WELCOME TO THE PALACE TO PALACE TEAM

Thank you so much for signing up and being part of #TeamKingsTrust by taking on The Palace Walk.

Welcome to your digital walk guide. Please do read through all the information here to get a good understanding of what to expect on the day.

GETTING TO AND FROM THE PALACE WALK

By car

There will be car parking facilities at Royal Windsor Racecourse so that your friends and family will be able to park close by and cheer you across the finish line. The parking facilities will be open on Saturday 4 October from 13:00 - 18:00 and on Sunday 5 October from 05:15. Please note, cars are left at owner's risk.

Parking is free, but we do ask that you make a suggested donation of £5 to The King’s Trust with one of our trusty volunteers on your way into the festival finish.

By coach

The Palace Walk will start at 08.30 from Windsor Racecourse. If you’re travelling from London, you can book a spot on the event coach which leaves the Mall at 06.30 and drops you at Windsor Racecourse in plenty of time for the start.

Coach tickets are £20pp and spaces are limited so need to be booked in advance. Tickets can be bought through your participant dashboard. You can log back into your dashboard by visiting the event homepage and selecting log in.

Participants will need to arrange their own return travel to London after the event.

By train

Windsor has two train stations – Windsor & Eton Riverside and Windsor & Eton Central. Trains to and from Windsor & Eton Riverside are operated by South West Trains and run from Waterloo via Staines and Richmond.

Trains to Windsor & Eton Central are operated by First Great Western. For trains from Paddington via Ealing you will need to change at Slough. Slough train station is just a few miles from Windsor.

Headline sponsor Sky are kindly donating the use of their Sky Zero electric buses on event day (afternoon only). They will be offering free shuttle runs between Windsor and Eton Riverside train station and the finish festival at Windsor Racecourse from midday until 6pm. They can be used by friends and family coming to support you as well as participants. The Sky shuttle buses will be running from midday until 6pm. Please look out for signage at the finish festival or ask a marshal

Please double check your plans in advance and be prepared to make alternative arrangements in case of restrictions and/or disruptions.

ABOUT THE START

It’s time to walk!

Here are the key things you need to know. We recommend you prepare as much as possible the night before the event to allow a stress free morning and travel to the start line.

The Palace Walk will start at 08.30, with walkers being set off in waves every few minutes.
Please arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the start time. 
There’s no registration process on the day, so head straight to the start at Windsor Racecourse which will be clearly sign posted.  
Make sure you attach your bib number to the front of your top (don’t forget your safety pins) 
If you need to collect a replacement bib number on the day, please go to the information point. 
Toilets are available at the start and finish line and at the waterstop, our marshals will be able to direct you.

Emergency contact details 

Please write your emergency contact details on the reverse of your bib number before arriving. If this is not completed before arrival it could delay your start time. It is mandatory to complete these details.

Event timings 

07.45 – 08.15 Walkers arrive to the start line
08.30 Walkers set off from Windsor Racecourse
12.00 All walkers must have arrived or passed through the waterstop (approx. 6.5 miles in)
17:00 Festival Finish closes 

Chip timing

The Palace Walk is not a race, however all walkers will have a timing chip in their bib number, and everyone will be given a finish time. This allows us to track your progress and ensure everyone is accounted for and safe. Your timing chip is within your bib number, please arrive at the start with this attached to the front of your t-shirt with the number facing forward.

Route signage 

The Palace Walk route is fully signed and marshalled. You’ll be briefed on the start line, but just follow the signs. 

BE PREPARED

The essential items

The Palace Walk isn’t a race, but it’s still a challenge so we’re sure you’ll reach the end feeling a little tired but incredibly proud of yourself.

Remember, don’t forget to bring these essential items with you on the day:

Bib number (attached to the front of your shirt). Your timing chip is in your bib number. 
Official Palace Walk t-shirt (if you opted in for one during registration)
Full water bottle or Camelback.

Packs containing your bib number and Palace Walk top will be posted to the address you registered with. If you do not receive your pack by Monday 29 September, please email palace@kingstrust.org.uk. 

We also recommend bringing the following items:

Snacks such as flapjack, energy bars or gels
Money – cash and card
Charged mobile phone
Lightweight waterproof jacket and trousers (just in case)
Spare socks
Sunscreen (just in case)
Small first aid kit
Any medication you need

Walk support

An emergency number will be on the front of your participant number which will be sent to you in your race pack. Medical support will be available at the waterstop.

In the event of a medical emergency, please call 999 first and then notify us once the emergency services are on their way. Please stay with any casualties until the emergency services arrive.

