Living the Highlife

For a luxury break in the South of England, Windsor and Eton has it all.  Stay in an elegant hotel and indulge yourself with superb shopping, fine dining and excellent evening entertainment.  You may like to time your perfect getaway with one of the many top events happening throughout the year.

Choose some luxurious accommodation

We have a superb selection of quality accommodation in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead area.  Choose a country house hotel, a riverside retreat or elegant town centre accommodation.  If you are looking for something extra special, take a look at our Luxury and Boutique places to stay.

To whet your appetite for a magnificent, luxury short break in the Windsor area, look no further than these four very special hotels.

The Lord Lothian bedroom at Cliveden has its own private hot tub

Cliveden is one of ‘the world’s finest luxury hotels’, a National Trust property steeped in history and set in 375 acres of gardens and parkland.  Fine dining and the luxury Cliveden Spa will ensure you enjoy a truly memorable break.

Coworth Park is an exquisite country retreat set in magnificent parkland on the edge of Windsor Great Park. Its excellent facilities include opulent bedrooms, top quality dining in the main restaurant or in The Barn and Champagne afternoon tea in the Drawing Room.  A luxury spa tops off this resplendent hotel.

Stoke Park, set in 300 acres of historical parkland just 15 minutes' drive from Windsor, is a country retreat which has been awarded five AA red stars for its level of excellence.  With its deluxe bedrooms, three AA rosettes restaurant, championship golf course and indoor and garden spas, Stoke Park certainly deserves to be a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Situated on a picturesque private island on the River Thames in the historic village of Bray, Monkey Island Estate features 41 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites accessed only by footbridge, boat or helicopter.

We also look forward to the opening, in early 2021, of the 5 star luxurious rural retreat Fairmont Windsor Park. This truly magnificent hotel is set in beautifully landscaped gardens, a perfect location adjacent to The Savill Garden and Windsor Great Park.  Offering over 200 lavish bedrooms, meeting rooms and a world-class spa, the hotel is also a superb wedding venue.  Why not plan to be one of the first visitors here to celebrate a special occasion or a well-deserved treat? 

For more details of these and many other hotels browse our accommodation pages and prepare to be pampered!

How about a spot of elegant sightseeing?

For a touch of romance, a horse-drawn carriage ride is a perfect way to see more of the local area, including Windsor Great Park.  Let Windsor Carriages or Ascot Carriages show you the sights at a relaxed pace.

Windsor Carriages in Windsor Great Park

What could be more tranquil than a calming cruise on the Thames with your own personal skipper at the helm?  Private Boat Hire is a family-run business with five vessels on the Thames so you can arrive at one of the beautiful local hotels and restaurants by river.  The boats are also a wonderful venue to celebrate a small party or special occasion.  The stretch of river flowing through Windsor, Bray and Maidenhead offers some of the most beautiful scenery on the Thames so make a river trip a ‘must do’ when you visit the Royal Borough.

Another way to enjoy the scenery of the Thames whilst also experiencing contemporary fine dining is to book a trip on the floating restaurant Bateaux Windsor's Willow Room.  Choose from four different cruises: lunch cruise, Sunday lunch cruise, afternoon tea or evening dinner cruise and enjoy exquisite food while relaxing on the river. You can also hire the Willow Room for a unique special celebration and make wonderful memories of your visit to Windsor.

Arrive in Windsor in style on the Royal Windsor Steam Express.  This nostalgic trip departs from London three times a day between May and September as well as selected Saturdays.  There are four classes of travel including an elegant Pullman-style dining carriage as well as First Class Restaurant Cars.  These vintage coaches are pulled by Mayflower, an original British Rail engine built in 1948.  On-board snacks and drinks are available or take your own picnic.  To celebrate a special occasion why not opt for the romantic Pullman Style Dining Experience with Champagne brunch?

Enjoy a quality shopping experience

A break away would not be complete without time for shopping.  Windsor and Eton has it all: high-street names, upmarket brands, small boutique stores, independent shops and specialist outlets.

Windsor Royal Station is a must for shoppers.  Located opposite Windsor Castle it was converted from the Grade II listed Victorian railway station.  Head here to browse (and buy!) some of the best collections at Jigsaw, Whistles and Hobbs.  Space NK or Bare Minerals will fulfil all your cosmetic needs.  Then relax at one of the many coffee shops, bars or restaurants in the area.

The two towns boast no fewer than 60 Royal warrant holders, adding a very special seal of approval to the quality products on offer.

Book some cultural events

For a special evening, why combine an early supper with a spot of culture at Windsor's Theatre Royal, the Old Court or Norden Farm Centre for the Arts.

Windsor boasts the Theatre Royal, a beautiful historic theatre close to Windsor Castle where you can see a wide range of excellent dramas, musicals, opera and family shows, not forgetting the infamous Windsor pantomime every Christmas!  Many shows are performed here before transferring to the West End so you can be sure of a great night out.

The Old Court, formerly a Police and Fire Station, is the venue to head for to see a wide variety of entertainment including jazz, classical music and films.  Many new comedy acts and bands cut their teeth here and to enhance your experience don’t forget to try your drink of choice from the bar run by the excellent Windsor and Eton Brewery.

The thriving Norden Farm Centre for the Arts is situated on the outskirts of Maidenhead. Here you can experience or participate in a varied programme of arts events where their specialist areas of interest include contemporary performance and live music.

Indulge in some fine dining

Enjoy cocktails on a riverside terrace before taking your time over an intimate dinner for two in one of the many top-class restaurants in the area.

Just a few miles from Windsor, the village of Bray is well worth a special journey if you enjoy fine dining.  It’s home to the famous Waterside Inn (Roux brothers) and The Fat Duck (Heston Blumenthal), each with 3 Michelin stars. 

Whilst a last-minute reservation at the Fat Duck is nigh on impossible, alternatives are close at hand: Blumenthal also owns the Hinds Head and the Crown in Bray.

Caldesi in Campagna, Bray

Caldesi in Campagna is also situated in Bray and is a popular fine dining Italian restaurant.  The eponymous owners hail from Tuscany and uses local produce to bring a wonderful flavour of Italy to our region. 

Other restaurants in and around Windsor can give the Bray establishments a run for their money including Gilbey's Bar, Restaurant and Townhouse in Eton and Windsor Grill.

There is exquisite dining to be had at many hotel restaurants too.  Enjoy some award-winning cuisine at Coworth Park, Cliveden, Great Fosters, The Oakley Court and Stoke Park.

Visit food and drink for more information.

Events on the social calendar

The international event season starts in May with Royal Windsor Horse Show followed by Royal Ascot in June, polo in July, Windsor Festival in September and Festivo in St George’s Chapel in December. 

Browse our events on our what's on page.

Royal Ascot