Outdoor events and activities in and around Windsor

For a destination as beautiful as ours, being outdoors in the fresh air is second to none and a great way to appreciate the Windsor & Eton, Maidenhead and Ascot area.  

There are plenty of great outdoor activities to choose from, whatever the season.  Dress up warmly and enjoy a bracing winter walk, or choose from an exciting range of water sports on offer on our lakes and on the majestic River Thames in the sunnier months.

Enjoy open-top and outdoor tours

See more of the area on board one of Golden Tours' open-top tour buses.  Or listen to the sound of horses’ hooves and some fascinating stories aboard one of our lovely horse-drawn carriages – Windsor Carriages and Ascot Carriages are the two companies operating in the area, both with access to the beautiful Windsor Great Park.

Our Blue Badge Guides can’t wait to share their stories about the Windsor area with you.  If you prefer to ‘do your own thing’ then we have two walkways you can explore – for Windsor and for Eton – plus trails and walking apps to be inspired by too.

Love to be by the water?  The Thames is the river that flows through Windsor and the Royal Borough, between Hurley and Runnymede, so why not follow the Thames Trail and discover the fascinating towns and villages along the river in our patch.

Discover water-based activities

If you prefer to be on the water, then you couldn’t have come to a better place!  We have some great ways to enjoy the River Thames; some are relaxing and others are more energetic! 

Hire a canoe, kayak or SUP with Canoe & Kayak Adventures or My Outdoor Adventure.  Try your hand at a range of watersports at Bray Lake Watersports.  Hire a motor boat or rowing boat from John Logie Motor Boats.  Enjoy skippering your own day or holiday boat with Kris Cruisers or take a public boat trip on the River Thames with French Brothers. 

For a touch of luxury why not hire a skippered passenger boat with The Boat Hire Company, Boating at Bray or Thames Charters or experience an onboard dining cruise with Windsor & Maidenhead Boat Company for a special treat?

For the best of both worlds, Windsor Duck Tours offer a road and river adventure in central Windsor.

Cheer on the horses and jockeys

Our two racecourses – Ascot and Royal Windsor – both offer year-round meetings that feature flat and jumps racing.  You can’t beat getting close to the action on the race track and enjoying the entertainment that’s laid on at each meeting.

Get active on a visit to the Windsor area

If you enjoy cycling then following National Cycle Route (Network 4) will take you through the tree-lined roads and far-reaching views of Windsor Great Park, part of the Crown Estate.  There are other designated cycle routes to be discovered there too.

About 20 minutes’ drive from Windsor (near Bracknell) you’ll find mountain biking at Swinley Forest, also part of the Crown Estate.  Here you’ll discover 24km of routes for all levels – these fantastic purpose-designed trails offer steep gradients, big air jumps and fast-paced trail cycling.

Discover a day out in the treeops at Go Ape, also situated at Swinley Forest.  Clamber up rope ladders, tackle tricky crossings and experience their iconic ziplines.  Whether you’re a thrill seeker looking for action-packed fun or simply after some quality time with friends and family, they have the adventure scene covered.

If you enjoy horse riding, we have local riding schools offering escorted hacks in the beautiful and extensive Windsor Great Park.

The Royal Borough, and the area immediately surrounding it, is famed for its golf and is home to some of the finest championship courses this country has to offer including Wentworth and Sunningdale. 

Some of our hotels can arrange for guests to play at nearby clubs.  Check individual accommodation pages and ask about golf packages that include dinner, bed and breakfast and 18 holes.

Discover our parks, gardens and open spaces

Enjoy a visit to one of our beautiful parks, gardens and open spaces such as The Savill Garden and National Trust Cliveden and Runnymede.  Garden lovers will enjoy a visit to the Royal Windsor Flower Show in June.

Outdoor playgrounds

Explore a fascinating world of walkways, slides, sculptures and treehouses at Adventure Play, hidden within the woodland at Windsor Great Park and located next to The Savill Garden.  Experience this hand-crafted adventure playground together, as you feed the imagination of young minds and build their confidence.  Adventure Play is suitable for children from 2 to 12 years with adult supervision required at all times.

Go wild at LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, set in 150 acres of beautiful parkland on the outskirts of Windsor.  Many of the theme park's 55 rides and attractions are outdoors and of course there are themed lands to explore including the amazing Miniland featuring almost 40 million LEGO® bricks!

Nature-based activities

The whole family can get close to nature in the Windsor Great Park Environmental Centre, run in partnership with the Wildlife Trust. 

Discover a range of activities, from adult events that include bat walks, willow weaving and forest bathing; family-friendly self-led nature trails and events focussed on birds, moths and butterflies; and child-only day camps fully supervised by the Wildlife Trust team. 

Discover a number of outdoor events in our town centres too like our food and farmers’ markets.

Take a look below for our regularly-updated list of outdoor events and activities in Windsor and the Royal Borough; we look forward to welcoming you...