The Royal Town of Windsor: From the Castle to the River Thames

(14 reviews)

Windsor, Berkshire audio tour: The Royal Town of Windsor: From the Castle to the River Thames

This is a 1.5mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

Windsor, Berkshire

The United Kingdom

$7.99

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About the Tour

Please Note

The copy of Charles I's Death Warrant is being refurbished by the Windsor & Eton Society & should be replaced during the spring of 2026

The town of Windsor is synonymous with its castle, around which it grew up, and is deeply intertwined with the British crown. This walking tour offers a unique chance to explore this historic town like a local and see everyday life against the magnificent backdrop of its royal heritage.

The tour starts at the Queen Victoria statue next to Windsor Castle, which has been a royal residence for over 900 years. As we stand in the shadow of the statue, I’ll tell you why Queen Victoria had to propose to Prince Albert when they got engaged. You’ll go on to stroll through Windsor’s charming streets while I share tales and insights about the rich history and notable landmarks that make it a truly remarkable destination.

At the Long Walk, the picturesque, tree-lined avenue that runs from Windsor Castle to the Copper Horse Statue in Windsor Great Park, I’ll tell you how the avenue was inspired by Versailles. Next, you’ll visit Windsor Guildhall, which played host to some famous weddings including Sir Elton John’s nuptials. The tour finishes with a walk alongside the River Thames to Windsor Bridge. Along the way, you’ll learn about the tradition of Swan Upping, the practice of counting and marking mute swans on the river.

On this Windsor walking tour, you’ll have a chance to:

Gain key insights into Windsor Castle’s architecture and hear about some of its famous residents
Take some fun photos at the charming Crooked House of Windsor with its distinctive slant
Walk down the very short Queen Charlotte Street in a quaint and historical part of the town, which connects its past to its present
Stroll along the Windsor Promenade to spot swans and look over to Eton, the home of Eton College
Visit the Sydney Camm Memorial, which honours one of World War II and the Battle of Britain’s heroes, in Alexandra Gardens
Pass the Old King’s Head pub which boasts a link to William Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor (and learn about a ghostly figure from the play!)

So come along and join me on this tour to discover the town’s royal heritage and natural beauty at a leisurely pace. This 60-minute walking tour offers a memorable, up-close experience of this iconic destination.

Tour Producer

Timeless Walking Tours

4 tours

Raised in the heart of Windsor, I have always been captivated by the rich history and timeless charm of my hometown. My childhood was spent exploring the streets of Windsor and its royal landmarks, developing a deep connection to its heritage. This passion inspired me to pursue a degree in History.

My love for the town and the Thames Valley has grown over the years, and today, I enjoy nothing more than sharing my insider knowledge with visitors from around the world.

Whether you're walking along the Long Walk, admiring Windsor Castle, strolling along Eton High Street, or exploring the meadows at Runnymede, I hope my guidance will provide a deeper appreciation of the area and will leave you loving Windsor and the Thames Valley as much as I do.

Preview Location

Location 10

The Long Walk II

Turn around to see The Long Walk. You may recognise this view from the TV coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding and more recently the late Queen Elizabeth's funeral. Maybe you recall seeing Emma, the late Queen's favourite Fell pony, waiting with her groom on t... Turn around to see The Long Walk. You may recognise this view from the TV coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding and more recently the late Queen Elizabeth's funeral. Maybe you recall seeing Emma, the late Queen's favourite Fell pony, waiting with her groom on the lawns, which were absolutely covered in flowers, for her funeral cortege to pass. This is the ceremonial entrance to Windsor Castle, through which visiting heads of state enter - although more recent visits from American presidents have been by helicopter.

The Long Walk was created by Charles II following his exile in Europe, he returned with grand ideas to restore Windsor Castle to its former glory and to include a few ideas he picked up whilst staying with his cousin Louis XIV at Versailles, he created the double avenue of trees - originally Elm Trees running up to Snow Hill a distance of almost three miles. At the top hopefully, you can make out the statue in the distance, known locally as the Copper Horse. It is of George III and he is dressed as a Roman Emperor looking towards his beloved Windsor. The statue was sculpted by Richard Westmacott and is just over 7.5 meters high standing on a granite base approximately 8m high and weighing four tons.

In 1831 before the statue was erected, one of the horse’s legs was broken as it was being pulled up the hill and had to be repaired. Also before being erected, sixteen people had lunch inside the horse and sang God Save The King!.

The base is inscribed in Latin “Georgio Tertio Patri Optimo Georgius Rex” (King George to George III, best of fathers). In reality father and son loathed each other!
The enclosed parkland is known as The Home Park and is where the late Queen enjoyed riding her favourite horses and ponies. It also houses The Frogmore Mausoleum, built by Queen Victoria for Prince Albert, and next to it the Royal Burial Ground where the Duke and Duchess of Windsor are buried. It is also home to the Prince and Princess of Wales and their family and Frogmore Cottage, the former home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The Great Park was opened to the public by Willian IV and is made up of 14,000 acres including 8,000 acres of forest, with some of the trees going back to the times of William the Conqueror and forming some of the most ancient forests in Northern Europe. Since that time the park has been a popular hunting ground for the monarchs, the current Deer herd was established by the late Duke of Edinburgh when he was the Park Ranger. Interestingly the King replaced his father as Ranger, maybe his love of nature, wildlife and landscapes made him the natural successor. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Queen Victoria Statue
King Henry VIII Gateway
Windsor Castle
Windsor Masonic Hall
The Two Brewers
The Long Walk
Soldier's Statue
Airmail Post Box
Windsor Parish Church of St John the Baptist
Windsor Guildhall
The Crooked House of Windsor
Queen Charlotte Street
King Edward VII gateway
Diamond Jubilee Water Fountains
Alexandra Gardens
Sydney Camm Memorial
River Thames
Windsor Riverside Walk
Charles Hollis blue plaque
Windsor Eton Bridge UK

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Castle Hill, Windsor SL4 1PD, UK
Total distance

2km
Final location
Windsor Rd, Eton, Slough SL1 2EJ, UK
Distance back to start location

355.96m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour starts by Queen Victoria's statue, just outside Windsor Castle on the High Street. The statue is almost directly opposite Windsor Royal Shopping Centre and Central Train Station . If you are coming from the Coach Park you will walk into central Windsor via Windsor Royal Shopping. If you arrive via Windsor and Eton Riverside Station please walk up the hill towards the Castle entrance, where you will see Queen Victoria.

On a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning, the roads in this area are closed for the Changing of The Guard from between approximately 10.45am and 11,30am. The guards march along the High Street and up to The Castle right past Queen Victoria and is definitely worth seeing.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

If you would like to enjoy a sit down meal in Windsor you could try the Two Brewers Pub , or A La Russe which are both on our route.

Best time of day

This walk is perfect from dawn to dusk, but the town is busiest in the summer months particularly on the days when there is a Guard Change.

Precautions

We don't generally suffer with particularly bad weather in the South East of England, but why not bring a brolly just in case!

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”