UK tourism to thrive despite Brexit challenges

Posted: Fri 9 November 2018 at 11:00

UK tourism is going to thrive despite Brexit, claims Michael Ellis, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism.

Writing an opinion piece in the City AM newspaper, the MP said that the World Travel Market, held in London earlier this month, was a fantastic success. He added that deals worth some £3 billion were thought to have been made there.

Ellis wrote: “We have so much to offer international visitors – beautiful landscapes, world-class culture, and unique heritage sites. We are a global country, and have always been a must-visit destination.  We are a global country, and have always been a must-visit destination.”

He explained that he expects UK tourism to continue to thrive despite our exit from the European Union. He pointed out that three quarters of the visitors to the UK in 2017 came from EU member states. Maintaining a good relationship with the EU following Brexit makes sense not just for the UK, but also for other countries who benefit from our tourism Euros, he added.

The World Travel Market saw London’s Excel host some 5,000 travel companies from all over the World between 5 and 7 November. “It has been a great opportunity to show buyers that our destinations, products, and services are worth investing in, and that the UK is, and will continue to be, fully open for business,” said Ellis.

 

Poppies appear on Windsor lampposts in tribute to WW1 heroes

Posted: Thu 8 November 2018 at 20:07

Windsor visitors over the past few weeks will have noticed the large poppies that adorn the area’s lampposts. The poppies have been created and distributed around town by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, The British Legion and Dedworth councillor Ed Wilson.

The poppies are being widely viewed, by residents and Windsor visitors, as a fitting tribute to fallen soldiers, in both World Wars and also in other military efforts. Councillor Wilson stated: “The poppies are a token of respect and remind us that we must never forget those who fought on behalf of our country.”

He added that he hopes that putting the poppies on the lampposts throughout the town will become a tradition for years to come. He also said that he would like to hear from organisations that would be keen to be involved next year and display a large poppy on their premises.

In addition to the large poppies, the council also commissioned an art installation to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, which is currently taking pride of place at the front of Windsor Guildhall.

Creative Junction is responsible for the project, which includes small poppies created by Windsor locals. They were asked to create their poppies taking inspiration from various ephemera from the War. Each poppy in the installation represents someone from the Windsor area who died in the First World War.

Windsor Celebrates Second Royal Wedding of the Year

Posted: Tue 23 October 2018 at 12:11

The Royal wedding of Windsor local Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank took place at Windsor Castle earlier in October, showing off the very best of our historic town once again.

Hundreds took to the gusty streets on Friday 12th October to wish the happy couple well. Visitors also perhaps hoped to catch a glimpse of the many celebrity guests attending.

Former supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell were in attendance. Pop icon Robbie Williams, Hollywood actor Demi Moore and model Cara Delevingne were all also invited. The sheer number of high profile guests lead some to suggest that this wedding was more star-studded than that of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle back in May.

St George’s Chapel, within the grounds of Windsor Castle, hosted the Royal wedding. The newly married couple set off on a carriage ride around the centre of Windsor shortly after emerging as man and wife.

Eugenie’s dress proudly showed off the scar on her back from the operation that corrected her scoliosis when she was 12. She topped off her beautiful gown with the Queen’s Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, which was made by Boucheron in 1919.

A formal reception at Windsor Castle hosted by the Queen followed the ceremony. There was then a less formal evening reception in Eugenie’s family home of York House within Windsor Great Park.

Ricky Tick Revival on the Cards at Windsor’s Old Court

Posted: Sat 20 October 2018 at 09:08

A night celebrating Windsor’s legendary R’n’B club, the Ricky Tick, is being held at the Old Court arts centre in November.

Anyone who has lived in Windsor since the 1960s will remember the club, which hosted live performances from some of the biggest names in music, including the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, the Temptations, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix.

Now, in an attempt to revive the Ricky Tick many decades after its closure, the Old Court is hosting the club night once again. In the live room, grandson of Rolling Stone Brian Jones, Joolz Jones, will be playing alongside folk legend Donovan and Kim Wilde’s sister Roxanne Wilde. In the DJ room in the basement, Chelsea Singh will be headlining the decks, with other VIP DJs appearing throughout the night.

The Ricky Tick Revival is taking place from 2pm on Saturday 10 November and tickets can be purchased in advance from the Old Court for £20. Profits from the night will go towards setting up a fund for emerging artists in the area.

The night is being hailed as a relaunch for the club night and the Ricky Tick may well become regular fixture for Windsor nightlife lovers once more!

Spooky Halloween Goings-on in and Around Windsor

Posted: Mon 15 October 2018 at 08:58

Love it or hate it, Halloween in Windsor is upon us again and there’s plenty of events all around the area to help anyone staying in one of our apartments to celebrate the spooky season – and it’s not all just for the kids!

The best of the kids’ events

This year, Halloween coincides happily with half term, which means little nippers can fully immerse themselves in all things ghoulish for an entire week! Here’s a couple of the highlights from a long list of kids’ Halloween activities happening in the area over half term.

