Visiting Eton and the College

You walk across to Eton over Eton Bridge, a pedestrian bridge that used to be the main way into Windsor in the days when horse was the main overland transport.

The first part of the High Street is a mix of cheaper tea rooms, pubs and lots of antique, painting and book shops. The shops here seem to come and go quite quickly. You can also see Eton rowing club fronting the river.

You soon come to the Cockpit Inn on your right, once thought to be where cock fighting was performed, but in fact a rear slaughterhouse. This is a typical example of 15th-century timber framed architecture, dating from 1420.

On your left is the Christopher Hotel, an historic hotel originally dating from 1511. You can still see the wide entrance where the original horse carriages entered.

A little further on your left set back in grounds is a church, St. John the Evangelist, dating from 1852 and is of Victorian Gothic design. The foundation stone was laid by Prince Albert. The building was recently renovated to become the local surgery and Eton College sanatorium. A chapel remains on the upper level.

The next section of the High Street is like a small village, with post office, small school, Barclays Bank etc.

As you cross Baldwin's bridge the High Street changes again in character. Retail outlets here are targeted at the school. There are several 'gentleman's' outfitters with clothing in the windows most people would associate with a bygone stage. In one, you can see the tailors working, still using old hand sewing machines.

There is also a branch of the exclusive Coutts Bank. You now enter an area of impressive buildings of the Eton College campus. The entrance for the tours is down by the Windsor side of the church on your right, at the back of the church. There are extensive Eton sports fields north of the campus with many public footpaths cutting through them.