Top 10 Things to Do

Visit one of the official residences of The King

Windsor Castle, the world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle, is an official residence of His Majesty The King and was a favourite home of Queen Elizabeth II.  The castle has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. Highlights include the State Apartments, St George's Chapel and Queen Mary's Dolls House.

Spend a day at the races

There’s summer racing at Royal Windsor’s island course and flat and jumps seasons for year-round racing at Ascot with plenty of fun to be had choosing runners and riders for a flutter. Highlight event, Royal Ascot, is a national institution and centrepiece of the British social calendar. For around 250 years, tradition, pageantry, fashion and style meet where stewards wear bowler hats, ladies show off elaborate outfits and the after racing “singing round the bandstand” is a feast of fun and flag waving.

Watch Changing the Guard

Changing the Guard or Guard Mounting is the process where a new guard exchanges duty with the old guard. Usually accompanied by a band, it takes place throughout the year with the schedule changing month by month (weather permitting and except Sundays and do check the schedule in advance). Outside of the castle, the best viewing point is the Corn Exchange at Windsor Guildhall at around 10.50am. From inside the Castle, you can watch the actual changing ceremony outside the Guardroom in the Lower Ward at 11.00am.

Stroll around a garden

Part of Windsor Great Park, The Savill Garden is one of England’s finest woodland and ornamental gardens, with 35 acres of trees, shrubbery, ponds and streams, lawns, meadows and formal beds which are home to some of the world’s most decorative plants. Throughout the year, different areas of the garden like the temperate house and rose garden, provide dramatic bursts of colour, while the visitor centre’s contemporary design is always well worth seeing.

Trot on in a horse-drawn carriage

Explore Windsor Great Park in style with a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride. Ascot Carriages offers scenic drives near The Savill Garden in a beautiful carriage previously used by Queen Elizabeth II’s Equerry and Horsemaster. Windsor Carriages runs tours down The Long Walk to Windsor Great Park.

Stomp some divots at polo

Royal Borough venues host polo matches featuring the world’s top professionals and plenty of opportunities to take part in half time ‘divot stamping’ – Pretty Woman style. National and international teams compete with their entourage of ponies (never horses!) Lessons are available where you can learn the rules and tactics and perfect your polo swing. No previous experience necessary.

Get afloat on the water

Take in the surroundings from a whole new perspective on the historic River Thames. Join a passenger boat trip with French Brothers, hire a boat for few days with Kris Cruisers, have a road and river adventure on a Windsor Duck Tour or get active with a kayak or rowboat – the choice is yours.

Enjoy top-notch dining

The Royal Borough offers Michelin stars, celebrity chefs, gastro-pubs and world-class cuisine. Only eight UK restaurants hold three-Michelin star status (2023 guide) and two of them are in the village of Bray – The Waterside Inn run by Alain Roux and The Fat Duck run by Heston Blumenthal – meaning Bray packs quite a culinary punch.

Walk the Riverside

Escorted by the Royal Boatmen, the Royal Family once used the Thames to travel between royal palaces. It's less common these days to see royals on the river, but walks along the Thames Path are not to be missed. Start from Old Windsor, and once past the weir at Old Windsor Lock, cross Albert Bridge for a detour into the village of Datchet – you'll soon return over Victoria Bridge into Home Park, with picture-postcard views of both Windsor Castle and Eton.

Attend evensong

The Choir of St George's Chapel is one of the leading church choirs in the country. It comprises 24 boy choristers and twelve Lay Clerks singing alto, tenor and bass. They perform Evensong at 5.15 pm (sung every day except Wednesdays) in a service which lasts approximately 45 minutes. Founded in 1348, the choir sings regularly in the presence of members of the Royal family and has a large repertoire of music drawn from all ages and traditions.