Explore The Local Area | Great Fosters Hotel

Windsor Castle

Visit the magnificent Windsor Castle, right in the centre of Windsor. See what was thought to be HM Queen Elizabeth II's favourite residence and admire Queen Mary's Dolls' House, a masterpiece in miniature. The State Apartments and magnificent formal rooms used for state and official occasions are truly majestic and every bit as splendid you as you might imagine. There is a free multi media tour to listen to as you walk round. The Changing of the Guard ceremony is definitely not to be missed. View the timetable for the Changing of the Guard ceremony to plan your day. A 20 minute drive from Great Fosters.

Hampton Court Palace & Garden

Hampton Court Palace is set in 60 acres of formal gardens & 750 acres of parkland in a loop of the River Thames. Discover the spectacular baroque palace originally built for William III and Mary II and explore the magnificent gardens. Experience the public dramas and private lives of Henry VIII, his wives and children in the world of the Tudor court and admire Henry’s Great Hall, the infamous Haunted Gallery and the extensive Tudor kitchens. The estate is home to the world's oldest puzzle maze, a record-breaking grape vine, three National Plant Collections and a huge variety of wildlife, including the descendants of Henry VIII’s deer herd. A 30 minute drive from Great Fosters.

RHS Wisley

The flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society covers 240 acres and is one of the great gardens of the world. Wisley houses a huge plant collection and is a fabulous place to visit at all times of the year. The gardens delight through every season: enjoy swathes of bulbs & blossom in spring, fabulous mixed borders & roses in summer, bountiful colours in Autumn, and frost-sparkled walks in winter. The huge glasshouse includes waterfalls and three separate climatic zones - tropical, moist temperate & dry temperate. The vast array of plants, many endangered or difficult to grow are a sight to behold. There are so many gardens to explore but luckily you can refuel at one of Wisley's renowned cafes dotted about (their cakes are excellent!) . A 25 minute drive from the hotel.

Kew Gardens

A UNESCO world heritage site, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has a magnificent scientific collection of plants from tropical, temperate, arid and alpine climates stretched across 300 acres.. Stroll along a magnificent 18m high treetop walkway to admire the views across London & Surrey before you discover one of the most diverse collections of living plants of any botanic garden in the world. There are so many different gardens, a Conservatory and glasshouses, which house 50,000 plants and over 14,000 trees from all over the world so make sure you allow plenty of time. Download a seasonal trail before you go so you don't miss a thing during your visit. A 30 minute drive from Great Fosters.

Windsor Great Park

Windsor Great Park covers over 4,500 acres and offers a variety of landscapes. Take a walk or cycle round Virginia Water lake (4½ miles) or just enjoy a gentle stroll through the queen's back garden. Or for a longer 7 mile walk, park by the Fox & Hounds pub and walk into Windsor past the Copper Horse and down 'The Long Walk'. The views of the castle are unparalleled and you should spot a few deer on your way. There are stables where you can book a horse ride or why not hire a horse & carriage and enjoy a traditional horse drawn carriage ride through the park? Horticulturists will enjoy The Savill Garden and adjacent plant centre & gift shop. Savill garden has 35 acres of interconnected gardens including the Hidden Gardens, Spring Wood, the Summer Gardens, the New Zealand Garden, Summer Wood, The Glades, Autumn Wood and the Winter Beds. Depending on where you park and which area you want to explore a 10 or 15 minute drive from Great Fosters.

Painshill Park

Painshill's 18th century landscaped garden was created between 1738 & 1773 by the Hon. Charles Hamilton. His vision was to create ‘living paintings’ in a new style of magical garden. Inspired by Renaissance art and his Grand Tours, he created a sequence of breathtaking vistas in his 158 acre garden; stroll around the serpentine lake, wander through woodland and admire his follies including a Ruined Abbey and Turkish Tent. Or if you're feeling fit climb the 99 steps of the Gothic Tower to see what you can spot across four counties! For horticulture lovers there are historic plantings including the John Bartram Heritage Collection of North American trees and shrubs as well as veteran English Oak and the Great Cedar. A kitchen garden grows a huge variety of fruit & vegetables. Other features include a restored Waterwheel, a Hermitage hidden in the woods and a vineyard. Cake is a Painshill speciality so be sure to treat yourself in Mr Hamilton's Tea Room after your walk. A 25 minute drive from Great Fosters.

