Things to Do in the Windsor area

There are plenty of fantastic things to do on a visit to the Windsor area, whatever the time of year and whoever you are travelling with. 

If you are here for the day – maybe on a day trip out of London – then make sure you fit in as many of our attractions and activities as possible; if there’s time, discover our great shopping and dining too! 

Or why not stay longer and see more attractions and enjoy more activities by extending your visit to a Windsor short break?  Relax and stay overnight in some great accommodation then fill your days by exploring fantastic things to do and places to eat, drink and shop.

From iconic attractions and world-class events to beautiful open countryside and the River Thames, with the wide range of different things to do in Windsor and Maidenhead, it’s the perfect destination for everybody.

Windsor days out and attractions for all the family

Windsor is home to top attractions including Windsor Castle, one of The King’s official residences and the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world!  Explore hundreds of years of history and enjoy the Castle’s regular programme of family events and activities too.  Time your visit to see the Windsor Guard March/Changing of the Guard.  The Castle is open year round but closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays so here are some ideas for things to do when Windsor Castle is closed.

For an awesome family day out, LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort is the place to head if you have children aged 2 to 12.  With over 55 rides, live shows and attractions – including the iconic Miniland – set over 150 acres of parkland, the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort is a family destination that is not to be missed! For families with older children both Chessington and Thorpe Park theme parks are just a short journey away.

How about taking to the water and viewing Windsor and the Royal Borough from the peace and tranquillity of the River Thames? 

20 miles of this beautiful and historic waterway meanders through the Royal Borough, between Hurley and Runnymede, and there are villages and attractions along the way just waiting to be discovered.

Enjoy a passenger boat ride with French Brothers Boats, hire a rowing boat or motor boat with John Logie, celebrate a special occasion with The Boat Hire Company or Windsor & Maidenhead Boat Company or hire a self-drive boat for a day or a week with Kris Cruisers. 

A tour with Windsor Duck Tours incorporates both road and ‘splashdown’ in the Thames.

Visitors can enjoy the thrill of the chase with year-round horse racing at Ascot Racecourse and Royal Windsor Racecourse.  Ascot is famous for its royal meeting in June and Royal Windsor for its Monday evening meetings.  Both racecourses have family days throughout the year with great entertainment for children and adults alike!

Enjoy the relaxed pace of a horse-drawn carriage ride on the Long Walk and in Windsor Great Park with Windsor Carriages or Ascot Carriages.

As well as marvelling at the treasures in Windsor Castle, art lovers will enjoy exploring the Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham.  Spencer is considered one of Britain’s greatest artists and this gallery, located within the village’s Methodist chapel, is home to the world’s largest collection of his paintings, drawings, personal letters, photographs, press cuttings and books.

Passionate about heritage and history? Visit our hidden gem Dorney Court, a Tudor manor house and Grade I listed stately home which was built in the 1400s and has been lived in by descendants of the same family for over 450 years!

Visit Windsor and the Royal Borough Museum located in Windsor Guildhall, where King Charles and Queen Camilla were married in 2005 and where Sir Elton John and David Furnish had their civil ceremony. 

You can fly a spitfire simulator at Maidenhead Heritage Centre or come face to face with a Kakapo at the Eton College Natural History Museum!

Looking for tours and sightseeing ideas?  If you’re interested in some historical and fun facts about the town and the local area then hop aboard an open top bus with Golden Tours.

Let one of our experienced and interesting tour guides show you Windsor and Eton and share their specific knowledge with you on a guided town walk. 

If you fancy catching some live entertainment while you’re here, pay a visit to the Theatre Royal Windsor, nestled at the foot of Windsor Castle, or book tickets for some stand-up comedy, live music or cinema at one of our art centres at Norden Farm Maidenhead and the Old Court in Windsor.

For more information on specific events and festivals such as the Royal Windsor Horse Show, check-out our What's On page. 

Top things to do in the Windsor area if you love being outdoors

The Royal Borough features some beautiful countryside with more than 1,000 acres of National Trust land in the north and 4,800 acres of Crown Estate, not to mention the River Thames running through the heart of the region. 

Enjoy exploring the River Thames as it wends its way through the Borough between Runnymede and Hurley.  You can walk the Thames Path or hire a rivercraft and enjoy the tranquillity from the water.

It’s easy to get out and about in the beautiful and expansive Windsor Great Park with direct access from Windsor town centre as well as the various entry points a little further afield. 

If you like visiting gardens, then discover the year-round displays in The Savill Garden, nestled in a corner of Windsor Great Park.  Its 35 acres comprise beautifully-designed gardens and woodland just waiting to be discovered.  National Trust Cliveden’s exquisite gardens and woodlands are very close to Maidenhead.

