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Windsor travel guide
Windsor, a short break destination combining history, fine shopping and dining, sports, leisure...
“I left Windsor feeling like a queen. We indulged in luxury spa treatments, ate a fantastic meal and finished the weekend with a tour round the castle.”
Abi, Torquay
Windsor is famous for its royal connections and is steeped in the pageantry and history of the Royal Family. Less than 30 miles west of London it's surrounded by the delightful countryside of Royal Berkshire and makes a great day trip from the capital. You'll discover a lively town in a glorious riverside location with great shopping, restaurants and Windsor Castle - one of the Queen's official royal residences and the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world.
Windsor's history stretches back thousands of years, but it's Windsor Castle, used as a fortress and home for over 900 years, that has made the biggest mark on the town. Built by William the Conqueror, it's expanded over the centuries to become a lavish royal residence and Windsor's top attraction.
If you love history and royal tradition, Windsor is the place to head. As well as the enormous Castle, there's historic Eton College , where Princes William and Harry went to school, and Frogmore House - the elegant property where Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert are buried.
Top daytime must-do's | Top night time must-do's |
|---|---|
Visit Windsor Castle to see sumptuous State Apartments, the tomb of Henry VIII and the Changing of the Guard | Eat at the Fat Duck in Bray, one of Britain's best restaurants… |
Enjoy a picnic in Windsor Great Park , originally a Saxon hunting forest | …or Michel Roux's Waterside Inn, another 3 Michelin-starred gastronomic hotspot |
Tour ancient Eton College , where the film Chariots of Fire was partly filmed | Catch a play at the Theatre Royal |
Have a flutter on the horses at either Windsor or Ascot racecourses | Enjoy an art house film at the Firestation Centre for Arts and Culture . |
Take the kids to LEGOLAND® Windsor , a theme park based on their favourite toys | Find accommodation in Windsor quickly and easily with our accommodation search |
Windsor has a great variety of shops in its historic heart. High street shops, designer labels, antiques shops and department stores sit alongside quaint, specialist and souvenir shops. The Windsor Royal Station shopping centre, within a former Victorian station, is a grand setting for a variety of upmarket stores.
Windsor has a long sporting history with horse racing, polo at the Guard's Club and rowing on the River Thames all featuring prominently in the sporting calendar. The biggest sporting event comes in June with Royal Ascot , probably the most famous and glamorous race meeting in the world.
Windsor has a wide variety of restaurants, pubs and cafes to suit every palate. For two of the best restaurants in Britain head to Bray, a pretty parish just outside Windsor. It's home to Michel Roux's Waterside Inn and Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck - both have 3 Michelin stars and serve the finest British produce.
There's so much to see and do in Windsor, it's worth getting travel passes and attraction tickets before you go. With the BritRail GB Flexi Pass you can hop on a train wherever and whenever you like, and explore the country at your own pace. For more great offers, go to VisitBritain Shop .
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LEGOLAND® Windsor - interactive rides, attractions and live shows for the whole family
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