Windsor and Eton

From Imakoopedia

Windsor and Eton are twin towns, in Berkshire, in the south of England, separated by the River Thames and joined together by Windsor Bridge.

Windsor is an ancient town most famous for its castle, construction of which began in 1075, and which is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world. The royal standard flies from the keep of the Castle when the Queen is in residence.

Eton is a rather smaller town, largely dominated by Eton College, the ancient public (US English:private) school which educates most of England's establishment (especially those who go on to become politicians, judges and diplomats).

Table of contents

1 Get in 1.1 By plane 1.2 By train 1.3 By bus 1.4 By car 2 Get around 2.1 By foot 2.2 By bus 2.3 By car 2.4 By map 3 See 3.1 Central Windsor and Eton 3.2 Surrounding Areas 4 Do 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 9 Contact 9.1 Phone 9.2 Internet 10 Get out 11 External links

Get in

By plane

Windsor and Eton is well served by London's collection of airports and actually under the flight-path of Heathrow. For travellers coming directly to Windsor, the most convenient (in reducing order of convenience) are:

• Heathrow Airport (http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/heathrow/) is about 8 miles drive straight down the M4 (westbound) motorway. Alternatively the First Berkshire bus route 50B (http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southeast/berkshirethames/timetables/timetable.php?day=1&source_id=2&service=50A/50B/90A&routeid=2673) connects Heathrow Central Bus Station and Windsor every half hour taking about half an hour.
• Gatwick Airport (http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/gatwick/) is about a hours drive away via the M23 (northbound), M25 (clockwise) and M4 (westbound) motorways. With no through train or bus service, your best bet by public transport is to take the train into London and then follow the directions under Get In By Train below.
• Stansted Airport (http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/stansted/) is about 90 minutes drive away via the M11 (southbound), M25 (anti-clockwise) and M4 (westbound) motorways. With no through train or bus service, your best bet by public transport is to take the train into London and then follow the directions under Get In By Train below.

By train

Windsor is served by two different rail lines, each serving a separate terminal station in Windsor. Windsor & Eton Riverside is the terminus of a line from London Waterloo station, with through electric trains running every half hour and taking about 50 minutes. Windsor & Eton Central is the terminus of a frequent shuttle to Slough station, which gives interchange to frequent local trains on the London Paddington to Reading line and to the few fast trains which stop at Slough.

The choice of which route to use from London probably comes down to whereabouts you are. If you are near Paddington, use the W&E Central route, but otherwise the W&E Riverside route is the better bet. Train times can be found on the National Rail Planner (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourney/) or by calling 0845-748-4950 from anywhere in the UK.

By bus

Greenline express services 700-702 (http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southeast/berkshirethames/timetables/timetable.php?day=1&source_id=2&service=X7/700/701/702&routeid=17752) link London Victoria Coach Station with Windsor, with 12 buses a day (6 on Su) and taking just over an hour.

By car

Windsor is served by the M4 motorway (US English:freeway) which runs from London to Bristol and South Wales. It is about an hours drive from central London. The best junction to use is J6.

Get around

By foot

Neither Windsor nor Eton is desperately large and walking is a good way around the central area. For example it will take you no more than 15 minutes to walk from Eton College Chapel to Windsor Castle. Several streets, including Windsor Bridge and Peascod Street (the main shopping street) are pedestrianised.

By bus

Windsor has a reasonable bus service, both within the town and to the surrounding area, although frequencies can be quite low with little service in the evenings or on Sunday.

• First Berkshire (http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southeast/berkshirethames/home/), telephone 524144, provides most bus services in the area.
• Traveline (http://www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk/), telephone 087-608-2-608 from within the UK, provide an impartial online travel planner and telephone query service for all local bus services.

By car

Neither Windsor nor Eton are big enough to get really congested. One issue that you may find in driving around Windsor and Eton is that Windsor Bridge is for pedestrians only. To get between Windsor and Eton requires you to drive out to the Windsor by-pass, cross the river on that, then go most of the way into Slough before taking the old Windsor Road from that town back into Eton; it is easily quicker to walk.

By map

If you are planning to do any visiting or exploring beyond central Windsor and Eton, you will probably want to obtain a decent map of the area. You should ensure that any map you buy clearly shows the national grid reference lines, and explains how to use them, as grid references are frequently used to indicate out of town locations. The best maps for this purpose are those published by the Ordnance Survey (Britain's national mapping agency) and the following maps cover all the locations mentioned below:

• Ordnance Survey Landranger 175. This map covers Windsor and the areas to the west, including all the places mentioned below except Runnymede, at a scale of 1:50000 and is best for exploration by car or cycle.
• Ordnance Survey Landranger 176. This map covers the area to the east of Windsor, including Runnymede, at a scale of 1:50000 and is best for exploration by car or cycle.
• Ordnance Survey Explorer 160. This map covers the area around Windsor and Eton, including Runnymede, at a scale of 1:25000 and is best for walking.

