Windsor and Eton

Windsor and the neighbouring town of Eton are a popular day trip from London.

Windsor is a historic market town that is home to Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of Queen Elizabeth II.

Windsor had existed since before the Norman Conquest although the original settlement is now known as Old Windsor and the new town is centred around the castle that William the Conqueror started construction on in 1070. The town grew substantially in the 12th century and during the Middle Ages was considered one of England’s wealthiest towns, primarily because of its close association with the royal household.

The town has also been immortalised in the William Shakespeare play The Merry Wives of Windsor.

The town is also close to Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed in 1215 and the small village of Bray, which is home to two of the United Kingdom’s five three-Michelin-starred restaurants. Windsor is also home to a Legoland theme park and the small town of Eton is just a short walk from the centre of Windsor.

Neighbouring Eton, just north of the River Thames, is best known as the home of Eton College, founded by Henry VI, which widely regarded as the country’s most prestigious school.

Some tourists stay in nearby Slough, only six minutes by train from Windsor and Eton Central railway station. Although not nearly as attractive as Windsor, accommodation in Slough is much cheaper.