The one great thing about living in Maidenhead is that I’m close to some fabulous places to visit. I can jump on a train and get to Windsor or London in no time. However since lockdown, I’ve spent more time staying very local in my home town. So when I was given the opportunity to do the Windsor Walking Tour – I was very excited! I have been to Windsor hundreds of times, but I’ve never really explored it fully. It is usually a quick shopping trip or a day in the park – but of course the town is absolutely full of history. There are beautiful and quirky buildings and the rather impressive Windsor Castle. There’s something different on every corner.
Download The Windsor Walking Tour
The Windsor Walking Tour is a brilliant guide that you can use on your phone at your own pace. It is accessed when you download The Window Seat Guide App, which is available on Google Play or the App Store. Once downloaded, you have the option to purchase the London Bus Tour or The Windsor Walking Tour. I was gifted the Windsor Walking Tour, but you can purchase it for £2.99. It’s an audible guide so it’s a good idea to bring your earphones.
What to Expect
Once you have downloaded the tour, you will have the option to view the map and stop and start the tour as you wish. This is particularly handy if you want to browse in the shops or stop for coffee or lunch. The route takes you on a circular walk, which lasts about an hour and a half (without stops). You could potentially do it in any order if you wanted, but if you’re not familiar with Windsor, then I’d recommend sticking to the route.
If you have children with you, there is a downloadable Young Explorer Challenge to keep them entertained as you go along. If you want to print it off before you go, you’ll find it in the introduction when you click on Start Tour. However, you can download it to your phone (or screenshot it) and refer back to it when you’re on your tour.
I was with my husband and our 6 year old daughter when we did the tour last weekend. There were plenty of stop offs in the park and for fudge (from our favourite Fudge Shop on Thames Street!) We looked at the activity sheet to see what we had found in the breaks. It has little challenges on, such as ‘can you find the green postbox?’ and ‘how many Windsor coat of arms can you find on the bridge?’ We didn’t manage to do them all, but it was fun to go looking for some of the things on the sheet.
As there is no physical tour guide, you have the flexibility to stop off as often as you wish. You can also flick back and listen again if you want.
What is the Tour Like?
The app tracks your location so you will be told when you’ve reached your stop. You start the tour at the Windsor Royal Shopping, which is close to the train station. As you walk along, the audio guide tells you about the history of Windsor, the monarchy and lots of interesting things. You’ll learn about the buildings and even have things pointed out to you that you perhaps wouldn’t had spotted otherwise. Such as how the cobbled stones are set in the road, and why the Crooked House is actually crooked (something I never actually knew before!)
The app is packed full of facts about the ages of the buildings and how the town used to be. You’ll discover the shortest street in England which is named after Queen Charlotte – who was the wife of King George III. And there are some fun facts, which includes how King George III and Queen Charlotte were often seen out and about shopping in Windsor.
Things to do in Windsor
On most of the pages of the tour, you’ll get a recommendation of where to eat or drink in the area you’re in. There are choices of where to have afternoon tea, where to go for a good steak, and there are details about some of the pubs (including the oldest and smallest pub in Windsor). There is even a place to get dairy free ice cream with gluten free cones!
You’ll also get to go by the river, head over the bridge to Eton and visit the lovely gardens and parks. If you plan ahead, you could also take a boat tour if you wish. Then carry on with your walking tour afterwards!
If you’re visiting Windsor for a few days (or you’re quite local) you could also go back and do the walking tour again. Or incorporate it into your visit if you don’t want to do it all in one day.
We would certainly do it again – just to test out another pub, and perhaps try out the dairy free ice cream!
You can download the Window Seat Guide app on the App Store and on Google Play
Or Visit the website – thewindowseatguide.com