These maps can be found in any good local bookshop, or can be bought online from the Ordnance Survey's web site (http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/).

See

Central Windsor and Eton

These places to see are all within the central area of Windsor or within Eton just across Windsor Bridge. They are all within easy walking distance of each other, the main shopping center and both railway stations.

• Windsor Castle (http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page557.asp), Windsor, telephone 020-7766-7304 (within the UK) or +4420-7766-7304 (outside the UK). The largest and oldest occupied castle in the world and still an official royal residence. Much of the castle, including the magnificent State Apartments and St Georges Chapel are visitable. The apartments are furnished with some of the finest works of art from the royal collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto and Gainsborough. Open every day 09:45am-5:15pm (4.15pm Nov-Feb). £6-12.
• The Mounting of the Guard, Windsor Castle, telephone 831118. The Guards are stationed at Victoria Barracks and march up to and from the Castle accompanied by the Guards Band playing traditional military marches as well as popular songs. Every day or alternate days at 10:45am-11:30am; contact the number above for exact dates. Free.
• Windsor Guild Hall, High Street, Windsor. Built by Sir Christopher Wren, it is famous for its pillars, which were insisted on the towns burgesses, even though Wren insisted they were unnecessary. To make his point, he built the pillars but ensured a gap was left between them and the roof they apparently support.
• Windsor Parish Church, High Street, Windsor (by the Guild Hall).
• Eton College (http://www.etoncollege.com/default.asp), Eton, telephone 671177. See School Yard and the College Chapel (building started in 1441 and one of the finest examples of fifteenth century Perpendicular Gothic architecture). Opening hours vary depending on time of year and school term; see 'Visits to Eton' topic on the Eton College website or call the number above. £3-5.
• Brocas Meadows, Eton (just across Windsor Bridge). These attractive meadows offer a spectacular view across the river of Windsor and its Castle. Always open. Free.

Surrounding Areas

These places to see are a little further out; some are accessible by longer walks, others will require the use of car, bike or public transport.

• Runnymede (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/places/runnymede/), Windsor Road, Old Windsor (6 miles east of Windsor on the A308; grid reference TQ007720), telephone 01784-432891 from within the UK or +4401784-432891 outside. Accessible by road or catch First bus 41 (runs approximately every 30 minutes M-Sa only; alight at the Bells of Ouzely pub; see Get Around above for bus company details). Runnymede is an attractive area of riverside meadows, grassland and broad-leaved woodland and rich in flora and fauna; albeit somewhat disturbed by a rather busy road. Perhaps more importantly it was on this site, in 1215, that King John sealed the Magna Carta. Because of its historical connections, Runnymede is the site of several memorials amongst the trees of the slopes of Coopers Hill:
  • Magna Carta Memorial, a domed classical temple built by by the American Bar Association and containing a pillar of English granite on which is inscribed 'To commemorate Magna Carta, symbol of Freedom Under Law'.
  • John F. Kennedy Memorial, the British memorial to the assassinated US president consists of a Portland Stone memorial inscribed with the famous quote from his inaugural address 'Let every National know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend or oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty'. Visitors reach the memorial by treading a steep path of irregular granite steps, intended to symbolise a pilgrimage.
  • Air Forces Memorial, which commemorates the men and women of the Allied Air Forces who died during the Second World War and records the names of the 20,456 airmen who have no known grave. From the top of the tower visitors can see long views over Windsor, the surrounding counties and, somehow appropriately, aircraft taking off and landing at Heathrow.
• Savill Gardens (http://www.savillgarden.co.uk/) (within Windsor Great Park 4 miles from Windsor; grid reference SU977707), telephone 847518. The Savill Gardens are a temperate woodland gardens renowned for its rhododendrons and spring borders. Open Mar-Oct M-Su 10am-6pm and Nov-Feb M-Su 10am-4pm. £5.50 (adults), £5 (seniors), £2.50 (children); these prices apply Apr-May and are discounted at other times of year.
• Windsor Great Park (http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/15_our_portfolio_04_02_16/64_windsor_and_other_traditional_holdings_04_02_07/65_the_windsor_estate_04_02_07/1161_the_windsor_great_park_04_02_07.htm) is a huge parkland area behind the castle and which includes The Long Walk, which runs from Windsor Castle to the Copper Horse statue, Virginia Water lake and Savill Gardens (above). Whilst some outer parts of the park are accessible by car, walking shows you more but be aware that from Windsor Castle, down the Long Walk and on to Virginia Water at the far side of the park is 5 miles. Open every day sunrise-sunset. Free.
• Legoland (http://www.legoland.co.uk/), Winkfield Road (2 miles south east of Windsor on the B3022; grid reference SU942745), telephone 08705-040404 from anywhere in the UK or +44-8705-040404 outside. Strictly for the kids, this is a Lego brick themed amusement park. Accessible by shuttle bus from central Windsor (call number above for details). Open Apr-Oct M-Su 10am-5pm. £18-22 (adult); £17-19 (child).

