Horsing around in Windsor

Posted: Tue 16 April 2024 at 13:09

This year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show kicks off on Wednesday 1st May 2024 and as usual runs for five glorious days.

The show is reinventing itself for 2024. Alongside the top-class equestrian competition in Jumping, Dressage, Driving and Endurance, and the 120-plus Showing classes, the Show is introducing some special events to make your visit even more exciting. Got your tickets yet? Be quick they are selling fast – use the link below to get yours!

Horse Show 2024

Horse Show Tickets are available here

Accommodation is available for those staying for a few nights or more – why not book one of our self catering cottages in Windsor or stay in our central Windsor hotel – for the best rates always book direct!

See all of our places to stay in Windsor here.

Easter is early this year

Posted: Thu 14 March 2024 at 17:05

The Joyful Arrival of Spring in Windsor: A Blossoming Tale!

As the last vestiges of winter retreat, Windsor awakens to the enchantment of spring. The air carries a promise—a whisper of renewal, a symphony of birdsong, and the delicate scent of blooming flowers. Here, amidst the historic streets and regal gardens, spring unfolds like a well-rehearsed ballet.

Windsor Great Park dons its emerald cloak, and daffodils stretch their golden heads toward the sun. The Savill Garden bursts forth with rhododendrons, camellias, and azaleas, painting the landscape in hues of pink and crimson. Visitors wander along winding paths, their footsteps softened by a carpet of fallen petals.

Savill Gardensd 2024

Riverside Strolls:

The River Thames sparkles, reflecting the azure sky. Couples walk hand in hand, their laughter mingling with the gentle lapping of water against the banks. Swans glide gracefully, their necks forming elegant arcs. Cafés spill onto cobbled streets, offering alfresco dining—a chance to savour the warmth (we say hopefully) of the sun on skin that has long forgotten winter’s chill.

Cherry Blossom Canopies:

Windsor Castle, standing sentinel atop its hill, is framed by delicate cherry blossoms. Their pale pink petals flutter like confetti, celebrating the season. Tourists and locals alike pause to capture this ephemeral beauty—a snapshot to carry in their hearts long after the blossoms have fallen.

Easter Anticipation:

As March waltzes toward its finale, Easter tiptoes in. The town prepares for festivities—a blend of tradition and merriment. Easter eggs appear in shop windows, their vibrant colours promising hidden delights. Families plan picnics in their gardens, where children hunt for chocolate treasures beneath ancient oaks.

And so, as the sun warms the cobblestones and cherry blossoms flutter like whispered secrets, Windsor embraces spring. The joy of longer days, lighter hearts, and the promise of new beginnings fills the air. As March bids adieu, Easter awaits—a time for reflection, gratitude, and perhaps a chocolate bunny or two!

In Windsor, spring is not merely a season; it’s a celebration—a reminder that life, like the blossoms, returns with unwavering grace

Easter 2024

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Posted: Sat 20 November 2021 at 12:56

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

BY ROBERT FROST

Autumn in Windsor

What’s going on in Windsor this Autumn?

The leaves are falling from the trees and carpeting the ground in gold. ‘Tis the season of the rake, trains have a hard time and gutters get blocked up but it all looks so beautiful and it’s the perfect time to explore Windsor.

The air is fresh and crisp Autumn mornings and blue skies are a welcome respite from the heat of the summer, especially this year that topped some of the hottest temperatures on record. Wrap up warm and get outside to enjoy our wonderful town, parks and riverside location. The Long Walk, Windsor Great Park, Virginia Water Lake and riverside locations are all stunning at this time of year. The long shadows at this time of year also make for some stunning photography.

We can almost smell the Mulled Wine and Christmas is just around the corner. Windsor gets dressed up to welcome visitors with the town’s Christmas lights and decorations already up.

There are plenty of things to do in Windsor in Autumn. Explore Windsor Great Park Savill Gardens Illuminated: A magical illuminated journey through beautiful woodland near Windsor Great Park’s Savill Garden and around the Obelisk Pond, ending at the Obelisk.

Buy Tickets for Windsor Great Park Illuminated here

Windsor Autumn Parks

Walk in the Shadow of The Monarchs

The Queen’s Walkway is a 6.3km (approx. 4 miles) self-guided walking trail connecting 63 of Windsor’s most significant attractions.

It was designed by The Outdoor Trust, in partnership with Windsor locals, to recognise the moment on when Her Majesty The Queen had reigned for 63 years and more than 7 months (on 9 September 2015) to become Britain’s longest reigning monarch. The Queen’s Walkway will help you explore this historic town with its theatre, its churches, its parks and gardens, its elegant residential streets, its many historic monuments, its railway stations, and the River Thames.

Download the pdf below to guide you through each step of this fabulous walkway.

The-Queens-Walkway-Windsor

October Half Term Breaks in Windsor

Posted: Sat 16 October 2021 at 11:49

Pumpkins Halloween There’s a chill in the air, and it’s not just the weather. Creepy goings-on and haunted houses are just part of the scenery at Legoland’s ultimate Halloween Party, “Brick or Treat” this year from 14th to 31st October 2021. If your cheeky little monsters like dressing up then Lord Vampyre invites you to the spook-tacular Legoland resort to enjoy all the fun of this pumpkin filled wonderland.

