Merry Christmas one and all

Posted: Thu 9 December 2021 at 12:15

Every year rather than spending a fortune printing and posting Christmas cards to our lovely clients, suppliers and friends we get together and create our own card with the magic of photoshop! We then donate what we would have spent to a local good cause.
Staff are asked to come in to the office and participate in any way they want to. A bottle of Prosecco is usually opened to get us in the mood and there are a few props and decorations to make it more fun. This year’s result is below.

Merry Christmas from Accommodation Windsor

We donated to Alexander Devine who do an amazing job supporting children who are terminally ill.

Best wishes from all of us!

Prince Philip dies aged 99

Posted: Sun 11 April 2021 at 23:19

prince philip dies 2021 Like most people we were saddened to hear of the death of Prince Philip – he has been at the Queen’s side for 73 years and was her rock. Queen Elizabeth said that Prince Philip’s death “will leave a huge void”. Many flowers and tributes have been left at the entrance to Windsor Castle and the funeral date has been announced as Saturday 17th April 2021.

Prince Philip never liked a fuss and although he was due a state funeral we understand that the Queen will follow her husband’s wishes and have a private ceremony in St Georges Chapel in Windsor. This will however be televised and the crowds are warned to stay away to stay safe during this pandemic. There is an online book of condolence that people are being urged to leave a message on rather than to leave flowers in order to stay safe from Covid.

A large police presence in Windsor this week aims to keep people safe reminding them to keep their distance and avoid close contact with others.

We offer our heartfelt condolences to Queen Elizabeth and her family at this sad time.

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.

Stylish portfolio of properties perfect for film & tv crews

Posted: Wed 28 August 2019 at 11:10

Accommodation Windsor Ltd has a stylish portfolio of around sixty properties available for short let by film & tv crews. It is perfectly situated for locations in the South East within easy access of Shepperton, Pinewood and London film studios. Because all our properties are owned or fully managed by us, our staff know the property you are staying in and can quickly and efficiently deal with any issues you may experience. Our properties all come fully furnished with the following as standard:- (more…)

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

The Royal Borough suggests the best proposal locations around Windsor

Posted: Sat 2 February 2019 at 14:16

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has released a list of the best places to propose across the region.

The official Royal Borough blog writers have been hard at work researching some of the most enchanting and romantic places to pop the question, and they have come up with a list of 12 locations, corresponding to the 12 months of the year.

If you’re looking for a sheltered place to propose around Valentine’s Day, when – let’s face it, it might be rather rainy, the blog suggests the Sounding Arch at Maidenhead Railway Bridge. The bridge was designed by none other than Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the Sounding Arch is named for the amazing echoes heard underneath it.

As we move towards spring, the suggestion for May is the Punch Bowl at the Valley Gardens in the Great Park. The blog states: “The Gardens are at their height of colour and interest in April and May with an unrivalled display of rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias.”

If you’re looking for a the ultimate romantic activity during which to pop the questions, the blog suggests a carriage ride around the Great Park in August. Windsor Carriages operates horse drawn carriage rides around the Great Park throughout the high season.

Check out the rest of the blog for the other inspirational suggestions.

Radio 2 writing contest final to be held at Windsor Castle

Posted: Thu 31 January 2019 at 13:57

Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball has announced that the live final for the station’s ‘500 Words’ short story competiton will be held at Windsor Castle this year.

The 500 Words contest was first created by presenter Chris Evans in 2011 and has since attracted huge numbers of entries from children aged between 5 and 13. Many schools across the UK take part in the contest and the decision to host the live final at Windsor Castle has caused much excitement.

Ball said: “I’m so proud and excited to be launching 500 Words 2019. It is incredible what Chris Evans has achieved since he first created it back in 2011. I encourage all of our younger listeners to delve deep into their imaginations, and perhaps it could be you heading to the live final at one of the world’s most iconic buildings, Windsor Castle, in June!”

Oxford University Press is supporting the contest and providing support to schools who are taking part, to help them encourage pupils to enter. Last year there were some 134,000 entries.

The launch of the contest on Radio 2 involved three schools taking over the playlist between 7 and 9am. Famous writers Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Charlie Higson will be judges for the contest and were on hand at the live launch to offer writing tips to interested youngsters.

Entries to the short story writing competition must be in by Thursday 8th March and the final will take place at the Windsor Castle on Friday 14th June.

Visiting the UK: Top British Touring Itineraries

Posted: Tue 29 January 2019 at 13:02

There is no end to the sightseeing opportunities when visiting the UK – so where do you begin? We’ve put together a list of the top touring itineraries to help you get the very most of your trip.

The Best of the West Country

England’s south-western corner is affectionately known as the ‘West Country’ and is famous for its coast and its warm weather – as well as local delicacies such as cider, fudge and Cream Teas.

Start your trip at Land’s End – at the far tip of Cornwall, perhaps visiting the beautiful artsy town of St Ives on your way North. The Cornish coast is awe-inspiring and the countryside is majestic, dotted with abandoned tin mines. Another Cornish must-see is the rugged beauty of Bodmin Moor, where Daphne DuMaurier set her famous smuggling novel, Jamaica Inn. You can visit the Inn itself and even stay the night – if you’re brave enough!

Continue your tour through Devon, taking in the wonderful coastal towns along the way, many of which offer a traditional English seaside experience, as well as a more modern take on British beach holidays. Dartmouth and Lynton and Lynmouth are all great options, the latter of which has a fabulous cliff railway offering stunning coastal views.