Do

• Take a River Trip on the River Thames. There are two principal operators:
  • French Brothers (http://www.boat-trips.co.uk/), Windsor Promenade, Windsor, telephone 851900. Run 35 minute and 2 hour trips, principally up-river and with views of Windsor Castle, Eton College, Brocas Meadows, Windsor Racecourse, Bray Film Studios (2 hour trip only) and Monkey Island (2 hour trip only). Easter-October M-Su every half hour (2 hour trips at 1:30pm and 2:30pm). £4.50-£7 (adult); £2.25-£3.50.
  • Salters Steamers (http://www.salterssteamers.co.uk/), Thames Side, Windsor, telephone 01865 243421 (in the UK), +441865-243421 (outside the UK). Run half-day trips down-river to Staines and up-river to Maidenhead. May-Sep M,Th,F 9am&2:30pm (Staines trips); May-Sep Tu,W 9:15am&2:15pm (Maidenhead trips). £7 (adult); £3.50 (child).
• Take a Open Top Bus Tour of Windsor, operated by City Sightseeing (http://www.city-sightseeing.com), High Street, Windsor (in front of Windsor Castle), telephone 01789-294466 (in the UK), +441789-294466. Provides a hop-on, hop-off service visiting Windsor Castle, Victoria Barracks, The Long Walk and Eton College. Operates Mar-Oct every day; Nov-Mar Sa-Su; 10:30am-3.30pm (later in summer); frequency varies from hourly to every 15 minutes depending on time of year. £6.00 (adult); £4 (senior/student); £2.50 (child).
• Watch a play at the Theatre Royal (http://www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/), Thames Street, Windsor, telephone 853888.
• Go horse racing at the Royal Windsor Racecourse (http://www.windsor-racecourse.co.uk/), Maidenhead Road, Windsor, telephone 498400. Accessible on race days by a boat shuttle from Thames Promenade. Day and evening meetings throughout the year; visit website or contact telephone number above for details. £6-£18; boat shuttle £5 return.
• Walk the Three Castles Path (http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/threecastles.html), a 60 mile walk from Windsor to Winchester. This walk is inspired by the journeys of King John between the two cities via the castle he built at Odiham at the time of Magna Carta, and passes through a variety of attractive scenery including parkland and forest, heath and downland, quiet streams and picturesque villages. For more information see the web site, or get a hold of a copy of the book 'The Three Castles Path' by David Bounds and Dave Ramm (ISBN:1874258082).
• Run the Windsor Half-Marathon (http://www.runwindsor.com/)

Buy

• Pleasant gifts at Dickens and Dolphin and Parchment in the Royal Station

Eat

There are lots of places to eat in and around Windsor & Eton, and a good way to find one is simply to keep your eyes open as you visit. Here is a small selection recommended by individual Imakoopedialers. The prices are best guesses for a meal including drinks & tips.

• The Cornucopia Bistro (http://www.cornucopia-bistro.co.uk/), High Street, Windsor (opposite the Guild Hall), telephone 833009. £~20.
• Browns Restaurant & Bar (http://www.browns-restaurants.com/location_pg/loc_win.html), The Promenade, Windsor, telephone 831976. With views across the Thames, this famous listed building offers a good atmosphere and quality food and drink. £~25.
• Gilbey's Bar & Restaurant (http://www.gilbeygroup.com/eton/index.html), High Street, Eton, telephone 854921. Well known for fine wines and cuisine. The bistro and bar overlooks the High Street, whilst the conservatory restaurant adjoins the courtyard garden at the rear. Open lunchtimes from noon, evenings from 6pm. £~30.
• The Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant, Alexandra Road, Windsor (near the Victoria Barracks), telephone 859979. £unknown.

Drink

• At the Vansittart Arms on Vansittart Road (though it does get busy, it has nice outside seating)
• At the Carpenter's Arms, near the Guild Hall (very friendly publicans!)

Sleep

Contact

Phone

Windsor's area code (for landline numbers) is 01753 when dialed from within the UK or +441753 from outside the UK.

Internet

Get out

External links

• Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (http://www.windsor.gov.uk/) - official webpage of the borough council
• David Nash Ford's page on Windsor (http://www.berkshirehistory.com/maps/towns/berktn01.html)