Kids will love the brand new LEGO MYTHICA – World of Mythical Creatures, live shows and attractions – lots of fun for all of the family.

Halloween Legoland Tickets can be bought here (opens a new link to Legoland’s website)

If you fancy a short October Half term break in Windsor then why not book a room at a Central Windsor Hotel – Goswell House or alternatively book a week (or a few nights) in self catering accommodation with Accommodation Windsor. Be quick though, spaces are filling up fast!

This October Half Term, travel back to the time of medieval knights at Windsor Castle, hear spooky tales of witchcraft and magic at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and find hidden details in paintings by some of the world’s most famous artists at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. – Read More on the press release below

PRESS RELEASE from Royal Collection Trust:
Celebrate October Half Term at the Official Residences of Her Majesty The Queen

Where to Visit in 2020

Posted: Mon 30 December 2019 at 13:13

Looking forward to a new start this year? 2020 is set to be a magical year – not only a New Year but a new decade – and also a leap year – when women can take their destiny in their hands and ask a man to marry them!

2020 is also the Year of the Rat and also the year that Britain will leave the EU – if your sick and tired of Brexit and just want it to happen (or just to go away) then perhaps you need a holiday! And where better than a visit to Windsor and its fabulous Castle to take your mind off things! You can buy Windsor Castle tickets here.

Seriously though, Windsor has its fair share of great things to see and do – the Castle taking centre stage but there are a whole host of other things to do in Windsor. Like taking a water tour of Windsor – there are a few options depending on how adventurous you are. The Duck Tour is an amphibious vehicle that takes you on a road tour and then splashes into the water for the river tour. Then there is the French Brothers Boat trips or the glamorous Bateaux Windsor – fine dining on a tour of the sights up the Thames.

Bateaux Windsor – fine dining on the Thames at Windsor

What about a 2 hour horse ride through Windsor Great Park to get you out in the fresh air. Our friends at Tally Ho Stables organise various trips and are very knowledgeable on the various wildlife in the park and places of interest and they are very nice people too! They organise rides for every level of experience – contact them through their website: Tally Ho!

If you need places to stay in Windsor then give us a call or book online on our website – we have over 50 apartments available for weekly stays in Windsor. 01753 833747

Self catering apartment Windsor — Self Catering Apartment Windsor

British Summertime Ends this weekend

Posted: Sat 26 October 2019 at 19:20

autumnal scene, accommodation windsor ltd As the summer season has well and truly ended and we head towards winter, many changes happen around us that make life worth living; from the colour changes of the leaves on the trees from vibrant green in summer to rich oranges and reds, to the crispness in the air and the darker evenings, now is the time to enjoy cosy evenings by the fire or at least drinks in a pub with a real fire if you don’t have one!

Halloween is an event that Windsor people take really seriously. In some of the residential streets that surround the town centre, Victorian Houses are often dressed up with all manner of Halloween garb to trick or treat the youngsters that gather each year with the aim of collecting as many sweet, sugary items as possible, often to their parents’ dismay! Many families take part in this annual ritual and children as young as 2 or 3 are often seen amongst the scarier teenage crews with hats and bats and all kinds of weird and wonderful costumes. It’s all done in good faith with the aim of letting children enjoy what has become an event to rival Christmas as 31st October is a date firmly on the British calendar thanks to our American friends who have been celebrating the holiday for decades.

The kids are off school now for a week or two and if that wasn’t enough, the clocks go back this weekend at 2am on Sunday (27th October 2019) so we get an extra hour in bed – although those with young kids might not see the benefit if they are early risers anyway, unless you have them well trained.

halloween witch

Make sure to get out and about through autumn – take a walk along the Long Walk to the Copper Horse Statue and watch the trees shedding their gold leaves. The view of the Castle from the statue is sensational on a clear day – take your camera – and your wellies!

Don’t forget Windsor Theatre and fabulous places like Cliveden House and Savill Gardens where you can easily spend a few hours walking through the grounds admiring the plants.

For a reasonably priced Bed and Breakfast in Windsor, try Alma House – with double rooms from £75 this autumn.

The Windsor Fringe Festival 2019

Posted: Sat 21 September 2019 at 08:54

On the eve of the UK’s second oldest Fringe Festival’s opening, the excitement spreading through the local art, music, dance and comedy scenes is reaching a boiling point. Beginning Friday 20^th September through to Sunday 6^th October the event has plenty to offer from award-winning musicians to acclaimed artists and awesome dance performances, there’s sure to be plenty of fun for all the family.

windsor fringe, accommodation windsor ltd Set up by Nicola Brooker 48 years ago, when she thought the Windsor Festival, which centred on Classical music, was both too stiff and too expensive. The fringe continues to this day, continuing to provide cheaper (but no less fantastic) artistic experiences, celebrate the diverse range of artistic talent and provide a platform for local, young artists to promote themselves.

