Top Tips for Autumn in Windsor and Maidenhead

Welcome to autumn in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.  The days may be getting shorter but there are plenty of things to do and look forward to, particularly in the run up to the busy Christmas events season.  If you are coming to the Windsor area during September, October or November, here are our top tips to enjoy autumn in Windsor and the Royal Borough.  Don't forget to check out our current Special Offers and our regularly-updated events listings!

Enjoy an autumnal festival season in Windsor

The Windsor Fringe is the second oldest fringe in the UK and highlights include the Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing.  The 2021 fringe will be a mini-fringe.  Windsor Festival is a veritable smorgasbord of cultural treats!  From talks and walks to music and exhibitions, there's bound to be something to appeal.

Cliveden, near Maidenhead, is a magnificent English country house with a unique and extraordinary history of politics and intrigue, aristocracy and espionage, sex and scandal.  Ever since 1666, the house has also been known for its literary salon, helping to inspire writers from Alexander Pope and George Bernard Shaw, Jonathan Swift and Lord Tennyson to Sir Winston Churchill.  Find out more at the two-day Cliveden Literary Festival at the end of September which evokes the spirit of the great writers and potentates who stayed here and continue the tradition of the house as a sanctuary for lovers of literature. 

Read more about our festivals here.

Toast the arrival of autumn

Traditionally autumn was the time when breweries started brewing again after the warm summer months, using newly-harvested barley and hops.  As the nights draw in, toast the arrival of autumn by popping down to Ascot Beer Festival which features hundreds of thirst-quenching real ales, ciders and perries to sample, transforming Ascot Racecourse into the ultimate local!

Windsor Castle opens its Semi-State Rooms

Imagine being entertained by royalty in Windsor Castle' Semi-State Rooms, the spectacular private apartments open to visitors during the autumn and winter months.  Richly decorated, they are used by The Queen for hosting her guests. The additional five rooms that make up the Semi-State Rooms are included in the visitor route from September 2021 to March 2022. 

Admire the autumn colours

The rich red, orange and brown hues of autumn are a sight to behold.  Cliveden’s autumn colours show from late September right through to early November, making it worth several visits to appreciate how the dramatic landscape scenery transforms over the season.

You can’t help but be amazed by the stunning autumn colour for which Windsor Great Park is famous – especially the maples and cherries in The Savill Garden and The Valley Gardens.  The tree-lined Long Walk – just a short walk from Windsor town centre – is a fantastic place to collect fallen conkers from the Horse Chestnut trees.

Join Ascot Carriages for a relaxing horse-drawn carriage ride from the Savill Garden Visitor Centre and admire the ever-changing and spectacular seasonal colour from the comfort of the carriage.

Stanley Spencer Gallery Winter Exhibition

In the tiny former Methodist Chapel in the pretty riverside town of Cookham, discover the wonderful art of the characterful Stanley Spencer, considered one of the greatest British painters of the 20th century.  The Stanley Spencer Gallery has two exhibitions a year and the winter exhibition launches in November.  Why not visit this hidden gem for yourself?

Firework displays in Windsor, Maidenhead and Ascot

Bonfire Night falls on 5 November.  Check out the spectacular firework displays lighting up the skies in the Royal Borough.  Venues include Ascot Racecourse, Royal Windsor Racecourse and Legoland Windsor Resort.

Contemporary Art Fairs - Windsor

Contemporary Art Fairs – Windsor is THE destination for art lovers, collectors, interior designers, homemakers and those who simply want to learn more about today’s art and artists.  Browse the wide range of styles and media on display from the artists exhibiting.  It’s more than just an Art Fair; with a line-up of artworks, activities, live painting demonstrations, workshops and the Prince's Trust miniature canvas initiative, it is a creative, cultural and fun-filled art extravaganza! 

Watch the Christmas light switch-ons

The turning on of the Christmas lights will get everybody into the yuletide spirit!  The light switch on events in the Windsor, Eton and Maidenhead area mark the start of a whole host of fun Christmas events for all the family.  More information coming soon.

Turn your visit into a short break!

There’s so much to see and do in the area, why not turn your day visit into a relaxing short break?  Visit our accommodation pages to discover a huge range of accommodation options to suit all budgets, from five star spa retreats to cosy and comfortable bed and breakfasts and self-catering apartments.  Visit our Special Offers pages to check out deals on offer from our accommodation providers.

Check out What's On

Search What’s On for all the latest event information.