Bicester Village

A luxury shopping destination home to more than 150 boutiques from the world’s most celebrated brands including Axel Arigato, GANNI and Self-Portrait. Discover the best in beauty, fashion, homeware & everything in between for your most stylish year yet – all just 50 minutes frmo the hotel.   Expect the extraordinary from the moment you arrive. Opt for a tailored approach to styling with their five-star guest services, including Personal Shopping and Hands-free Shopping and choose from an array of restaurant options such as Cecconi’s, Shan Shui and farmshop restaurant & cafe. To book your exclusive benefits as a guest at Great Fosters, please speak with a member of the team.

Racing at Ascot

Revered across the globe, Royal Ascot attracts many of racing’s finest horses to compete for more than £8m in prize money. It is also equally synonymous with sartorial elegance, being awash with exquisite fashion and magnificent millinery creations. From the arrival of the Royal Procession as the clock strikes two, to the communal singing around Ascot’s Bandstand, each of the five days must be seen to be believed. Outside of Royal Ascot, spectacular racing takes place throughout the year, with each race day offering a unique theme and atmosphere including the QIPCO King George Weekend in July, a Beer Festival & Fireworks Spectacular in October, as well as four dedicated family race days. A 15 minute drive from Great Fosters.

Runnymede Memorials

Runnymede is famous as the site of the sealing of Magna Carta, but today it's home to a collection of memorials to the struggle for liberty. As well as the monument to Magna Carta, you can also visit memorials to JFK and the Allied Air Forces of WWII. The very moving Air Forces Memorial commemorates by name over 20,000 men and women of the air forces, who were lost WWII during operations from bases in the UK, North & Western Europe, and who have no known graves. Park by the National Trust Tea Room next to the River Thames and see the meadow where the Magna Carta was signed before following the steep footpath through the woodland up to the Air Forces Memorial. Remember to go up the tower at the memorial to see magnificent views of London, Surrey and Berkshire. A 10 minute drive from Great Fosters.

Brooklands Museum

Brooklands Museum is on the site of the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit and displays a wide range of Brooklands-related motoring and aviation exhibits ranging from giant racing cars, motorcycles and bicycles to a vast collection of civilian and military aircraft, including the WWII Wellington Bomber and Concorde. Step back in time to the days of innovation, determination and record-breaking on the site of the world’s first racing circuit and listen to the stories of the pioneering men and women that shaped the world of motoring and aviation. Discover supersonic flight at the home of Concorde and get up close to the aircraft designed, built and flown here. Imagine the excitement of the races as you explore the interactive collections of cars and motorbikes and learn about the real-life experiences from the Brooklands volunteers.

Eton College Tour

Take a tour of the historic Eton College, where generations of aristocracy, politicians and many distinguished Britons have been educated including the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The guided tour focuses on the historic heart of Eton College, featuring many of the earliest buildings and objects from the College Collections. The 90 minute tours run from April - August and take place on a Friday afternoon at 2pm and 4pm. The tour covers School Yard, College Chapel, Upper School, Lower School, and the Museum of Eton Life. Tours must be booked in advance. At other times of the year the museums and galleries are open on a Sunday afternoon.

Shopping in Windsor

At the heart of Windsor is Windsor Royal Station, a mostly covered area, occupying the site of an 1850s railway station you can still see Queen Victoria’s royal waiting room. Browse brands such as Hobbs, Mint Velvet, Le Creuset and Whistles in a continental café setting. Steps lead down to Windsor Yards & Peascod Street, which have a range of high-street brands. Why not pop into vintage store Really Me at no 44 which sells clothing, accessories, furniture, books & vinyl & helps fund Thames Hospice. Lower Peascod Street & St Leonard’s Road are where Windsorians love to shop and they champion the independent retailer; discover cosy cafes, homeware shops, boutiques plus great food & wine.

The area near Great Fosters