How to have a royally-good weekend in Windsor

A grand hotel, a royal castle and historic town – what’s not to like? We stayed at De Vere Beaumont Estate, Windsor.

The location:

When you think of Windsor, you immediately think of the famous castle and recently, location for the Coronation Concert. But there’s much more to the historic town on the Thames than the 950-year-old royal residence. It’s a pretty town, around 25 miles west of London, full of boutique shops, pubs and restaurants and makes an easy escape for a weekend. De Vere Beaumont Estate is a sprawling hotel consisting of an 18th-century mansion, a chapel, a Georgian White House and modern wings at the back, sitting in 44 acres of grounds in Old Windsor, which is just outside of the town.

The hotel:

De Vere Beaumont Estate is huge and offers varied accommodation depending on which part of the hotel you are staying in. It has just completed a £25 million renovation of the 429 bedroom-hotel, which began as the home of Lord Weymouth, then spent 100 years as a school. We stayed in a Mansion House Suite, one of the newly-refurbished open-plan contemporary luxurious spaces. There was a modern bedroom, with lounge area, walk-in shower, roll-top bath and Penhaligon’s toiletries. It had everything you could want and the view of the grounds was lovely. The hotel even has a Grade II-listed 19th-century chapel, with beautiful stained-glass windows, which is a stunning event space.

Food:

The hotel has two restaurants – the formal 1705 restaurant and bar and the newly-renovated buffet-style Beaumont restaurant which serves breakfast and lots of families, many of whom are visiting nearby LegoLand. We really enjoyed the 1705, especially the bar, which is beautiful and cozy, perfect for pre-dinner cocktails. The restaurant offers a modern-British menu and the food was excellent, especially the twice-cooked beef short rib and the pea and shallot ravioli. 

Facilities:

It also has a lovely swimming pool - the first indoor heated pool in England - and leisure facilities including yoga, gym and a tennis court. The grounds are gorgeous and offer long walks around the natural ponds, formal gardens, and sculptures, which is unusual in a hotel so close to town. Dogs are also welcome for a small fee and pampered pooches get a bowl, bed, and treats to enjoy throughout their stay.

What to do:

The hotel is very close to all the main sights around Windsor, including Windsor Castle, probably the prettiest of all the royal residences, as well as its magnificent 4,800-acre Windsor Great Park. There’s also the popular Legoland Windsor Resort for families and Ascot and Royal Windsor racecourses are nearby. In the other direction, you’re right near Runnymede, famous as the site of the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. 

How to book: Rooms start from  £149. Visit devere.co.uk