Holiday rentals in Windsor

Windsor is a small market town with a very big stone fortress, whose round tower is one of the most iconic sights in Britain — the flag that’s hoisted there tells you if the Queen is in residence. Established by William the Conqueror, Windsor Castle is the oldest occupied castle in the world and has been an opulent royal palace for more than four centuries; you can tour its state apartments, as well as the English Gothic wonder of St George’s Chapel, which has hosted a number of royal weddings, and houses the tombs of 10 English monarchs.

Beneath the castle winds the River Thames, bordered by a park on one side and an expanse of meadows on the other. Beyond them lie the grounds of Eton College, the most famous public school in England, founded in 1440, with tours available from May to September. Windsor Great Park, the former royal hunting forest to the south of the town, is open to the public year round. Its nearly 4,800 acres include lakes, woodland, a deer park, and a number of beautiful gardens.

Windsor Castle is impressive in any weather, and it’s open almost every day of the year. The town experiences its busiest periods during the summer holidays (July and August), but it draws crowds whenever there’s a major royal event. The Queen is usually in residence at Easter, and her birthday is celebrated on 21 April with a 21-gun salute in Windsor Great Park. The park and gardens are beautiful in spring, and the town hosts a Spring Festival of classical music in March; you can take part in rubber duck races along the Thames in June, and in September the town hosts an arts and literature festival with a corresponding fringe event. Christmas is particularly atmospheric, with lights, markets, and traditional carol services.

The Savill Garden

Created in the 1930s for King George V, these 35 lush acres inside Windsor Great Park are full of rare plants and rich woodland. The garden is internationally renowned for its ornamental displays, which mix extraordinary design with cutting-edge horticulture. This floral idyll is as stimulating as it is peaceful.

The Changing of the Guard

This regular royal pageant takes place every couple of days, when members of the Queen’s Guard march from their barracks through town and into the castle to take up their duties. The 10-minute procession along the High Street and the Corn Exchange is often accompanied by a regimental band; to see the full ceremony, you need to purchase a ticket to the castle.

Dorney Lake

This 1.5-mile-long straight lake was built as a high-performance training centre for elite rowing crews. But its surrounding parkland — comprising an arboretum, a nature reserve, and a collection of statues and sculptures — is largely open to the public and makes for a good loop walk.