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Spotlight on Windsor – our estate agent’s view

Thursday, October 6, 2016

From iconic landmarks, historic pageantry and world-class events to picturesque parkland, Windsor has it all. The jewel in the crown has to be Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world and HRH Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite weekend home! The castle is right in the centre of Windsor, itself packed with entertainment, shopping, bars and restaurants. The River Thames runs through the heart of town dividing Windsor from equally historic Eton and providing the opportunity to hire a boat for a leisurely cruise.

Windsor Great Park covers 5,000 acres and is home to the stunning Savill Gardens, Virginia Water and Valley Gardens. Open all year round, the park offers scenic walks through ever changing landscapes with a deer park, Roman ruins, Chinese pagoda, royal lodges and even a North American totem pole. The Long Walk links Windsor Castle with Snow Hill where, according to legend, King Henry VIII waited for news of the execution of Anne Boleyn.

The Changing of the Guard is one of the highlights of a visit to Windsor. A band usually accompanies the Guards, and can be watched as they march up the High Street to the Castle. They march on alternate days but never on a Sunday. To see the actual ‘changing’ ceremony you need to go into the Castle to the Guardroom in the Lower Ward of the Castle.

There’s always something on in Windsor – Legoland’s unmissable fireworks at weekends during October – November; LaplandUK in Windsor Estate’s Whitmoor Forest from mid-November to Christmas Eve. Windsor Racecourse runs a year-round programme of events including Autumn Afternoon Racing, Fireworks and Laser Spectacular 4-5th November, Contemporary Art Fair 12th– 13th November and Christmas Gift Fair 17-20th November. In the town centre, on 19th November there is live entertainment from 3.30pm, a traditional handmade lantern procession through the streets in Windsor and the “switch on” of the Christmas lights.

If shopping is your passion 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. There are numerous cafés, bars and restaurants: Cote Brasserie boasts excellent value and prime location overlooking the river. Across the bridge Browns also has a cracking spot by the Thames and an air of colonial Englishness whilst Gilbey’s is one of Windsor’s best places for a ‘push the boat out’ dinner, good cream teas and grazing platters.

Many of the great names in theatre come to the Theatre Royal Windsor. This intimate theatre treats audiences to new productions (minus the London price tag!) before they transfer to the West End, and an excellent traditional pantomime every Christmas.

Completing the lifestyle picture, leisure facilities are excellent with clubs for tennis, football, cricket and rugby. The leisure centre, overlooking the Thames, rivals private gyms for quality and facilities while the pools complex caters for energetic kids and serious swimmers alike. Watersports from windsurfing to kayaking and dinghy sailing to powerboating, are available at nearby Bray Lake.

From boathouses to bungalows, Windsor boasts a wide variety of property, history and heritage. It was named in the top 100 Places to live in Britain; a list compiled using statistics such as crime rate, house prices and school reports and the opinion of writers for The Sunday Times. Places were selected quality of life and features such as community spirit, local services and outdoor spaces. For more information about the area or to see our properties for sale or to let please visit contact our Windsor office.