Windsor is home to two of the UK’s Top 20 visitor attractions – Windsor Castle and Legoland Windsor – and this is not all. Why not add Ascot Racecourse, Royal Windsor Racecourse, Eton College, the Changing of the Guard, the Savill Garden in Windsor Great Park, or seasonal attractions such as the Royal Windsor Wheel, plus many others to your itinerary for the perfect trip?
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen. Its rich history spans almost 1000 years. The Castle covers an area of about 5 hectares (13 acres) and contains magnificent State Apartments furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection, St George’s Chapel (one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in England and the burial place of 10 monarchs), Queen Mary’s Dolls House, a masterpiece in miniature and The Drawings Gallery.
At LEGOLAND® Windsor, the entertainment is certainly hands-on. Children aged 3–12 can take to the road, soar through the skies and sail the seas in complete safety. With over 50 interactive rides, live shows, building workshops, driving schools and attractions and set in 150 acres of beautiful parkland, LEGOLAND® Windsor is a different sort of family theme park. Children under 3 years old are FREE of charge.
Whether you are looking for a sporting or social day out, Ascot has a wonderful atmosphere for all to enjoy. With advance booking discounts, free parking at most race meetings and free admission for all accompanied children under 18, a day at Ascot is unbeatable value for everyone. Ascot hosts some of the highlights of the flat season including Royal Ascot, the pinnacle of flat racing at international level and the most famous race meeting in the world. Other highlights include The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in mid-July – the best and highest-rated race in the UK and one of the top races in the world – and The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in late September, the top mile race in Europe.
Royal Windsor Racecourse: Set in 165 acres of beautiful countryside on the banks of the River Thames and overlooked by Windsor Castle, Royal Windsor Racecourse offers a delightful blend of traditional and modern. It is the only figure-of-eight flat course in the country and the sharp bends mean the focus is on speed rather than stamina. The first meeting at Royal Windsor was held in 1866 but the local area has links with the sport dating back to the time of Henry VIII. There are now 26 race days a year and regular Monday evening fixtures during the summer many of which are themed. Why not arrive at the racecourse by French Brothers boat from Windsor Promenade? A day’s racing at Royal Windsor offers a unique blend of charm, comfort and atmosphere.
Eton College was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI to provide free education for 70 poor scholars who would then go on to further their education at King’s College, Cambridge. Life in the early days was harsh: the boys had to wash outside using only cold water. From these 70 scholars, the school has expanded to about 1,307 boys aged from 13 to 18 who are admitted by competitive examination, and has become one of the most well known schools in the world. Eton has educated 18 former British Prime Ministers including the Duke of Wellington, Walpole, Pitt the Elder, MacMillan and Douglas-Home. The School Dress, which dates from the 1850s, still consists of a black tailcoat and waistcoat and pin-striped trousers.
The Savill Garden is one of Britain’s greatest ornamental gardens.It never fails to charm visitors who come to explore its 35 acres of contemporary and classically designed gardens and exotic woodland. Developed under the patronage of Kings and Queens, The Savill Garden was created in the 1930s by Sir Eric Savill. The Savill Garden is a place of constant discovery, and of interlocking gardens, containing distinctive areas such as Spring Wood, The Summer Wood, The Hidden Gardens, The Summer Gardens, The Glades, Autumn Wood, The Azalea Walks and The New Zealand Garden. The Savill Garden mixes native and exotic species and has bred many important garden hybrids. Each ‘garden within a garden’ has its own attractions, and the gardens are ever-changing with every season bringing new colour and interest to delight the visitor.
The Windsor Wheel returns to Alexandra Gardens allowing visitors the chance to enjoy the spectacular seasonal panoramic views whatever the weather and from the comfort of their climate controlled capsules. Visitors will be able to soar over 50 metres into the skies above historic Windsor, with breathtaking views over the Castle battlements, the River Thames and the stunning countryside beyond. On a clear day or night you can even see as far as the gleaming arch of Wembley Stadium and the glittering skyline of Central London.
