UK breaks: 24 hours in Windsor

This family-run coffee house sources its beans from a variety of South American countries and is the perfect start to your day in Windsor. If coffee’s not your thing, there’s also an excellent range of fragrant loose leaf teas and cakes to grace your taste buds.

William the Conqueror first built a castle here after the Norman invasion of England. Henry VIII reigned there during his tumultuous monarchy, marred by *ahem* marital issues. Her Majesty the Queen even considers it her favourite weekend home - is there any royal residence more iconic than Windsor Castle? Don’t miss St George’s Chapel, the magnificent setting for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding.

The Long Walk is a three-mile-long avenue between Windsor Castle and The Copper Horse – a statue of George III on horseback – perfect for walking, picnicking and even a selfie with a deer. Seriously, the deer at the nearby deer park are so used to seeing visitors that some are known to pose for photos.

Take a trip along the River Thames with a cruise on a passenger boat or, for the more energetic, hire a rowing boat, kayak or canoe. Or why not push the boat out by hiring a luxury private river cruiser for up to 12 people and treating your loved ones to an onboard royal afternoon tea? If you’re looking after the pennies, stroll the riverside pathway, discover Windsor's full-sized replica Hurricane and stop by the variety of coffee shops, bars and brasseries that line the waterfront.

This special little Grade-II listed building, affectionately known as the Crooked House, has been standing in Windsor (more or less) since 1687. One of the most photographed buildings in the country, this slanted wonder has been a butcher's premises, a beer shop, a tea room and jewellers. Still, a vital place for an Insta snap – don’t miss out!

Holding the reins at Windsor Carriages is Rebecca. As you make your way around the town in a horse-drawn carriage, she’ll share the knowledge, stories and events passed down to her through generations of coachmen in her family.  Her tour is definitely a ‘Great Park Experience’.

Discover some fantastic shopping in the historic centre of Windsor, with everything from upmarket brands to small boutiques and specialist shops. Windsor Royal Shopping occupies the site of an 1850s railway station (you can still see Queen Victoria's waiting room), while Peascod Street, chock-full of department stores and independents is itself older than Windsor Castle. Some of Windsor and Eton's stores even have warrants for supplying the royal household! 

This super-cool riverside brewery’s beers are stocked in bars and pubs across town, but there’s no better place to imbibe one or two of their bevvies – including Harry & Meghan’s Windsor Knot – than fresh from the source. Take a tour or simply choose from a healthy array of local cask and keg beers in the Windsor and Eton Brewery taproom.

What was once a humble butcher’s shop is now one of the best foodie joints in the Windsor area. Located on the other side of the Thames, on Eton High Street, you can hang out with the locals in the conservatory restaurant, bar or courtyard garden and enjoy super-special dishes with a French twist. We hear great things about the Sunday set menu. 

At the junction of Park Street, High Street and Sheet Street you’ll find an incredible statue honouring falling Irish Guardsmen, sculpted by former Army Officer Mark Jackson using bronze from statues salvaged during the conflict in Iraq. The sculpture stands on a plinth surrounded by cobbles from Afghanistan.

Take a short walk across the bridge from Windsor Castle and pull up a pew at the boutique bar of the elegant yet cosy Eton Mess, or opt for dinner in the restaurant which sources ingredients locally. Afterwards, roll into one of the stylish bedrooms and drift off into dreams of ancient castles, crooked houses and posing deer.

A 15-minute drive or 40-minute bus ride will take you to the gastronomical village of Bray, where you’ll find some of the world’s best Michelin-starred restaurants. Enjoy culinary wizardry at Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck, fill your belly at his Michelin starred pub The Hinds Head, or indulge in mouth-watering French cuisine at the Roux family-owned Waterside Inn.