Windsor: the perfect day trip out of London

With the Windsor Express coach service out of London and two train stations connecting Windsor with London Waterloo (direct) and London Paddington (with a quick change at Slough) Windsor is easy to get to for a day trip out of the capital.  There are plenty of things to do in the town centre such as watching the Windsor Guard March, going into Windsor Castle, taking a boat trip on the river or an open top bus tour.  Enjoy the shopping and food and drink options followed by some live entertainment!

Activities in the Windsor area for those with a sense of adventure!

Windsor and the Royal Borough has a great range of outdoor events and activities and sports and leisure options.

Hire a canoe, paddleboard or SUP and explore the Thames from river level with Canoe & Kayak Adventures!

Discover Bray Lake with its range of water-based activities including windsurfing and sailing.

The vast and beautiful Windsor Great Park can be accessed at various points in and around the Royal Borough making it the perfect place to visit, especially if you are looking for dog-friendly things to do.

Walkers, joggers, runners and cyclists can all enjoy the park's open space and far-reaching views.  Keen equestrians can join a hack into the Great Park with one of the local horse riding schools. 

Younger children will love exploring Adventure Play, a unique, hand-crafted adventure playground hidden within the woodland next to The Savill Garden.  Discover a fascinating world of walkways, slides, sculptures and treehouses.

If mountain biking is your thing, then check out 24km of mountain biking trails at Swinley Forest in Windsor Great Park; the routes are suitable for bikers of all experience levels.

What are the top family-friendly things to do in the Windsor area?

There are many fun days out for families just waiting to be planned!  We have the largest inhabited castle in the world, fabulous theme park adventures, river boat trips, open top bus rides, puzzling escape rooms, adventure play parks, gardens and outdoor spaces.  Take a look at our family-friendly page for great ideas and inspiration and our regularly-updated family-friendly events page too.

Discover the top things to do in the Windsor area if you are travelling with a disability

The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is one of the UK’s most historic destinations with sites such as Windsor Castle dating back almost a thousand years.

With its strong focus on a warm welcome for all, the Borough’s local businesses and attractions are working hard to provide accessible environments wherever possible to visitors with access requirements.  Whilst not every visitor attraction in the Royal Borough is fully accessible, all are working towards improving their facilities for those with access requirements.  Discover our Destination Access Guides which have been produced to help you plan your visit.

Top things to do with a royal connection in the Windsor area

The Windsor area has many royal connections.  Windsor Castle is one of The King’s official residences, and The Prince and Princess of Wales live on the Windsor estate with their young family.  There are so many activities and things to do with a royal connection: visit the free museums at Eton College (where Princes William and Harry were educated); explore St George’s Chapel (the final resting place of Elizabeth II); enjoy a tour of Windsor Guildhall (where King Charles and Queen Camilla got married); put on your finest outfit for Royal Ascot in June; watch the guards march to the Castle; and buy produce from the royal estates and Windsor Farms at Windsor Farm Shop.

What are the top free things to do on a visit to the Windsor area?

Check out our top ten free things to do when you come to the Royal Borough including visiting our museums, enjoying the outdoor space in Windsor Great Park, watching the Windsor Guard March, exploring our walkway trails and enjoying some great town centre events.

What are the top dog-friendly things to do in the Windsor area?

You won’t need to spend much time in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead before noticing that our four-legged friends are both plentiful and very welcome!

With so much open, green space right on the doorstep, there are countless opportunities for some fantastic dog walks in the Windsor and Maidenhead area making it a most dog-friendly place to visit!  Windsor Great Park, the Thames Path, acres of National Trust land and a network of widely-used footpaths and byways give access to some of the loveliest countryside and finest reaches of the River Thames.  Read more on our dog-friendly things to do page.

The best group-friendly things to do in the Windsor area

Windsor is the most ideal destination for a group visit whether you are arranging a day visit for your sports, social or special-interest club, organising a weekend stag or hen party, planning a familiarisation visit or setting up regular tours. With dedicated staff at many of our attractions and local guides ready to share their expertise, you’re bound to have a successful trip!  Visit our dedicated travel trade pages for more help and advice.

Book tickets for attractions and events in the Windsor area

Visit the Windsor online shop where you can book tickets for many of the top attractions and events in Windsor and the Royal Borough. 

Read about our latest Windsor special offers

Check out our latest special offers from our local attractions and accommodation providers for ideas and inspiration too!

Explore other parts of the VisitWindsor website…

With so much to see and so many things to do, our website can help you get the most out of your visit.  Find and book accommodation; choose from hotels, guest accommodation/bed and breakfasts, self-catering properties and even a riverside caravan and campsite!  Read more about getting here, getting around and car and coach parking.  Find out about maps and guides.

You’ll be spoiled for choice for shopping, eating out and nightlife too!

Check out what great shops you can find in the Royal Borough and how many different restaurants, pubs and cafés there are for all tastes and budgets.

So what are you waiting for?

We look forward to welcoming you to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead very soon.

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