THE ROUTE

You can check out the full route and profile using the link below. Please note, that this year’s walk route is in reverse and is subject to last minute changes.

The Palace Walk route map >

BE SAFE

Look after yourself

You must wear your official bib number on the day, and it must be visible at all times.
Wear conspicuous clothing that is appropriate for walking.
All participants must be aged 14 or over on the date of the event. Any participant under 18 must take part with a parent or guardian over the age of 18.
Any walker with a medical condition, or who is unsure of their physical ability to take part are advised to seek medical advice from a general practitioner prior to the event
Whatever the weather conditions, your body needs fluids whilst walking. Loss of fluid, especially from sweating will reduce your blood volume and mean that your heart will have to work harder. Therefore, replacing this fluid loss is essential to you completing the course. Stay hydrated by arriving with a full bottle/Camelback and topping up at the water stops on route
Walking will increase your energy needs, so aim to eat little and often. Bring snacks with you so you have something to keep your energy levels up along the route
Alcohol and walking are not a good mix, and we strongly recommend you do not indulge along the route
Please don’t use headphones, you need to be able to listen to what is going on around you
You must adhere to The Highway Code at all times (gov.uk/highway-code)

The course has been carefully chosen by Massive, our event delivery partner, to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience. However, you are advised to adhere to road safety guidelines, and should you wish to do so, it is for you to take out personal accident insurance cover and material loss/damage cover in respect of your personal property and any loss or damage you may cause to a third party. By signing up to The Palace Walk you have agreed to our terms and conditions, which were available to view when you signed up. If you would like to see our terms and conditions, please email palace@kingstrust.org.uk.

THE FESTIVAL FINISH

Well done - you've done it!

Our festival finish is the perfect location to meet up with friends and family who have come to congratulate you. If you are taking part in a large team and have your own area in our marquees, please head to our partner village.

What else is at the festival finish?

The Palace-to-Palace festival finish is buzzing with activity, and we welcome your family and friends to come along and cheer you across the finish line. There’s fun for the whole family with face paiting, a bouncy castle, live music and lots more to get involved with. As a walker, enjoy a complimentary massage, provided by Elemis London, visit the bar for a well-deserved ice-cold drink and visit one of the different food stands available.

ANY QUESTIONS

You may find the answer on our FAQs page, or you can email us at palace@kingstrust.org.uk.

FAQs >

Two cyclists dancing at the festival finish.

Individuals cheering at the festival finish.

Cyclists taking a selfie at the festival finish.

Facepainting at thw Palace to Palace festival finish.

MEET OUR SPONSORS

Thank you to our headline sponsor Sky for supporting this year's event.

Sky and The King’s Trust launched a new three year partnership this year, working together to build a society where every young person has the connectivity, skills and opportunities needed to fulfil their potential. Together we’re aiming to empower and inspire over 3,000 underprivileged young people into life changing careers and unlock possibilities so they can create a better future. As part of this, Sky is proud to be the headline sponsor for this year’s Palace to Palace.

We’re really excited to have over 300 of our people and customers taking part in the event to help us raise as much money and awareness for The King’s Trust as possible. We’ve also been busy behind the scenes, helping make this year’s Palace to Palace more sustainable, with additions such as fully electric Sky buses to help people get to and from the event.

To learn more about our partnership, take a look at our first Get Started in News and Sport cohort here. This programme is helping young people gain access and experience in these popular, but competitive industries. It’s a brilliant opportunity for young people to gain insights from experts and see behind the scenes at Sky, develop their soft skills and have access to either work experience or a mentor at Sky.

Santander

Santander is proud to partner with The King’s Trust to help young people build skills, grow in confidence, and unlock their potential. With shared values and a commitment to social mobility, this collaboration extends our outreach and impact.

As sponsor of the official bike mechanics for the Palace to Palace bike ride, we’re also celebrating our long-standing ten-year partnership with Transport for London through Santander Cycles – London’s public bike hire scheme. This initiative not only supports fundraising for The King’s Trust but also promotes cycling, sustainability, and colleague wellbeing.

Download the Santander Cycles app from the app store or google play or visit https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/santander-cycles

The Watches of Switzerland Group

At the Watches of Switzerland Group, we are proud to be the leading Global Education Partner for The King’s Trust. Over the last ten years, we have supported the Trust through our Group Foundation, making an impact on over 10,000 young lives.

We are delighted to be sponsoring Palace to Palace again this year with colleagues throughout the group coming together to take part and fundraise. Supporting those in need in our communities is one of our core values, and this event allows us to continue to support young people across the UK.

Elemis
Thank you to Elemis who are providing our participants massages at this year’s Festival Finish.

YOUR WALK GUIDE