Perched on the River Thames in Berkshire outside of west London, The historic and royal market town of Windsor has quietly become one of the most desirable places to live in the UK. Most people will know Windsor as the location of Windsor Castle, the home of the royal family, which is, in fact, the world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle. This royal presence does not define Windsor, however. It is a large affluent town with a quaint village vibe, cobbled streets, an abundance of lush green space, friendly locals, and tourist attractions galore. While this well-heeled town is predominately white British, it does attract a lot of tourists and has a visible multicultural flair championed by restaurant owners resulting in an eclectic dining scene.
The palpable English heritage combined with the mere 30-minute train journey to central London has enticed a good number of families and young professionals who were looking to repatriate or relocate away from the commotion of the larger cities. That being said, living in an immaculate and quintessentially British town such as Windsor with these impressive transport links will cost you a pretty penny. There’s no denying that these lofty house prices aren’t justified, however, with happiness, life expectancy, and school quality trumping the national average. While some argue all of these attributes are down to Legoland, we think this must just be a wonderful coincidence. Seriously, however, This child-friendly theme park is perhaps Windsor’s greatest boon and one of its many wonderful entertainment options.
At Whereshome, we understand the enormity and complexity of deciding where amongst the many standout places in the UK to set up shop. With this guide, we hope to give you a real in-depth account of what it is like to live in Windsor, written by a local.
A guide to Living in Windsor - Sites of Interest
Windsor Castle with its equally grand castle grounds and adjoining buildings are without a doubt the crown jewel in Windsor’s crown. The castle has been home to the British Royal family for over 900 years and is the world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle. St Georges Chapel and the Horseshoe Cloister towers sit on the shoulder of town close to the train station resulting in a majestic spectacle for passing shoppers. Residents and visitors can take the long walk up to the famous copper horse statue (3 miles) and basque in the breathtaking views of the castle and the spectacular surrounding grounds before watching the famous changing of the royal guards. If you still have some energy left, the 13 acres of pristine castle grounds are perfect for exploring at a leisurely pace.
While Windsor Castle is prodigious, it has stiff competition from the second most impressive castle in Windsor, located at Legoland. While we are being slightly facetious, it’s hard to not admire this surprisingly grand castle supposedly made out of Lego. Whether you’re a parent or a relatively young adult and have grown up in the UK, you will have most likely visited Legoland Windsor at some point in your life. The theme park aimed at children and teenagers is one of the best days out you can have with the kids and is, in fact, the most popular theme park in the UK. Windsor is also blessed with lush parks to escape the bustling town centre and take in the pristine scenery. Apart from the famed castle grounds, there are a number of small parks in the town, namely Alexandra Park and The Brocas, that both straddle the River Thames. For residents willing to go a little further afield, you will be rewarded with Windsor Great Park, the former hunting ground of the monarch. This park joins with Virginia Water, Savill Gardens, The Royal Landscape, and The Valley Gardens to create an enormous landscape that is full of adventure, cafes, walking/running trails, and picnic spots.
In keeping with the Royal Windsor theme, The Royal Ascot Race Course is just a 15-minute drive away, blowing your entertainment options wide open. The Ascot Racecourse holds many races and horse-centric events throughout the year, including the Royal Ascot races, which are immensely grand events that attract the Royal family and where you will find people dressed to impress. Ascot week, in particular, brings the village alive with spectacular evening entertainment & BBQs.
For those that love a unique cultural experience, Windsor has something for you too. The Theatre Royal Windsor is located in the town centre very close to the actual Windsor Castle and is the only unsubsidised theatre to function year-round in the UK with an impressive history that goes back over 200 years. Residents and tourists flock to the theatre to see well know shows such as Hamlet with the revered Ian McKellen. If you’re more of a cinema-goer, the Windsor racecourse regularly hosts a Drive-in cinema showing classic films such as Grease and Notting Hill.
A guide to Living in Windsor - Lifestyle
Residents are often county locals who relocate to Windsor from nearby Ascot or Cookham as they feel a sense of belonging to the area and the beautiful English heritage. The sense of togetherness and companionship can be felt daily in the bustling town streets, especially during the Windsor farmers market held every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month, offering fresh produce and bespoke local wares, including crafted gin, baked goods, locally reared meat, and crafts. While Windsor is affluent, there is a fine selection of shopping, dining, drinking, and entertainment options that cater to the wealthy and to those that can just about comfortably afford property in the area. Those of you that are liking the sound of Windsor so far will be pleased to hear that it also has a boatload of restaurants, bars, and cafes. From easy high street options like Cote and the Real Greek to fine dining at Sebastian’s and sweet treats at Heidi’s, you won’t be stuck for options. Other notable mentions go to The Flaming Cow, a scrumptious burger spot on the edge of Eton, and Antalya, a superb Turkish restaurant with outdoor heating and blankets. For a post-theatre drink, The Two Brewers, The Duchess of Cambridge, and The Queen Charlotte are standouts.
While Windsor has village-like charm by the bucketload, it is by no means a village; it is actually extremely cosmopolitan with a significant town centre filled with well-known chains and independent shops. The fantastic shopping selection extends down the pretty cobbled streets with a wide range of shops, including M&S, Barbour, Gap, Zara, Daniels, and Joules. This generous shopping choice continues into Windsor Royal Station, an old 1850’s railway station turned shopping arcade hosting upmarket brands such as Whistles, Pandora, Jo Malone, and a classic sweet shop. Cross the bridge over the River Thames and head to Eton high street, where you will find independent retailers flourishing, from antique stores and art galleries to bookshops and fashion retailers.
The town comes together for many events that happen throughout the year that champion the town’s heritage as well as the local community. The Windsor Half Marathon attracts people from all over the UK to take part in the incredibly scenic race starting and ending at the long walk with local companies and organisations supporting the event. In a similar fashion, Parallel Windsor is a race and big family event that celebrates disability inclusion and invites the whole town to support the same cause with food, entertainment, and activities.
A guide to living in Windsor - Schooling
By far the most well-known school in Windsor is Eton College. One of the most prestigious schools in the world known for educating royals and producing many UK Priministers, Eton has been welcoming students since the 1400s with current yearly costs at over £50,000. Chances are, you’re probably not interested in sending your children to Eton, however. Luckily, there is a great selection of independent and state schools rated either good or outstanding by Ofsted. The highly regarded St Georges Independent School founded in 1348 and is co-ed with an ideal town centre location. Upton House and Eton End Prep are also highly regarded private schools catering for children aged 3-11. The majority of the state schools are rated good by Ofsted and are mainly co-ed with St Edwards Catholic First, Upton Court Grammar, and St Bernard’s RC Grammar school being rated as outstanding.
For families with young children, you’ll be pleased to hear that there is a great selection of nurseries in Windsor, with some in the city centre for those working and some scattered around the town. William Street Nursery and Edith Rose Day Nursery are two local favourites.
A guide to living in Windsor - Transport
For professionals hoping to relocate to Windsor and commute into London, You will be pleasantly surprised with the quickness of the journey to the capital. Windsor has two train stations, Windsor & Eton Central and Windsor & Eton Riverside. To get to London Waterloo, Windsor & Eton Central is the fastest option, changing at the nearby Slough and taking just over half an hour. If you’re looking for a direct train, Windsor & Eton Riverside is the one you want as this will take you directly to London Waterloo and London Paddington in around an hour. Windsor is well-positioned to take advantage of the nearby M4 and M25 and is just a 20-minute drive to London Heathrow Airport.
A guide to living in Windsor - Property