While in Devon, you might want to try the famous Cream Tea. Both Cornwall and Devon lay claim to having invented the tea comprising scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam. To this day, they will argue over whether the jam or the cream should come first.

Somerset is the next port of call on your itinerary, but you can include Dorset if you have time – it is, afterall, another stunning county with wonderful cliff-top walks and fabulous towns such as Weymouth and Lyme Regis. In Somerset you must visit the iconic Georgian town of Bath to take in some of the most jaw-dropping period architecture in Britain. Then move onto the vibrant dockside city of Bristol, with world-class culture and an incredible music and arts scene.

London and the Home Counties

No trip to the UK would be complete without visiting London – one of the most culturally significant, historically important and cutting edge cities in the world. Take in the South Bank for an exciting walk alongside the Thames; visit the East End where old and new rub alongside each other creating an exciting atmosphere; and walk through the Square Mile, which positively drips with a sense of history and importance.

Once you’ve had enough of the Big Smoke, it’s time to take in some of its surrounding locations, such as royal Windsor, the home of the Queen’s favourite residence, Windsor Castle. Staying in Windsor is a great option as it’s well located for tours around Berkshire. Oxfordshire, Greater London and Surrey.

Windsor is surrounded in beautiful parkland and countryside, not to mention the Thames meandering it’s way through the town and towards the higher ground at Oxford. A visit to Oxford is another must for anyone wishing to experience the very best of British history. The University of Oxford is still very much the centre of everything that takes place in this great city and you can’t move for atmospheric, beautifully maintained buildings, bright young things and traditional English pubs with roaring fires. In the summer, there is riverside dining and punting at Cherwell and Thameside walks at Iffley and Binsey.

To top off your London and Home Counties itinerary, why not take in the countryside of South Oxfordshire and the cobbled streets of Henley-on-Thames for a taste of a quintessential market town in action. This buzzy, high-brow little place hosts the annual Royal Regatta, where world-class rowers battle it out to race down the Thames while onlookers sip champagne under weeping willows.

Northern highlights

To enjoy the very best of Northern England and Scotland you’ll need to cover some serious ground. Fast trains run throughout this region and it’s easy to hop from Manchester or Liverpool to Glasgow or Edinburgh within a day.

Despite being relatively closely located, Manchester and Liverpool are very different cities. Liverpool is extremely quirky and, in a similar way to Bristol, has its routes around the docks and attracts a creative itinerant crowd. Music rusn through Liverpool’s veins and you can still visit the Cavern Club and listen to live bands playing all day every day in the pubs and clubs around the centre.

Manchester is far more urban and polished. While being a very well-turned out city, it also has incredible independent businesses, cafes, restaurants, shops and studios. Make sure you take in the canal area and the Northern Quarter, with its vibrant bar scene and quirky shopping.

As you move North, either by road or by rail, you’ll notice the landscape changing. Scotland is stunningly beautiful. The highlands are the gem in Britain’s crown and to miss the opportunity to visit this region would be a crime. Even if you’re not into walking, just drive around and you’ll see what we mean.

Edinburgh is the obvious location to stay over when visiting Scotland, with its historic castle and the wondrous Arthur’s Seat looming over the greystone townhouses that make up the city centre. It might rain, but hey, who cares!

A Celtic Tour

Visitors to Wales will usually head straight to the mountains and Snowdonia offers some dramatic and eye-popping scenery for anyone looking for walking, climbing or even Skiing opportunities.

As well as the mountains, Wales has some adorable coastal towns, such as Tenby, St David’s and Mumbles. All of these can be incorporated into your itinerary as each is so very different from the next. Around Mumbles is the beautiful Gower Peninsula, which boasts some of the UK’s best and most secluded beaches. If you are lucky enough to be in South or West Wales on a warm sunny day – head to the beach, as it won’t be crowded!

Cardiff and Swansea are both major cities on the Southern Coasts of Wales, each offering plenty for visitors. Cardiff has a thriving nightlife scene and is a popular destination for shopping and big ticket concerts. Swansea is a smaller city with a recently rejuvenated waterfront area, complete with the incredible National Waterfront Museum, which celebrates the role the water has played in South Wales over the years.

Windsor Great Park makes Telegraph’s best winter walks list

Posted: Mon 21 January 2019 at 14:50

The Telegraph newspaper has listed Windsor Great Park, along with the Magna Carta Memorial at Runnymede as one of the top 25 winter walks in the UK.

The new list encompasses the entirety of the UK and includes some of the most dazzling locations for walks on crisp clear winter days. The newspaper described the Great Park’s Long Walk as a ‘great sweep of an avenue lined with horse chestnut and plane trees.’ It goes on to guide walkers up to Snow Hill and onto the Copper Horse statue.

The Telegraph includes an interesting detail about the Great Park’s Snow Hill, as being the location from which Henry VIII waited to hear of Anne Boleyn’s execution, which he himself had ordered.

The guide then advises walkers to exit the park at Bishopsgate before ‘looping round to the Runnymede memorials’ and returning to Windsor via Old Windsor and Datchet. The start and finish point of the walk is the Two Brewers pub, on Park Street in Windsor town centre, one of the very best historic pubs in the area.

Elsewhere on the list were beautiful walks taking in some of the UK’s most heritage-rich locations. These include Blenheim Palace’s Great Park, Chequers and Stonehenge. There are also walks around the regions that inspired literary greats like Charlotte Bronte and Beatrix Potter, as well as artists like Constable.