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 drama, dance, Artists Open Houses and the Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing. Windsor Festival is a veritable smorgasbord of cultural treats! From talks, walks and carriage rides to music, exhibitions and open houses, there's bound to be something to appeal.
At Ascot Racecourse, enjoy mouth-watering action, on and off the track, at one of late summer’s most popular racing weekends combined with a fabulous food and wine festival.
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.
Windsor Castle 'Conquer the Tower' and private tours
Until the end of September, climb the 200 steps to the top of Windsor Castle's iconic Round Tower and enjoy breathtaking views across the historic Windsor parkland, the Thames Valley, London skyline as well as the extent of Windsor Castle. You’ll be 65.5 metres above the River Thames and you’ll get a close view of the castle’s 15-metre flagpole which flies the Royal Standard when The Queen is in residence and the Union Flag when Her Majesty is away from Windsor. Please note, there is an extra charge for this tour and you must be aware of the safety information and height restrictions before booking your ticket.
Autumn and winter is also the time for private evening tours of Windsor Castle's fabulous State Apartments.
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 some fabulous beer-related events in the Windsor and Maidenhead area including Ascot Beer Festival which features more than 280 thirst-quenching real ales, ciders and perries to sample, transforming Ascot Racecourse into the ultimate local!
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. Enjoy some special autumn events for the children at Cliveden, including tree climbing and trails, as well as talks, tours and creative workshops for adults.
Why not admire Cliveden’s dramatic colour from the river aboard a French Brother’s Autumn Colours sailing? Cruise from Maidenhead through the magnificent hanging woods at Cliveden and experience the beautiful colours of autumn. There’s a choice of two sailings from Maidenhead – a morning trip with hearty ploughman's lunch and an afternoon trip with a full English tea.
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 Building and admire the ever-changing and spectacular seasonal colour from the comfort of the carriage.
October half term children and family events in the Windsor area
We always have some very special half term events for children and families taking place in October celebrating Harvest to Hallowe’en. Enjoy arts and crafts, activity trails, family theatre, events celebrating apples and pumpkins, Hallowe’en fancy dress and plenty of spooky surprises! Visit our Ideas and Inspiration pages and get planning.
Pumpkin carving in Windsor and Maidenhead
Both Windsor Royal Station and Maidenhead’s Nicolson Shopping Centre host free pumpkin carving workshops – let your imagination run wild as you carve your pumpkin and impress the judges!
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 more than 160 artists exhibiting. You’ll see everything from glass to sculpture to photography, from textural abstract to realism, from fields of flowers to architectural constructs, from the extraordinary to the ordinary to the avant garde. 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! Why not come along to Friday’s Private View? Enjoy fine art and fine wine, with room to engage with other art enthusiasts, relax and enjoy the live music. Or drop in any time over the weekend to a fair full of great contemporary art, by living artists, at affordable prices.
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.
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?
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.
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