Great Fosters

About

Probably built as a Royal Hunting lodge and gracing an estate of more than fifty acres in what was once the heart of Royal Windsor Forest in Surrey, Great Fosters is an endlessly charming Tudor estate steeped in royal history, located just 7 miles from the centre of Windsor.  Set in 50 acres of stunning gardens and parkland, which include a listed topiary garden, Saxon moat with Japanese bridge the instantly recognisable red-brick facade and chimney tops are a sight to behold as you drive up to the front door.  

Immaculately preserved, this stately historic monument also boasts a highly sought-after location, being near Heathrow airport, the M25 and M4, and also near Windsor, Wentworth and many of London’s leading attractions. Great Fosters’ many reception rooms are richly adorned with oak beams and panelling, Jacobean chimneypieces, fine furnishings and exceptional works of art. Reflecting centuries of history, art and architecture, the rooms are nevertheless immaculately maintained and offer every modern comfort in the most charming of settings. All the bedrooms and suites at Great Fosters are individually decorated, some with four-poster beds, Persian rugs, gilt furnishings and damask walls, many with tapestries, antiques and artefacts dating back hundreds of years. Guests are accommodated in three separate buildings. The Main House, which dates from 1550, offers a choice of historic suites and bedrooms. The Coach House and The Cloisters, which are reached across a courtyard, offer more contemporary rooms and suites.  There are five new bedrooms in The Coach House, including another pair of interconnecting rooms and some new very cute teepees for our younger guests too.

The Dower House (opened September 2021) includes seven generous rooms and suites, all rich in original details bearing the patina of time, juxtaposed with signature fabrics and furnishings. Rooms are spread over two floors and enjoy views over the ornamental gardens or magnolia lawn. Designed for indulgent weekends, get-togethers with friends and family, and perfect too for longer stays, the Dower House is once again a grand yet understated residence, for those in the know.

Great Fosters is justifiably proud of its food and specialises in modern English and European cuisine using the finest ingredients.  The Tudor Pass, which holds a Michelin star, is an intimate gastronomic restaurant open Wednesday to Saturday.  The reimagining of an icon, The Tudor Pass is a new chapter in the storied history of this special restaurant, named so to celebrate the unique interactive service style diners can expect – without the noise of an open kitchen - and it is led by Head Chef, Alex Payne.  The Estate Grill is a contemporary restaurant offering a Modern British grill style menu.  Along the eastern side of the hotel you will find stunning terraces, intimate gardens and nooks & crannies, which come alive in the summer months and offer some perfect spots for some delicious dining al fresco. 

Great Fosters has an unrivalled reputation for afternoon tea, which is served in the Anne Boleyn Drawing Room Garden Room and Cocktail Bar and in warm weather on the lawn by the saxon moat. 

Guests have full use of the hotel’s leisure facilities, including a heated outdoor swimming pool (open from May to September), a hard tennis court and a croquet lawn. 

The extensive gardens alone inspire visitors from all corners of the world and have been listed as ‘of outstanding merit’. The gardens at the hotel are exceptional and include formal parterres, framed on three sides by a saxon moat. They were originally designed by W H Romaine Walker and Gilbert Jenkins and are among the finest Arts and Crafts gardens in Europe.

Designed to reflect the intricate beauty of a Persian rug, the knot garden is embellished with fragrant beds of flowers and herbs bordered by manicured hedges and topiary. At the heart of it all is the Drake sundial, which belongs to the immediate family of Sir Francis Drake and is believed to date back to 1585. 

Wander further in this magnificent fifty-acre estate and you will discover a vast lake, a grand lawn leading to an avenue of lime trees and grassed amphitheatre and an enchanting Wisteria-draped Japanese bridge linking to a sunken rose garden and tranquil lily pond.

The hotel also has an apiary which provides honey for the restaurants.

Needless to say, Great Fosters has become a celebrated pilgrimage for horticultural enthusiasts from across the world.

Rated and awarded by the AA’s professional inspectors Great Fosters is currently the only five star hotel in Surrey accredited by the AA and one of only 30 five star hotels in England outside London.

This hotel is part of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Concierge Service.