead to Windsor.

The tree lined path

For almost the rest of the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor, the route will be like this. In the trees, with the occasional peak to impressive houses on the other side.

A dirt path leading straight ahead, lined with bushes and trees. There is light shining down through the trees ahead.

Looking through a gap in the trees to the river and big white coloured house on the other side, on the walk between Maidenhead and Windsor.

Looking across the river to a big white walked house with neatly cute green front lawn, on the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor. The hose is surrounded by big leafy trees.

A dirt trail winding ahead through the green leafy bushes and trees.

A little variety

When you reach the lock, things open up for a bit, then there is a little more tree cover before reaching the private gardens.

Looking across the river to a partially hidden Tudor style lock house, surrounded by different types of trees, on the walk between Maidenhead and Windsor.

A wide road path leading ahead, lined with bushes on the right and trees and strip of grass to the left.

A thin trail leading ahead, lined with strips of grass on both sides, and a hedge on the left side, on the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor. There is a white walled hose partially visible behind the hedge on the left.

Looking across the river under the bridge with its reflections.

A sign on the left saying 'footpath, no cycles', with a dirty white wooden gate and fence behind it.

It’s a bit posher through here, with pretty flowers, some neatly cut lawn, and of course some more tree cover thrown in.

A thin trail leading ahead, lined with a white fence on the left, and metal railings and river to the right. The path is lined with trees ahead.

A dirt path leading ahead and lined with masses of green leafy trees. There is light shining down on the path ahead.

A thin trail leading through a neatly cute grass lawn. There are hedges lining the edges of the lawn, with big trees behind the hedges.

Being out in the open a bit more, I realised how hot it had become. I was glad when the next stretch of trees came along….

Back into the trees

There is then another solid stretch of tree lined path. I came across a sculpture type thing and got de ja vu. I have seen this before, on the Forest Way trail. Over 1000 of these were put up by the Royal Bank of Scotland, to mark the millennium and creation of the cycle network.

A dirt trail leading ahead, lined with bug bushes and trees to the right and a wooden fence on the left.

A dirt path leading ahead through the bushes and trees. There is a black sculpture on the left.

After more trees, and peaks to houses on the other side, you reach an opening. You have finished with the tree dense path now, and things stay more or less open for the rest of the walk to Windsor.

A dirt path leading ahead through the trees and bushes forming a tree tunnel ahead.

Looking over the green leafy bushes to the river and white canopy tents on the other side.

A large open concrete area, with the river to the right. There is a big boat moored to the side, and a small dingy boat with people in it.

The final stretch of the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor

This is where people traffic started to pick up. More people sitting next to the river, more big boats on the river. Tourist boats even. I think this is the first time I have seen a tourist boat so far on my Thames Path journey.

Looking over a strip of grass to the river and big tourist boat.

A stone walked church with ed roof on the other side of a meadow with tall green grass and a strip of cut grass forming a path. There is a wooden bench next to the path.

Looking over the bushes to the river lined with big trees, and a white boat, near the end of the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor.

The path will soon run alongside a meadow. I quite enjoyed this. It was nice looking at something different after all the trees.

A pale wide path leading ahead, lined with tall grass on both sides, and the river to the right.

Looking over the meadow to houses on the other side, near the end of the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor.

Looking across the meadow with bright green grass, with a row of red hooded and white walled houses on the other side, near the end of the walk from Maidenhead to Windsor.

Things were getting busier and busier, so I checked my map to see where I was and realised I was basically in Windsor. That was a surprise. I didn’t realise I was so far along. I guess that’s a sign I was enjoying myself.

A thin trail leading through the tall grass, with a wooden trail signpost on the left. The post has a yellow arrow pointing ahead along the trail.

Looking along the wide river with ripples and big boat in the middle. There river is lined with masses of big green leafy trees.

A path leading under a metal bridge with a graffiti covered brick wall to the left. There are two people walking under the bridge.

You will eventually be led into a big field with a view to Windsor Castle ahead.

A dirt trail leading through a large open grass field with a view to Windsor castle behind the tree tops ahead in the distance, at the end of the walk from Maidenhead. There are boats lining the side of the river all the way along. There are two people walking on the trail ahead.

Walk to the other end of the field to reach the road. Stay straight, then turn right and you will reach the bridge.

Looking along a road through the houses, and a white walled pub on the left corner. — Stay straight here

Windsor

It was when I turned onto the bridge that things really became chaotic. So many people, so much noise. I was about to make a mad dash for the station, until I realised there were Morris Dancers on the bridge. This made it all ok, so I stayed and enjoyed the show.

Read next: Day 13 Windsor to Staines