Information
City: WindsorCountry: United Kingdom
Continent: Europe
Windsor, United Kingdom, Europe
Overview
Windsor, a historic town in Berkshire, England, is famous for its royal heritage, charming streets lined with old brick buildings, and a wealth of cultural landmarks.Windsor is one of the UK’s most famous towns, known for Windsor Castle-the world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle, where the British monarch still keeps an official residence behind its stone walls.Number one.Windsor sits about 25 miles (40 km) west of central London, right on the banks of the River Thames where you can hear the water lapping against old stone walls.Being so close to London, Windsor draws plenty of day-trippers and weekend visitors, eager to stroll its cobbled streets.The town enjoys a temperate maritime climate, with winters that stay mild and summers that rarely get more than pleasantly cool.Perched by the Thames, the town often feels a touch cooler and breezier than its neighbors, and Windsor’s story reaches back to the early medieval days.The town began as a strategic outpost on the banks of the River Thames, its importance swelling during the Norman Conquest.In the 11th century, William the Conqueror laid the first stones of Windsor Castle, which has stood ever since as a powerful emblem of Britain’s royal legacy.The town grew up in the castle’s shadow, its streets and markets shaped by the power within those stone walls.For centuries, it was the monarchs’ favorite home, and they still gather there for state occasions and royal ceremonies, the echo of footsteps on its stone floors unchanged.Today, Windsor remains every bit a royal town, with the castle drawing visitors from across the globe.The town grew up around the castle, booming in the 19th and 20th centuries as London’s commuter trains arrived and tourism took off.Windsor’s royal landmarks and the willow-lined banks of the River Thames still draw visitors today.Windsor Castle dominates the town, its stone walls and tall towers making it one of the UK’s most iconic landmarks.For more than a thousand years, kings and queens have called this castle home, and its ancient stone walls still make it the largest and oldest inhabited castle on Earth.You can wander through the grand State Apartments, peer into Queen Mary’s intricate Dolls’ House, and step inside St. George’s Chapel, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exchanged vows in 2018.The castle hosts the Changing of the Guard, a crowd-pleasing ritual where boots strike the cobblestones in perfect rhythm, and inside its walls you’ll find St. George’s Chapel, a stunning showcase of English Gothic design.It’s the chapel of the Order of the Garter and the burial place of monarchs like Henry VIII, Charles I, and George VI.From there, the Long Walk-a broad, tree-lined avenue-stretches 2.64 miles to Snow Hill, where the castle rises in the distance.Visitors flock here for a leisurely stroll or to soak up the view, maybe pausing to watch the river glint in the sun.Just across that water lies Eton College, among the most renowned and prestigious schools in the world.Founded in 1440, the school has shaped the minds of countless notable figures-among them Prince William and Prince Harry, who once walked its stone corridors.The college isn’t usually open to the public, but you can still admire its striking stonework from the gates.Just beyond, Windsor Great Park stretches for 2,000 acres-rolling green fields and towering oaks make it one of the largest royal parks in the UK.The park blends winding trails through tall pines with old stone bridges and the chatter of birds overhead.It features the Savill Garden, a lush 35-acre spread of flowers and rare trees, and the Copper Horse, a striking bronze of King George III on horseback.In the town’s heart, All Saints’ Church-Windsor’s historic parish-welcomes visitors with its vivid stained glass and quiet, echoing nave.It’s tied to both the Windsor family and the Royal Navy, and the Windsor Theatre-better known as Theatre Royal Windsor-stands among the UK’s oldest and most celebrated playhouses, its red velvet seats worn smooth by decades of audiences.You can catch everything from lively plays and musicals to a sharp-witted comedy show at the venue.Just around the corner in The Guildhall, the Windsor and Royal Borough Museum shares the town’s royal past, from coronations to centuries-old celebrations.And with the Thames winding right through Windsor, boat tours glide past swans and historic waterfronts in a scene straight out of a painting.You can hop on a scenic river cruise and watch Windsor Castle rise above the water, with small villages and old stone landmarks drifting past.All year long, the town comes alive with royal traditions, from the glamour of Royal Ascot-Britain’s most famous horse race-to the lively Windsor Horse Show.Members of the royal family often turn up at these events.At the Windsor Theatre, the Theatre Royal Windsor stages everything from stirring plays and live concerts to comedy nights that fill the hall with laughter.It feels warmer and more personal than the big West End theatres in London.Each year, the Windsor Festival fills the town with music, plays, and art shows, spilling color into its streets and halls.The festival draws artists and performers from all walks of life, turning it into one of the town’s key cultural highlights.The Windsor and Maidenhead Art Trail lets visitors wander past colorful canvases and sculptures, discovering the energy of the local art scene.In the center of Windsor, the Royal Shopping Centre sits inside the old Victoria Railway Station, its brick arches echoing with the sound of footsteps and chatter.You’ll find everything here, from sleek designer boutiques to quirky little independents that smell faintly of fresh leather.High Street, the town’s main hub, blends old-fashioned storefronts with bright, modern retailers.You’ll find gifts, fashion, and souvenirs inspired by Windsor’s royal past here, and just along King’s Road, cafés, pubs, and restaurants bustle side by side, the smell of fresh coffee drifting out to the street.From cozy English pubs to elegant fine-dining spots, Windsor caters to every taste and budget.The Royal Windsor Farmers’ Market, set inside the Windsor Theatre Royal, brims with local produce, handmade treats, and just-baked bread warm enough to scent the air.Tourism drives much of the town’s economy, with the magnificent Windsor Castle drawing crowds from around the globe.With the castle towering over the town and royal landmarks like Eton College nearby, tourism plays a big role in Windsor’s economy.Its busy streets are lined with shops and cafés that draw both locals and visitors.The town thrives on its bustling hospitality scene, fueled by crowds of visitors.Royal Events, like parades winding past the old stone fountain, draw even more people in.
Landmarks in Windsor
