to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
The English summer social season is a long-standing tradition in the UK, running from spring through to late August.
The season includes a wide range of prestigious social and sporting events that attract members of the royal family, high society, celebrities as well as visitors from all over the world!
Many of these events take place in and around the Windsor area. They are the ideal opportunity to gather friends together, socialise and celebrate!
History of the Season
The season dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries when members of the aristocracy left their country houses and travelled to their London homes for three months of extravagant social events.
Up until the 1950s the season was when the daughters of high-society families met and mingled with eligible young men at debutante balls!
Where and when to enjoy the season in the Windsor area
Today, the season is an excuse to get dressed up, enjoy some Pimm’s and indulge in strawberries and cream!
Read on for a selection of wonderful spring and summer events and enjoy a quintessentially English summer with us.
Royal Windsor Horse Show
Royal Windsor Horse Show, 15-18 May 2025
Royal Windsor Horse Show is hosted in the beautiful private grounds of Windsor Castle.
Alongside over 120 showing classes and top-class equestrian competition in Jumping, Driving and Endurance, visitors can enjoy plenty of other entertainment and more than 170 shops to browse.
Read more about Royal Windsor Horse Show including types of ticket and Membership of Royal Windsor Horse Show Club.
Royal Windsor Flower Show
Royal Windsor Flower Show, 7 June 2025
Move over Chelsea Flower Show! The Royal Windsor Flower Show is a fabulous one-day event that celebrates gardening, nature, cookery, traditional crafts and old-fashioned fun which raises money for the charitable causes of The Royal Windsor Rose and Horticultural Society.
Set in the beautiful historic grounds of Windsor Great Park, you’ll find a quintessentially British competitions’ marquee, along with top-notch exhibitors, Great British Plant Nurseries, thought-provoking talks, delicious food and lots of entertainment and fun for all ages and abilities. It’s a truly wonderful way to spend memorable time with friends and family enjoying life’s simple pleasures.
‘The Royal Windsor Flower Show is exactly what a British flower show should be – it is perfect!’ Alan Titchmarsh, Hon President RWRHS.
Read more about The Royal Windsor Flower Show.
Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot, 17-21 June 2025
Royal Ascot is a highlight of the summer social season and is certainly a must-attend event of the year and a quintessentially British day out.
These are five days made for socialising. Experience all the elements of Royal Ascot in 2025: the racing, the pageantry, the dining and the style!
Every day of the Royal Ascot meeting – from Tuesday to Saturday – is attended by the royal family.
Royal Ascot is Britain’s most valuable race meeting, attracting many of the world’s finest racehorses to compete for £10 milllion in prize money. Nineteen Group races, eight of them in Group One, have made legends of the finest thoroughbreds. Black Caviar, Frankel, Yeats – all are Royal Ascot winners turned household names.
Find out more about Royal Ascot.
Royal Windsor Racecourse
Racing at Windsor and Ascot, various dates
Think ‘summer social season’ and Royal Ascot might be the event that springs to mind, but there are many more race days to enjoy through the spring and summer at both Ascot Racecourse and Royal Windsor Racecourse.
Windsor is famous for its Monday night racing and ‘summer Saturdays’ and every race meeting has its own theme including Fizz & Flutes and Soul & Motown (June) and Rum & Reggae and Rock at the Races (July).
With the hotly contested Gentlemen’s day and Ladies’ day best dressed competitions on offer, why not push the boat out and enter to win some luxury prizes?
At Ascot, sport and style collide at King George Racing Weekend (July) where spectators don their finest summer attire, soak up the sensational atmosphere, and socialise against a backdrop of sumptuous scenery.
The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup (August) is a race day like no other where the world’s top jockeys unite in pursuit of racing's ultimate team prize, and the day ends with an outstanding post-racing concert.
Guards Polo Club
Polo at Guards Polo Club, April to September
Described as ‘the most prestigious polo club in the world’ by Polo Magazine, Guards Polo Club is situated in the heart of Windsor Great Park overlooking the polo fields at Smith’s Lawn.