The fringe kicks off with its Launch party in the Loading Bay Café (Kardleton House, Vansittart Estate, Windsor SL4 1SE). The evening begins with live performances by the 4Motion Dance Studio and Ronnie & Patrick Johnson. Then at 8 the night switches to an extended party with DJ Steve Nash where he will show off his extensive vinyl collection. The evening is fuelled by drinks donated by Windsor and Eton Brewery and Darvilles of Windsor Teas, and gourmet chips from The Chipysmith.

Saturday sees the Lucky Dog theatre Company performing Red Balloon; An endearing story of a young boy who lives in Paris and his “friendship” with the titular inanimate object. Based on the award-winning short film of the same name, this is sure to be a fan favourite, as all Lucky Dog productions have been since there first fringe in 2013. In the evening at the same festival, Award winning jazz singers Claire Martin and Ian Shaw will be performing their “a century of song” performing fan favourite songs, from old war songs to modern classics and everything in between. To book tickets to these please see https://www.oldcourt.org/sales

Windsor Fringe Festival, Accommodation Windsor Walking tours seem to be the theme of Sunday with one from the Windsor guild hall, detailing the day to day trivialities of living in historical, Victorian Windsor. If this doesn’t take your fancy, try picking up a free map from Brewhouse Yard and take a tour through Eton College’s collectors trail. See the history of one of England’s most prestigious schools. For the Younger children there’s Wander Tales, the imaginary adventure through best loved stories. Kids are actively encouraged to express themselves through movement, sound and play during the performance.

If you’re not a wanderer you can settle in at the Loading Bay Café for Vegan & Vinyl, a feast of vegan treats provided by Livity Kitchen and sound tracked by the DJ’s Reggae, Afrobeat and Jazz. Harry house refills will also be there to offer solutions to single use plastic.

PGA Championship 2019 Moves to September

Posted: Sat 7 September 2019 at 10:31

The BMW PGA Championship 2019 is scheduled to begin on the 18^th September 2019 at one of England’s most beautiful and historic courses, the West Course at the Wentworth Club. This is the tournament’s first year being hosted in chilly September, after moving the tournament from its usual May run time in order to avoid scheduling conflicts. The tournament gets played over 5 days, with an extra day for practising – a day that fans can also attend. The winner will walk away with a cool $1.7 Million and the runners up will fight for a share of the rest of the $9.25 Million prize pool.

PGA Tour Accommodation Windsor The front runner for the tournament looks to be Justin Thomas. The American is coming to the tournament following his 10^th tournament win at Medinah Country Club. Other notable contenders for the purse include Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, previous winner Francesco Molinari, Henrik Stenson and Alex Noren.

The tournament is also host to a few performances from some big names. Rudimental will be performing on Saturday Afternoon, and Ann-Marie will be performing on Sunday. That’s not the only treat; If you’re lucky enough to own a BMW or a Mini you will receive free parking for the day!

Windsor is a great place to stay if you are planning to visit the tournament, being just a short drive away. There are lots of lovely bars and restaurants to enjoy your evenings, slightly further away from the massive crowds the tournament is sure to bring. Check out our short term accommodation in Windsor!

Call us on 01753 833747 or book online at www.accommodation-windsor.co.uk

The Royal Windsor Horse Show’s biggest year yet

Posted: Wed 22 May 2019 at 14:00

horse show windsor, accommodation windsor ltd The Royal Windsor Horse Show was bathed in early sunshine this year. The show was bigger than ever, setting record numbers for attendance and competition. This meant Windsor was bustling from the Turf to the Thames. Since its humble beginnings in 1943 the Windsor Horse Show has grown to over 140 unique events and attracts many from the horse world. Her Majesty’s annual visit to the show saw her present awards to winners of the Team Jumping and Grand Prix events. With a backdrop of the vast Windsor Great Park, the show was a beautiful spectacle for competitors and visitors alike. Whether they received their awards from the Queen or not, huge congratulations to all winners of events at the show.

queen windsor horse show 2019 Even if the range of equestrian events isn’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of other attractions. Set in the historic Home Park, the horse show has created a shopping village for event goers to enjoy. Plenty of hand-crafted gifts, tailoring, clothes and home-wares for all the show goers to enjoy as well as delicious homemade food and a vast selection of beverages to enjoy on the day or to take home. Just a short walk away from Peascod Street shops there is plenty of diversity for any shopper. The dates for next year’s event have been locked in for 13^th May to the 17^th May 2020 so be on the lookout for tickets when they become available.

windsor dog show 2019 If you missed out on the event this year or are looking for another reason to get out in the sunshine with your pets, the Windsor Dog show is coming soon. Taking place on the 27-30 June, the show looks to be following the horse show’s record numbers. Starting this year, the dog show is open to all breeds of dog so competition is set to be stronger than ever. The show allows visitors to bring their dogs to spectate, which should make this a fun day out for all the family

If you’re not enticed by the dog show competition then see our post on upcoming festivals in the Windsor region.

images courtesy of @windsorhorse and rawpixel.com