Windsor is perfect for family holidays. With lots of parks and walks, there are indoor attractions too. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much there is to do.
Windsor Castle & Frogmore House
The most popular of all the Royal Estate locations are Windsor Castle and Frogmore House which received over 1.6 million visitors which is three times more visitors in 2018/19 than Buckingham Palace.
At Windsor Castle you can visit:
State Apartments are used by The Queen and members of the Royal Family. Within these rooms The Queen hosts official visits by Heads of State from other countries, investitures, and awards ceremonies, where British men and women are recognised for their achievements.
Queen Mary’s Dolls House. Is the largest in the world. Built with exquisite craftmanship between 1921 and 1924, it showcases the work of the most gifted artisans, craftsmen, artists and manufacturers in the world. A perfect miniature palace begins a tour around the real thing.
St George’s Chapel. Discover the rich history of the Chapel from its medieval architecture and treasures, to the Tudors and Stuarts, and from Queen Victoria to the present day. The Chapel is home to the Order of the Garter and as the burial site of 10 monarchs, including Henry VIII. It is a place of worship and there are services every day which the public are welcome to attend.
The original Frogmore House was commissioned by Charles II. The name derives from the preponderance of frogs which have always lived in this low-lying marshy area.
Located in the Home Park of Windsor Castle, Frogmore House has been a favourite royal retreat for more than 300 years.
State Apartments are used by The Queen and members of the Royal Family. Within these rooms The Queen hosts official visits by Heads of State from other countries, investitures, and awards ceremonies, where British men and women are recognised for their achievements.
Queen Mary’s Dolls House. Is the largest in the world. Built with exquisite craftmanship between 1921 and 1924, it showcases the work of the most gifted artisans, craftsmen, artists and manufacturers in the world. A perfect miniature palace begins a tour around the real thing.
St George’s Chapel. Discover the rich history of the Chapel from its medieval architecture and treasures, to the Tudors and Stuarts, and from Queen Victoria to the present day. The Chapel is home to the Order of the Garter and as the burial site of 10 monarchs, including Henry VIII. It is a place of worship and there are services every day which the public are welcome to attend.
The original Frogmore House was commissioned by Charles II. The name derives from the preponderance of frogs which have always lived in this low-lying marshy area.
Located in the Home Park of Windsor Castle, Frogmore House has been a favourite royal retreat for more than 300 years.
The Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the Guard takes place at Windsor Castle amidst the stunning Windsor Castle. The High Street is regularly lined by sightseers, watching as traffic is halted to allow the troops to march along the route from the barracks to the castle led by a colourful regimental band and then later the return of the old Guard following a 24 - or 48-hour watch.
The Long Walk
Has produced many iconic photos of Windsor. From the Castle gate to the foot of the statue of King George III (The Copper Horse) The long walk measures 2.64 miles in length. So, a run there and back is a great distance for joggers and is an immensely popular route for walkers too.
Queen Charlotte Street
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The Crooked House of Windsor
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Queen Charlotte Street is the shortest street in Britain. Just a passageway, off the High Street, in Windsor it is just 51 feet and 10 inches.
Next to it is The Crooked House of Windsor, aptly names as it has a noticeable slant. Thought to date back to 1592 it is said to have a secret passage which was used to deliver food to the kitchens of Windsor Castle. It was knocked down in 1687 so the neighbouring Guildhall could be built. However, this sparked some controversy and the building ended up being rebuilt. It was hurriedly re-built with unseasoned green oak which meant it was still damp. As the water evaporated over the years the building began to change shape which gave it its name. Another theory is that the building was kept straight by its neighbouring buildings, which were subsequently knocked down, causing it to wane. |
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The Brocas
The Brocas is a large meadow adjacent to the River Thames and part of the floodplain. It belongs to Eton College. It affords magnificent views of Windsor Castle, St George’s Chapel and the Curfew Tower.
The name comes from the Brocas family. They were originally from Gascony where they fought for several generations in the English cause against the French, the family finally settling in England and acquiring a considerable amount of land in Eton and Windsor.
It is a popular area for dog walking, picnics and flying kites.
Eton Walkway
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The 2 mile/60 minute walk which starts at Windsor Bridge connects many of the town’s highlights.
Permanent bronze markers identify the route of the Walkway and use Eton’s crest, originally given to the town by King Henry VI in 1449. The 18 crests - celebrating King’s Stable Street, the Cock Pitt, Porny School, Baldwin’s Bridge and Barnes Pool, Eton College, the Timbralls, Skinners’ Bridge, the Herschel Observatory, the Gormley statue, the Burning Bush, Keate’s House, the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Antiquities, St John’s Church and the war memorial, Jubilee Square, the Brocas and Eton Boatsheds. |
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Windsor Great Park
Windsor Great Park is a Royal Park of 2,020 hectares (5,000 acres). The most well-known image of Windsor Great Park is arguably the iconic view down the Long Walk, towards Windsor Castle at the far end.
Red Deer are easily spotted, with a population of around 500 that roam freely around the Deer Park enclosure.
Red Deer are easily spotted, with a population of around 500 that roam freely around the Deer Park enclosure.
LEGOLAND Windsor
Legoland Windsor, is a child-orientated theme park based on Lego toys. The attractions include over 55 rides, live shows and attractions!
Legoland Windsor typically opens from March to November, with closures on some days.
Legoland Windsor typically opens from March to November, with closures on some days.
Eton Museum of Antiquities
Explore and discover artefacts from the ancient world, with opportunities for hands-on learning activities.
On display are objects which cover a vast geographical and chronological frame: from Australia to Afghanistan and from Peru to Babylon. There are tools and weapons dredged from the Thames and the Tiber; potsherds from Knossos on Crete and the foundations of an Eton boarding House.
There are also cuneiform tablets from Mesopotamia and Greek ceramics collected by Sir William Hamilton in the 18th century. Along with an amazing collection of flint hand-axes, some of which date from well before the emergence of homo sapiens.
Alexandra Gardens
Close to the Thames, this lovely garden has a play area for children aged 3 – 8 years and a picnic spot.
There is also a bandstand and the band of the Royal Horse Guards played there regularly in the past. A replacement bandstand was built in 2016 - a Royal Borough heritage project was awarded a grant from the Armed Forces Community Covenant, celebrating the unique and long-standing links between the Queen, armed forces and Windsor.
It also commemorates the Queen as the longest reigning monarch in British history and in turn the longest-reigning Head of the Armed Forces.
Windsor has a lot to offer and we hope that whether you are here for business, pleasure or both that you have a wonderful stay. For your next trip to Windsor remember to book direct either by sending us an email: bookings@cliffordco.co.uk or call us on 0203 488 4102 and we will be happy to assist.