A local guide to Windsor (Central)
Ever since the Royal household relocated from Old Windsor three miles away some time in the 11th century to where Windsor Castle stands today, the surrounding area has steadily prospered.
Today, the castle is one of the area’s many focal points for tourists to the town, along with the nearby Theatre Royal, Windsor Great Park and the area’s picturesque views of the River Thames.
Legoland, although a few miles away from town centre, is also another big draw for visitors to Windsor.
The upshot of all this tourist trade is that the town is home to one of the widest array of restaurants and cafes in the local area, and no shortage of pubs, bars and clubs either.
As a result, the town attracts revellers from a number of other nearby towns and villages, notably Slough, Ascot, Langley and beyond.
As well as people on the tourist and party trail, Windsor is also a popular place to go shopping and is home to a number of well-know retailers.
The area’s main shopping thoroughfare is Peascod Street, a place that predates the castle by many years.
Here, shoppers will find much to occupy them including Windsor’s largest department store, Daniels, as well as flagships stores for Marks and Spencer, HMV and Monsoon.
Windsor Central Station, one of the two railway stations serving the town, is also home to a vast array of shops, including a series of upmarket and renowned boutiques. For instance, Phase 8, Jaeger and Droopy and Browns.
Meanwhile, gift and souvenir stores are also notable by their dominance along Windsor High Street, which runs almost parallel to the castle.
In addition, nearby Eton High Street, accessible via Windsor Bridge, also boasts a selection of independent retailers, as well as good views of the world famous Eton College.
Bearing in mind the popularity of the town to visit, it should come as no surprise to learn that properties in the area reflect this and are high in price – especially those lining the banks of the River Thames.
Predominantly, the housing in Windsor is semi-detached, with the average property costing in the region of £320,000.
Meanwhile, the average cost of a two-bedroom property in Windsor is £249,843, which is £61,949 higher than the national average.
As already mentioned, the area is well served by transport links, thanks to the presence of two railway stations and the nearby M4.
The first of these two stations, Windsor and Eton Central, runs a regular shuttle service to Slough that in turn connects commuters to London and Reading.
The Windsor and Eton Riverside station, meanwhile, directly connects commuters with London Waterloo.
Curiously, both stations were built at around the same time in the 19th century, to make it easier for Queen Victoria to travel between London and Windsor.
So, if it is a property in a regal setting with plenty of opportunities available to make filling your free time easier, then Windsor is the place for you.