Explore Windsor Great Park: 4,800 acres of woodlands, lakes, gardens, and trails. This is your guide to the best spots to visit in this iconic Windsor park.
As someone who lives in Windsor, I love that Windsor Great Park is on my doorstep. It’s where I go running to clear my head, where Chloe and I go for romantic walks, where I take my son blackberry picking. I can’t wait till he is old enough so we can go biking around the park – that’ll have to wait a few years mind you!
Windsor Great Park is without a doubt one of the best things about living in Windsor. The park itself is massive. It’s 19.42km (4,800 acres) – that’s the same size as Windsor itself. It’s basically the size of a town, next to a town. Does that make sense? If not, just trust me when I say it’s massive.
If you’ve never been before it can be pretty overwhelming knowing where to start. That’s why I wanted to write this guide to Windsor Great Park, so I could break down all your questions and highlight to best places to visit within the park.
In this guide you’ll find top tips like where to park, when the best time to visit is, and what are the main highlights. I really hope you can use this guide for planning your trip here. And as ever, if you have any questions at all, you can let me know in the comments below!
What is Windsor Great Park?
Windsor Great Park is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful and historic green spaces in the country. It’s a huge expanse of royal parkland filled with deer, ancient oak trees, ornamental gardens and tranquil lakes.
It was once the private hunting ground of the monarchy (you can just imagine King Henry VIII galloping through the trees), but these days it’s open to the public and completely free to explore. Whether you’re here for a long walk with the dog, a scenic picnic spot, or just want to soak up some nature, Windsor Great Park has something for everyone.
Map of Windsor Great Park
History of Windsor Great Park
Did you know Windsor Castle was built in 1070? That’s nearly a thousand years old. Well, Windsor Great Park is older, but it’s always been the royal playground for kings and queens over the years. The park has been part of the royal estate since the time of William the Conqueror, and over the centuries it’s been used for everything from deer hunting to royal processions.
The Long Walk – that incredible, tree-lined avenue leading up to Windsor Castle – was laid out by Charles II in the 17th century, inspired by the grand boulevards of France. When you catch the evening autumn sunshine flickering through the trees, it’s easy to understand where his inspiration came from.
Queen Victoria is known to have loved Virginia Water as a child, and enjoyed frequent picnics there after she became Queen. Scone and jam by the lake? Yes please, ma’am.
The park also played a role in WWII, with parts of it used for military training and even as a base for Canadian troops. I bet you didn’t know that!?
Today, it’s still managed by the Crown Estate, and while parts of it remain private, a huge section is open to the public year-round.
If you’d like to learn more about the history of Windsor, then check out the timeline of the town here.
Highlights of Windsor Great Park
There’s so much to see in Windsor Great Park that it’s impossible to cover it all in one visit – but here are some of the must-sees:
The Long Walk
This is the iconic Windsor view. It runs for 2.64 miles (or just over 4km) straight from the gates of Windsor Castle to the Copper Horse statue at the top of Snow Hill. I’ve mentioned before that this is one of my top free things to do in Windsor.
Basically, walking from the castle to the statue and back will take you about 1h:30m. Take a packed lunch and you can have a little date at the top of Snow Hill. And if you are staying in Windsor or live here, then I’d really recommend being up here for sunrise or sunset. The colours of the castle and the Long Walk are something else. Also, I really love that you can see the skyline of London in the distance if you look right.
Please note: No bikes or scooters are allowed on the Long Walk or in Deer Park at all, so this isn’t a cycle location.
Deer Park
For me, there are two places you can almost guarantee seeing deer – Richmond Park in London and the Deer Park in Windsor. It’s really amazing that this place is so accessible.
To get to the Copper Statue, you actually pass through Deer Park. This is the section from the gatekeeper’s house onwards.
Seeing the deer is one of the real highlights of the park. There’s a semi‑wild herd of around 500 red deer roaming freely beside the Long Walk. These magnificent animals trace back to just two stags and 40 hinds introduced in 1979 by Prince Philip. Those stags have been busy in that time, haven’t they!?
Deer rutting (breeding) season starts in September each year and lasts through until early November. During this period, the behaviour of the deer changes where they are likely to display aggressive behaviour. Always admire from afar – stay at least 50 metres away, don’t approach, feed or photograph them at close range, and keep dogs on short leads.
The Savill Garden
This is why I wrote this guide, because it can be quite confusing with what you can see and do in Windsor Great Park. Savill Garden and Virginia Water are both within Windsor Great Park. However, you need tickets for Savill Garden whereas Virginia Water is free. For Savill Gardens, tickets are £14.50 if you order online (over 5s are £6.50, under 5s free).
