Half Term

It's another bank holiday weekend and the start of half term for many schoolchildren and their families!  Enjoy some fantastic late spring/early summer days out with family and friends in the Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead area.

Find the perfect place to stay where you can relax after a day's exploring; choose a lovely hotel, guest accommodation or self-catering apartment.

Explore the new season's menus in our local restaurants and enjoy a great meal after a day’s sightseeing.

Look out for special May half term family activities at many of our attractions and don’t forget that tickets for many events and attractions can be purchased via the Windsor online shop.

Top 10 tips for enjoying half term in and around Windsor

Explore our top ten ideas for indoor and outdoor half term family activities in the Windsor and Maidenhead area, whatever the weather! 

Hire a boat and relax on the river

How lucky are we to have one of the most beautiful stretches of the River Thames running through the Royal Borough?  Windsor’s promenade is the place to catch a passenger boat or to hire a motor or rowing boat.  It’s also the place to feed the ducks and the swans!  Across the bridge is Eton and the view of Windsor Castle is magnificent from this side of the water, on the big area of green known as the Brocas.  Follow the Thames Path and enjoy the quieter sections of the river, such as Cookham.  Discover the amazing history by the river at Runnymede, with its memorials and works of art.  Visit our Thames Trail page for more information on boat operators and how to make the most of your experience of Old Father Thames.

Watch a family film

We have two great art centres in the Royal Borough, both showing family films this half term.  Family films heading to Norden Farm’s big screen for the holidays include Peppa Pig: Festival of Fun (U), Disney’s latest film Dumbo (PG), comedy adventure Missing Link (PG) featuring the voice of Hugh Jackman; and blockbuster Avengers: Endgame (12A). The Screen at the Old Court, Windsor has just reopened after a seat refurbishment so you can sit comfortably and watch family films here including Shazam! (12A), Peppa Pig: Festival of Fun (U), Avengers: Endgame (12A) and Missing Link (PG).

Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride

Slow down the pace and enjoy the view of Windsor Great Park from the comfort of a horse-drawn carriage.  We have two fabulous companies offering rides in the park: Ascot Carriages and Windsor Carriages.  Both are family businesses keen to share their love and knowledge of the park they know so well. Visit their websites for dates and departure points.

Discover a new Windsor attraction

You’ll always discover something new when you come back and visit us.  We now have Dr Choc’s Windsor Chocolate Factory, located in the shadow of Windsor Castle, where you can take part in a chocolate-making workshop and become a chocolatier in minutes!  We also have a new escape room at Windsor Leisure Centre where you need to unravel, untangle and unlock the secrets of the Castle to Escape in 60.  Choose your team –minimum 2 people, maximum 6 people – and get ready for an hour of mind-blowing excitement and exhilaration.

Norden farm events

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts is the place for all your children’s entertainment this school holiday. Whether your children are more into music, magic, dance, theatre or film - there’s plenty to choose from! Tickets for live events are £11 (£9 under 16s), Family and Friends (4 people) £36.  Enjoy storytelling, arts and crafts sessions, family films and live shows. With free parking on site, you can make a day of your visit to Norden Farm this school holiday. Kick back and relax with a coffee, snack or bite to eat in the family friendly Café Bar. There are daily newspapers, free WiFi and even table top games and books to keep eager young minds entertained.  So whatever your interests and whatever the weather, enjoy a day out at Norden Farm this school holiday.

Victoria and Albert 200

We celebrate a very special bicentenary this year with the 200th anniversary of the births of both Queen Victoria (May) and her consort Prince Albert (August).  You’ll discover a variety of special events taking place, including walks and workshops.  Visit our Queen Victoria’s Windsor page for more information and full list of what’s on.

Family fun day with free funfair at Royal Windsor Racecourse 

It’s time for another Family Fun Day at Royal Windsor Racecourse, busting with unlimited family fun and thrills!  Visit the racecourse of fun this bank holiday Monday 27 May and you won’t be disappointed. There will be exhilarating races throughout the day for everyone to enjoy and a host of FREE, yes FREE, entertainment, including the UK's largest dodgems as well as a massive funfair, bouncy castles, pony rides, face painting, laser quest, inflatable horse racing, pirate megaslide and much more.  Entrance is FREE for racegoers under the age of 18 when accompanied by an adult! Adults can be responsible for up to three children under 18 each at Royal Windsor Racecourse.

Watch the Guard March

The guard march is one of the highlights of a visit to Windsor.  It’s an amazing sight on Windsor’s High Street!  In May, the Guard March is taking place, weather permitting, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays plus on Friday 31 May.  If you are in the town centre, head to the high street about 10:45 and again at 11:20 where you can see the guards and their band marching on the streets.  The guards march from Victoria Barracks on Sheet Street, up the High Street and into Windsor Castle.  The best places to see them are on Windsor High Street or on the Corn Exchange under Windsor Guildhall.  If you are already in Windsor Castle, you’ll be able to witness the ‘guard change’ ceremony in the lower ward at 11:00.  

Save money on rail fares

If you are travelling to Windsor with South Western Railway this half term, take advantage of their special promotion which allows kids to travel for free!  Kids travel for free with a fare-paying adult this half term so make the most of the school holidays and discover some great days out in the Royal Borough!  Why not use Windsor and Maidenhead as your base from which to head up to London? Check out South Western Railway for more information and terms and conditions; valid for travel between 19 May and 2 June 2019.

Book tickets from us!

Visit the Visit Windsor online shop and peruse a great range of attractions and events then book ahead.  If you’re in town and you’re looking for advice on what to do while you are here, then drop by the Royal Windsor Information Centre – our friendly information assistants have the local lowdown and can help with ideas and inspiration on things to do and places to stay.