Take a break at Windsor Great Park
Windsor Great Park offers a moment of calm on any journey, whether you’re travelling for work, on a road trip, or visiting Windsor for a few days.
Need a bite to eat? You’re covered. Want to walk through an ancient woodland? Done. Need something to entertain the kids? No problem. Want some gardening inspiration? You’ve got it.
📍 Location
The Crown Estate, Windsor Great Park, SL4 2HT
🔌 Charging info
- Shell Recharge with four CHAdeMO (up to 70kW) and four CCS (up to 175kW) connectors
- Near the Virginia Water car park
- Price: £0.89/kWh
Alternative charging options (there are lots!)
Also near the Virginia Water car park is the Wheatsheaf Hotel. It has three CCS connectors and one CHAdeMO connector (all up to 75kW). Check the Evyve app for pricing.
In Windsor itself, you have a lot of great options for charging:
- 7kW roadside charging on Frances Road, Alma Road, St Leonards Road, and others around Windsor (Connected Kerb). Parking restrictions may apply.
- 22kW charging available in Q-Park Windsor Royal on Charles Street (Blink charging). Car parking charges also apply — there’s a discount if you book online.
- If you want to stay overnight, there’s charging available at the Macdonald Windsor Hotel and Castle Hotel Windsor (listed as Sutton Hotels on Zapmap).
If you’re on your way to Windsor and want to stop before you arrive, you’ve got even more options:
- Rapid charging at MFG Slough with four CCS and four CHAdeMO connectors (7 mins north of Windsor, not far from the M4).
- Rapid charging at Co-Op Lightwater with two CCS and two CHAdeMO connectors (24 mins south of Windsor, not far from the M3).
- Rapid charging at Brooklands M&S with eight CCS and eight CHAdeMO connectors (35 mins south east of Windsor, not far from the M25).
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⚡ Why it’s great
Windsor Great Park offers a moment of calm on any journey, whether you’re travelling for work, on a road trip, or visiting Windsor for a few days. The park itself is part of the Windsor Estate, and it has something for everyone.
Walks
There are plenty of walks throughout the parkland and woods. The Savill Garden is a great place to start and gives you easy access to the Obelisk Lawn, Cow Pond, and Chapel Wood.
On the Virginia Water side, you can enjoy a 5.25-mile walk around the lake. You can also visit The Cascade, a 30-foot waterfall.
There’s also The Long Walk, a 2.5-mile path that connects Windsor Castle and the Great Park. This is a great choice if you’re charging in the centre of Windsor and want to get your steps in. You get some fantastic views back towards the castle, and the path also passes through a deer park that’s home to 500 red deer.
Food
In Windsor Great Park, you have a few options for food. If you fancy a picnic, you can stock up from the Windsor Farm Shop, which is a short distance from the park.
If you’d prefer to sit down and eat, the Savill Garden Kitchen serves a seasonal menu of hot and cold lunches (booking is recommended during busy periods). There’s also the Virginia Water Cafe, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Play
There’s an incredible adventure play area at Windsor Great Park (Savill Garden). It’s suitable for ages 2-12 and features walkways, slides, and things to climb. Tickets must be booked in advance with two-hour session times between 9:15am and 4:15pm. The cost of tickets varies, but adults must also book a ticket — find the details here.
What you need to know
- The park is open daily from 7am-10pm
- Car parks open at 7am with last entry at 7pm
- It’s free to visit the park, but there are additional charges for parking, access to Savill Gardens, entry to the adventure play area, and select events.
- Opening times for cafes and other facilities may vary, so check before you visit.
✨ Experience
Whenever I’m passing near Windsor, I make a point to stop at the Great Park. I love getting out into nature, so it was a pleasure to birdwatch at the Cow Pond, visit the Obelisk, and walk through the trees.
In October last year, we made a point to stay in Windsor. It’s a beautiful town with lots to do, no matter whether you’re into history, food and drink, or shopping.
Recommendations
Plate at No. 6 - A lovely little tapas restaurant with great food and wine.
The Crooked House - Great for tea and cake during the day, but it does fantastic cocktails in the evening too.
Windsor Castle - If you are staying in the area for a few days, take time to explore Windsor Castle. Some highlights include: the magnificent ceremonial rooms, Henry VIII’s suit of armour, watching the changing of the guard, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, and more.
Shopping in Windsor - There are lots of great boutiques dotted around, so take your time to explore. If you need some serious retail therapy, visit the Windsor Royal Shopping Centre, where you’ll find a nice mix of luxury and high street shops. It’s near the Q-Park, so it’s a good first stop if you’re charging.
Everything Electric South
If you’re heading to Everything Electric at Farnborough, Windsor makes a great stop. For me, it’s quite a trek to the event from Norwich, so Windsor makes a nice overnight treat so I can arrive feeling refreshed.
(On 11th October, I’ll be joining Jack Scarlett, Kate Tyrell, and Paul Clarke on stage at Everything Electric to discuss how to choose and live with your first EV.)