The Savill Garden was created in the 1930s at the request of King George V, who wanted a beautiful new garden within Windsor Great Park. It was designed by Sir Eric Savill, the garden keeper at the time, who transformed a quiet woodland area into a series of stunning ornamental gardens. Although it began as a private royal space, it was later opened to the public in 1951, allowing everyone to enjoy its peaceful paths, rare plants and seasonal displays.
If you love your flowers and gardens, this is a real treat. It’s a beautifully landscaped ornamental garden filled with rare plants and seasonal colour. You’ll wander through themed areas such as the New Zealand Garden with its swaying grasses, a contemporary rose garden opened by the Queen in 2010, and the Queen Elizabeth Temperate House full of ferns and an intriguing whirlpool water feature. The striking Savill Building houses a café, gift shop and visitor centre, all built with oak from the estate.
One of the things I love about The Savill Garden is how much is changes through the seasons. Summer is probably best with all the azaleas and rhododendrons in full bloom, but spring and autumn are beautiful too. From experience, I would say you need about three hours to see everything, which includes time for lunch or a slice of cake afterwards too.
Virginia Water Lake
This is without a doubt one of my favourite places in Windsor Great Park. Virginia Water is an enchanting lake at the southern edge. It was originally created in the mid‑1700s as a royal pleasure ground and was once the largest man-made lake in England.
Like most of Windsor Great Park, Virginia Water is an amazing place for a walk, jog or cycle. The full circuit is about 5.25 miles (8.5 km), with key highlights like the dramatic 30‑foot Cascade waterfall and the Leptis Magna Roman ruins; stones relocated from Libya and artfully arranged beside the lake. Along the woodland shores you’ll find riverside trails, iconic follies, wildlife, and even film locations for Harry Potter.
Chloe and I have been to Virginia Water a fair few times. The full circuit will take about 2 hours if you’re walking – longer if you stop at different points along the way. We usually either take a picnic or grab a slice of cake in the café afterwards. There’s an ice cream truck permanently parked on the trail during summer which is a genius location. As I mentioned, this place is really popular for runners and cyclists too.
Again, I would say you want 2-3 hours at Virginia Water to take in everything. It really is one of the most beautiful places in Windsor Great Park, so enjoy it.
Adventure Play
One of the newest and most exciting additions to Windsor Great Park is Adventure Play. Tucked away in Autumn Wood next to the Savill Garden, this place is an absolute dream for kids. I took my little one here recently and, honestly, I think I enjoyed it just as much as he did (okay, maybe more).
There are rope bridges, slides, treehouses, tunnels – it’s like a mini-forest adventure. It’s split into two areas depending on age, and there’s loads of space to run wild. If you’ve got kids, this is hands down one of the best places in the park.
Tickets cost £16 for children and £12 for adults on weekends, so it’s not the cheapest kid’s activity, but that is for a full two hours of fun.
Cumberland Lodge
Cumberland Lodge is one of those hidden gems in Windsor Great Park that’s well worth a visit. Set in a grand 17th-century building, it’s steeped in history and has been a centre for education and discussion for decades.
The grounds themselves are beautiful to explore, with mature trees and open lawns that feel perfectly peaceful. What I love most is that they often host tours, talks, and events, so there’s always something interesting going on.
Cafés and restaurants
The Two Brewers – A cosy pub near the edge of Windsor Great Park, perfect for hearty British classics and a relaxed drink.
The Windsor Castle – A traditional pub offering classic meals and a welcoming atmosphere just a short stroll from the park. Kinda has views of the Long Walk (there is a road in the way though…)
The Savill Garden Kitchen – Located within the Savill Garden, serving fresh, seasonal dishes with lovely views of the surrounding gardens. The pizzas here are damn delicious, and they do bigger mains too.
Virginia Water Pavilion Café – A charming café right by the lake at Virginia Water, ideal for coffee, cake, or a light lunch after a walk. This is very much a lunch spot.
Where are the best parking spots?
Ah, the all-important question – where can you park? Windsor Great Park has several parking areas, depending on where you want to start your walk. Here are the best options:
Review Ground (SL4 2BD) – This is the closest car park to the Long Walk and where you can actually explore Windsor Great Park. Otherwise you have to park in town.
Virginia Water Car Park – A great all-rounder. It’s right next to the lake, with toilets, a café, and easy access to the Valley Gardens. This is my go-to if I’ve got the buggy with me and want a relaxing stroll.
The Savill Garden Car Park – This is the closest one to the Savill Garden itself and also handy for accessing the wider park. It’s usually less crowded than Virginia Water too.