Get back to nature with Cliveden Bat’s Lair Halloween Trail

Cliveden National Trust property is a favourite ‘haunt’ for Windsor families and nature lovers. This year, to mark Halloween, the folks at Cliveden are hosting a children’s nature trail called the Bat’s Lair. Kids are encouraged to wear fancy dress and complete the trail and series of challenges within an allotted time.

The idea is to learn about the gardens and the wildlife at Cliveden, which is home to an astonishing ten types of bat. The trail costs just £3 per child on top of the usual entry price and there are different levels of difficulty to suit little ones from ages 2 to 13.

Legoland’s Brick or Treat event

Halloween in Windsor wouldn’t be the same without a visit to Legoland. From 18th October to 2nd November Legoland will be celebrating Halloween with some spooky events – topped off with fantastic firework displays, held on 20th, 21st, 26th, 27th October, and 2nd November.

The park will be hosting its Brick or Treat trail, which encourages youngsters to find missing potion ingredients and try to win a treat. There will also be a kids’ disco at the miniland stage between 10am and 5pm daily, where children can dance with Frankie, Legoland’s resident Frankenstein monster. There’s also a spooky Hill Train ride to the Enchanted Forest, a costume competitions and the chance for little ones to build their own lego pumpkin for an enormous pumpkin patch display.

And for the big kids…

How about a touch of Halloween luxury?

Halloween in Windsor isn’t all about trick or treating and pumpkin carving!Adults can enjoy a luxurious Halloween experience at the beautiful Oakley Court hotel between 26th and 31st October in the form of a Halloween Afternoon Tea complete with themed food and drinks and a glass of Champagne for £41.50 per person. There’s also a children’s version for just £17.50.

Or Halloween at the racecourse?

Windsor Racecourse host some really fantastic events throughout the year, but their Halloween event, complete with drive-through cinema, firework display, fairground, light show, Ghostbusters themed attractions and Halloween-themed food and drinks is going to be one of the highlights of 2018. Family ticket packages start at just £43 for a family of four and include food and drinks vouchers.

Windsor Link Railways Heathrow Plans Boost Tourism and Reduce Traffic

Posted: Mon 24 September 2018 at 09:30

Those staying in Windsor accommodation who want to travel to and from Heathrow easily and quickly will welcome news that a local rail firm wants to help them do just that.  

Windsor Link Railway (WLR) hopes to become a Heathrow innovation partner and has submitted several ideas to the airport that could greatly benefit those visiting Windsor.

More than 35 firms have been shortlisted by Heathrow to become partners in helping to deliver the third runway at the airport. WLR hopes that its interesting ideas might be selected as part of the project.

The innovations include operating driverless, automated vehicles that travel in pods on part of the current Southern rail line, which could be purchased from Network Rail. Other ideas include extending park and ride facilities in Windsor or Slough to help people get to and from the airport, and dedicated check-in facilities in Windsor for those flying in and out of Heathrow but staying in Windsor.

The plans put forward by WLR are all intended to help Heathrow deal with some of the challenges arising from opening a third runway, such as traffic and air pollution concerns.

The early check-in and park and ride ideas are intended to allow tourists to check in early and then visit Windsor as part of their day, increasing tourism in Windsor, but reducing traffic to and from both Windsor and Heathrow.

What’s on this Christmas

Posted: Tue 2 December 2014 at 15:00

Highlights of What’s On this December in Windsor & Eton:-

WINDSOR & ETON LIVING ADVENT CALENDAR

This event will take place every day between Dec 1-24th.  Each day at 6.15pm a 15-minute live performance will take place at a venue as detailed below; could be music, dance, drama or historical reading – all with a Xmas theme.  In true advent style, the details of the performance will remain a secret until the day.

Please refer to www.windsorobserver.co.uk/livingadvent for the latest information.

Monday 1 December: King & Castle, Thames Street
Tuesday 2 December: The Gallery at Ice, High Street
Wednesday 3 December: tbc
Thursday 4 December: Theatre Royal Windsor, Thames Street
Friday 5 December: Windsor On Ice, Alexandra Gardens
Saturday 6 December: Talents of Windsor, Guildhall Island
Sunday 7 December: Sir Christoper Wren, Thames Street
Monday 8 December: Wagamama, Thames Street/Windsor Royal Shopping
Tuesday 9 December: Luxe Flowers, Eton High Street
Wednesday 10 December: Royal Borough Museum, Guildhall, High Street
Thursday 11 December: Hotter Shoes, Peascod Street
Friday 12 December: Eton Town Centre
Saturday 13 December: Windsor Castle
Sunday 14 December: French Brothers, Promenade
Monday 15 December: Richer Sounds, Eton High Street
Tuesday 16 December: Castle Hotel, High Street
Wednesday 17 December: Natural History Museum, Eton College
Thursday 18 December: JAM Eton, Eton High Street
Friday 19 December: Bel and the Dragon, Datchet Road/Thames Street
Saturday 20 December: Bang & Olufsen, High Street
Sunday 21 December: Harte & Garter, Thames Street
Monday 22 December: Macdonald Hotel, High Street
Tuesday 23 December: Waterstones, Peascod Street
Wednesday 24 December: Windsor Parish Church, High Street