Guards Polo Club has a close association with the royal family; Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was its president, and The King and Princes William and Harry have played matches there.
Guards Polo Club hosts some of this fast-paced sport’s most famous tournaments, including the world-class Cartier Queen’s Cup tournament.
Hosting more than 500 games between April and September and accompanying a packed fixtures list is an elegant Clubhouse Restaurant and Bar, managed by Searcys, overlooking The Queen’s Ground, the number one polo field.
Find out more about polo at Guards Polo Club.
Henley Royal Regatta, image © James Finlay \ Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta, 1-6 July 2025
The six-day Henley Royal Regatta is regarded as the world’s most prestigious rowing event, attracting world-class crews.
Henley attracts thousands of visitors over the week, and spectators are thrilled by over 400 races of an international standard, which can include Olympic rowers, as well as crews new to the event.
Whether you’re a first-timer to Henley or a seasoned Member, the Regatta is sure to offer you a wonderful day out: plenty of racing action, great food and drink and an electric atmosphere.
Take in the event hospitality or simply throw down a rug, bring a picnic and enjoy the rowing and atmosphere from a spot of your choosing on the Thames Path.
Not far from the Royal Borough, Henley-on-Thames is easily accessible by train from Maidenhead.
Find out more about Henley Royal Regatta.
Fine food, unique transport, luxury places to stay
Coming to the area to attend one of these wonderful events? Don’t forget we have some tasty places to eat – check out our fine dining page for more information.
Why not consider a unique and stylish way to travel as part of your itinerary? We can offer bespoke horse-drawn carriages with Ascot Carriages and Windsor Carriages, and luxurious boat trips on the River Thames with The Boat Hire Company and Boating at Bray.
And of course, why head home when you can rest your head at one of our luxury places to stay? Find out more about luxury and boutique accommodation in the Windsor area.
Related
Royal Ascot is one of the pinnacle events of the summer social season and is certainly a must-attend event of the year and a quintessentially British day out.
The best place in the world to watch the fast-paced sport of polo is Guards Polo Club, situated in the heart of Windsor Great Park and founded by HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, in 1955.
Set on its own island and 165 acres of stunning Berkshire countryside – on the banks of the River Thames and in the shadow of Windsor Castle – Royal Windsor Racecourse’s vibrant atmosphere makes for a memorable and thrilling experience each and every time and is the place to be on a summer’s evening.
Ascot Racecourse is world-renowned for providing breathtaking horse racing events, delivering unforgettable experiences for everyone who attends one of our 26 annual racedays.
Royal Windsor Horse Show is the UK’s largest outdoor premier Show and takes place in the private grounds of Windsor Castle.
The Royal Windsor Flower Show returns with inspiring showcase gardens, fabulous nurseries, incredible speakers and our Honorary President Alan Titchmarsh. It’s a wonderful day out for all the family, so come along and join in the fun – everyone’s welcome!
Horse-drawn carriage rides in Windsor Great Park, departing The Savill Garden Visitor Centre, The Savill Garden, 4 miles from Windsor Castle. Enjoy this beautiful area from a different perspective.
For over 170 years, Windsor Carriages has been a cherished symbol of Windsor’s heritage, offering Victorian-style horse-drawn transport on The Long Walk with the majestic Windsor Castle as its backdrop. Today, we honor this storied past by crafting bespoke luxury experiences that celebrate Windsor’s royal history and natural beauty.
The Boat Hire Company provide luxury, skippered boat hire and boat tours between Windsor and Maidenhead; accommodating 2 to 12 passengers. Our vintage river boats can be hired by the hour or for a full day and are a great way to see some of the greatest sites the River Thames has to offer.
Luxury private boat charter by the hour or day aboard our fleet of exquisite Thames launches each accommodating 2-12 passengers. Discover the wonderful views of riverside homes, historic venues and of course Windsor Castle from the river.
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