Sports & Leisure in the Windsor area

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has everything you need to keep fit and healthy.

Choose from a vast range of fantastic sports and leisure activities, whether you’re visiting the area for a short break or you’re one of our local residents.

Take your pick from leisure activities that take place in our beautiful parks and open spaces or one of our excellent indoor sports facilities and centres.

Running, Triathlons and Half Marathons

With this amount of beautiful and inspiring open space, you can see why the Royal Borough is a magnet for runners.

Whether you are a beginner or a regular runner, you’ll find areas like Windsor Great Park can be perfectly suited to your pace and ability.

Test your endurance by entering one of our annual races such as the Royal Windsor Triathlon (June), Windsor Half Marathon (September) or Maidenhead Half Marathon (October).  You’ll find regular running events at locations like Dorney Lake too.

Golf

The area is home to some of the finest championship golf courses including Wentworth, Sunningdale and Stoke Park.  Some of our hotels have their own 9-hole courses or can arrange for guests to play at one of the many nearby clubs.

Leisure Centres

Windsor Leisure Centre and the state-of-the-art Braywick Leisure Centre are our flagship sports centres with their own swimming pools, with other leisure centres dotted throughout the Royal Borough.

Rowing

During London 2012 all eyes were on the Olympic rowing venue of Eton College-owned Dorney Lake.

Rowing is certainly a popular sport in the Royal Borough with rowing clubs in Maidenhead and Windsor/Eton where you can have a go at this physically demanding sport on the beautiful River Thames.  Dorney Lake has its own boat club too.

Riding and Polo

If you enjoy horse riding or would like to try it for the first time, our local riding schools have all the facilities you need for lessons and offer hacks through some of the most spectacular countryside including the beautiful and extensive Windsor Great Park. 

Search the British Horse Society website to find a local place to ride.

If you have your own horse and wish to ride through the Great Park you must first apply for an annual permit from the Crown Estate Office, telephone 01753 860222.

Some hotels can organise horse riding for you.  Coworth Park, set in 240 acres near Ascot, even has its own equestrian centre open for hotel and non-hotel guests whatever your level or ambition in the saddle.

If you feel like having a go at polo, the 'sport of kings', lessons are offered at a number of local clubs and no experience is needed.

Guards Polo Academy at Coworth Park
Cool Hooves Polo at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club
Ascot Park Polo Club and Academy

Walking and Rambling

Walkers and ramblers will delight in the open spaces awaiting them in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and surrounding area. 

Explore miles of River Thames path. National Trust land includes historic Runnymede and the gardens and woodland walks at Cliveden Estate.  Then there are the delightful gardens, rolling countryside and ancient woodland of Windsor Great Park.

Visit our Pet-Friendly page for more information on wonderful walks for dogs and their owners.

Swimming and Open Water Swimming

Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise and you can choose from lane swimming at Windsor Leisure Centre or Braywick Leisure Centre or challenge yourself with open water swimming in one of the local lakes, such as Bray Lake.

Water Sports

As well as rowing and kayaking on the River Thames, how about exploring water sports such as Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), wakeboarding, windsurfing and sailing on local facility Bray Lake?

Cycling and Mountain Biking

The National Cycle Network offers safe and attractive routes through parts of Maidenhead and Windsor.

Discover traffic-free paths and quiet, on-road cycling and walking routes including the Thames Path, with bike hire available from Extreme Motion in Windsor’s Alexandra Gardens.

With the exception of the Long Walk, there are over 17 miles of quiet roads and paths through Windsor Great Park making it perfect for accomplished cyclists and great for little ones learning to ride.

Venture out to the lively paths of Swinley Forest in Bracknell and you’ll discover a range of rugged routes suited to more adventurous mountain bikers!