Living Advent Calendar Locations Leaflet

PANTOMIME

BEAUTY & THE BEAST starring Three Degrees soul star Sheila Ferguson, X-factor singer Rhydian and firm favourites Kevin Cruise along with Basil Brush and Postman Pat.  Tickets are available now, shows from Dec 3-11, tickets £31.50 theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

 

WINDSOR REINDEER PARADE

Starts atWindsor Castle, Santa will be visiting Windsor Town Centre together with his sleigh and reindeer.  He will visit the High Street and travel down Peascod Street and King Edward Court.  Between 2-4pm on Saturday 6th December.

LAPLAND UK

No need to book flights, Lapland is now conveniently located on the Windsor Estate in Whitmoor Forest.  Visit the Elves’ toy factory, magical forest and Mother Christmas’ kitchen to bake gingerbread and listen to a story.  From now until December 24th.  Tickets are available from £49.50-75 Laplanduk.co.uk.

Whatever you have planned this holiday season, Accommodation Windsor Limited would like to wish you a very merry Xmas and if you are planning to stay in Windsor during December, please contact our lovely Lettings team for info on the best accommodation deals enquiries@windsor.gb.com.

MERRY XMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 

 

 

What makes Windsor so special…?

Posted: Sun 16 March 2014 at 10:35

signsWith Windsor Castle as a backdrop and within 20 miles of London it ticks a lot of boxes location wise.  Add in the history, charm, Royal connections, fabulous shopping, tourist attractions, rail and road links, high employment, low-crime, great schools (both state and private) and you start to build up a picture of what draws people to this unique area.

Windsor has a thriving social scene with bars, restaurants and clubs for all age groups.  It’s big on families too so really easy to make new friends and settle the kids in.  There are lots of local attractions including a Leisure Centre with swimming pool, fabulous National Trust properties, Royal Parks, its own Theatre, International Racing and Legoland theme park and all just a hop and a skip from London with all of its shopping, activity and employment opportunities.

The town centre is delightful, nestling on the River Thames with stunning swans, summer boating, kayaking, river trips and a Duck Tour – it’s fun to live in a tourist town and never have to leave.  The pavements can get a little congested in the peak season, but equally there is a vibrancy and excitement to living in Windsor; and knowing people travel from all over the world to visit your town.

15CC-sofa-englandLots of clients use Accommodation Windsor as a stop gap, whether relocating from overseas or closer to home, its a chance to settle in and have a look around the area before taking the plunge and buying or renting something longer term.  With prices from just £595 pw for a 2-bed town centre apartment, properties are available to let from a minimum of one week for as long as you want to stay. 

Our stylish and well-located Properties are fully furnished right down to the garlic press and prices are inclusive of all utilities meaning that you can move on when you’re ready to do so.

Our helpful and knowledgeable team can also advise on schools, doctors’ surgeries and all the essential local amenities that you need to know about to make life a little simpler.  Windsor is a relatively small town and a hugely welcoming community and you will find lots of networks and support groups to help you and your family settle in.

Let us know what you think makes Windsor so special…

Working in Windsor

Posted: Thu 3 October 2013 at 11:48

David BurianBack in July 2013, I came to Windsor for a job interview.  Coming from Hungary and having lived only in London, I hadn’t heard of Windsor before so I did some internet research about the town prior to the big day.  I read about the attractions, the restaurants, the social life, the transport and from every angle Windsor seemed a great place to live.  However, back then I was more worried about getting the job and not so much about the town.  So when I got off the train at Central Station on the day of the interview, my thoughts were focussed around the upcoming questions and I wasn’t thinking about the town too much.  And yet as I stepped off the train I was amazed.

“How can a train station be so charming? And if the train station is so lovely what should I expect from the town?”

As I left the station I was impressed by Windsor Castle, the charming cobbled streets and shops, by the happy, relaxed people all around me. I loved every little detail: the River Thames, the Windsor Bridge, Peascod Street, the narrow alleyways and Alexandra Gardens. I had a feeling that I had found the perfect place to live! I was so surprised I couldn’t read the map properly (most unlike me) so I had to ask for help to find the way to my interview at Alma House.

Luckily for me it went really well and I was offered the job and asked to move in on the same day.  Since then I have learnt more about the town and I still think Windsor is the greatest place to live.

It was love at first sight!

My role at at the company is very varied; I do a fair bit of cleaning of really fantastic apartments as well as maintenance jobs and looking after guests if they need anything out of office hours. This means I work closely with all of my colleagues from Housekeeping, Maintenance and in the Office too, not just from one Department.  The most exciting parts of my job are that I always can improve my English, learn something new and meet new people every day.  I love to chat with guests about their travelling, impressions of Windsor or our Bed & Breakfast.  A fresh pair of eyes is always helpful and it’s great to share stories and places to visit in this wonderful town.