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Spotlight on Windsor - our estate agent’s view

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Spotlight on Windsor - our estate agent’s view. With less than a month until the big day, wedding fever is really hotting up in Windsor; Royal Berkshire’s majestic riverside town. Plans are well underway for THE wedding on May 19th and as the preparations hit the headlines, here are some of the reasons why Windsor is not just the perfect wedding location, but also one of the most desirable places to live in England.

From historic landmarks and royal pageantry to scenic parkland and the picturesque River Thames, Windsor has it all. The jewel in the crown has to be Windsor Castle, the world’s largest inhabited castle and often home to HRH Queen Elizabeth II. Perfect for a fairytale wedding, the castle is right in the heart of Windsor, itself packed with entertainment, shopping and an array of bars and restaurants. The River Thames separates Windsor from equally historic Eton and provides the ideal opportunity to hire a boat for a leisurely cruise along the river.

Windsor Great Park, home to the stunning Savill Gardens, Virginia Water and Valley Gardens covers 5,000 acres and is open all year round to visitors. It offers delightful walks through a variety of landscapes with the lake at Virginia Water, a deer park, Chinese pagoda, royal lodges, Roman ruins and even a North American totem pole. For romantics, a horse-drawn carriage ride is an unforgettable way to see Windsor Great Park.

An iconic view of Windsor is the much photographed Long Walk which links Windsor Castle with Snow Hill where, legend has it, King Henry VIII waited for confirmation of the execution of Anne Boleyn. Double rows of Elm trees were planted along the route by King Charles II creating The Long Walk that we see today. In addition to the thousands of tourists and runners who enjoy the Long Walk, it is also used by the royal family when travelling to Royal Ascot in June.

The Changing of the Guard has to be one of the highlights of a visit to Windsor. They march on alternate days but never on a Sunday and can be watched as they march up the High Street to the Castle, usually accompanied by a band. To see the actual ‘changing’ ceremony you need to go into the Castle to the Guardroom in the Lower Ward of the Castle. Residents of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have complimentary entrance to the castle with an Advantage Card.

There’s always something on in Windsor – Legoland (an event in itself) has unmissable fireworks shows at weekends during October and November. Windsor Racecourse runs a year-round programme of events including concerts, family fun days, antiques fairs, contemporary art fairs and, of course, horseracing. 

If you love to shop till you drop then Windsor is paradise! High street retailers, designer labels, antique shops and department stores sit alongside souvenir shops in the converted railway station, in King Edward Court and along Peascod Street. When eating out, you’re spoilt for choice in Windsor: Cote Brasserie boasts excellent value and river views. Across the bridge Browns also has a cracking spot by the Thames and is quintessentially British. Gilbey’s in Eton is excellent for lunch or dinner while Marmara is hugely popular with locals and brings a sizzle of the Mediterranean. Just outside Windsor, Bray is home to two three-Michelin-starred restaurants; the Waterside Inn (Roux brothers) and The Fat Duck (Heston Blumenthal).

The Theatre Royal Windsor opened in 1910 and has delighted audiences ever since with new productions (minus the London price tag!) before they hit the West End. There’s also an excellent traditional pantomime every Christmas.

Windsor is no stranger to having the eyes of the world upon it and the royal wedding in May promises to be a spectacular event, with a weekend of celebrations for royalty and residents alike. If you would like to be in the heart of the town for the celebrations, talk to our estate agents in Windsor about properties currently available to rent or to buy. Contact our Windsor office  or see all our available properties at frostweb.co.uk.