What to do in Windsor and Windsor Castle

Windsor is easily accessible from London and is an ideal day trip. There is much more than just Windsor Castle, you could easily spend two or three days here.

Eton is on the other side of the River Thames from Windsor and historic Runnymede is little more than a mile away and there is a vast network of paths in Windsor Great Park to be explored.

Once royal hunting grounds, Windsor Great Park is now home of Polo matches, formal gardens and Virginia Water, a local beauty spot.

There is also a theme park - Legoland - and a horse race track with evening meetings in the summer.

Windsor Castle   Things to do in Windsor   Getting to Windsor   Windsor hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus   Hotels   Restaurants

Windsor is much more than just the castle; there are a wealth of things to see and do which will keep many visitors occupied for a couple of days.

The nice thing about Windsor is that most things are either in the town or in very close proximity. Like most town with significant tourist numbers there is a hop on, hop off open top sightseeing bus as well.

In the evening there is a wide choice of restaurants to suit every taste and budget, a theatre performs every evening except Sunday, and Windsor race course has regular race meeting during summer evenings.

Some ideas are:

Eton College has educated 18 former British Prime Ministers including the Duke of Wellington, Walpole, Pitt the Elder, MacMillan and Douglas-Holme. The School Dress still consists of a black tailcoat and waistcoat, and pinstriped trousers which dates from the 1850s.

Tours of the College are a fascinating experience, which includes the Cloisters, the Chapel, the oldest classroom in the College and the Museum of Eton Life.

Windsor riverfront is a good place to relax. Alexander Gardens, a traditional Victorian park borders much of the River Thames at Windsor. The Thames path can be followed all the way back to London or even Oxford. Feeding the swans, boat trips, rowing boats are just some of the evergreen activities you will find here.

Windsor Old Town is right next to the main Windsor Castle entrance. Tourist shops have grown up around the heritage of the area; if you are minded to it is easy to pick up some souvenirs, often with a royal theme. Beyond this there is plenty to enjoy from the buildings themselves, dating from the medieval era onwards; plenty of photographic opportunities.

Windsor also has its own working theatre, a traditional historic venue opposite the castle where plays are often run that then transfer to the West End in London.

Runnymede, just three miles south-east of Windsor, on the banks of the River Thames, is the famous meadow of Runnymede. It was here in 1215 that King John sealed the Magna Carta. This charter established the principle of the constitutional monarchy and affirmed the individual's right to justice and liberty.

The American constitution is based on the Magna Carta and to commemorate this the American Bar Association erected a memorial in 1957. This can be seen on the hillside overlooking the water meadows.

Legoland Windsor has over 50 interactive rides, live shows, building workshops, driving schools and attractions and is set in 150 acres of beautiful parkland, Legoland Windsor is a different sort of family theme park. Shuttle buses run out to the park very frequently from Windsor.

Windsor Great Park offers some great walks, with the perennial attraction of the Red Deer in their enclosure. A diverse area including the Guards Polo Club which hosts polo every weekend in the summer, as well as stunning parks such as Virginia Water, a tranquil spot in every season.