I’m absolutely delighted to have passed the Windsor and Eton Endorsement Course, and to now be able to guide in Windsor – at the Castle, in the town, and in Windsor Great Park – and in Eton.
Windsor is one of those towns that grew up around a historic building – in Windsor’s case, Windsor Castle, and built on the orders of William the Conqueror at the end of the 11th century. There is such a wealth of history attached to the Castle from its early days to the time of Edward III and the founding of the Order of the Garter in 1348, to the changes made by King George IV in the 19th century, and the restoration after the 1992 fire.
And the beautiful parkland in the Great Park – such as Savill Gardens, Virginia Water, Valley Gardens the Long Walk with the Copper Horse statue of King George III at the end – offers the perfect space for walking and getting away from it all. The fields of Runnymede are also a must-see, where King John gave his seal to the Magna Carta in 1215, the event commemorated by the Magna Carta Memorial and which sits alongside the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial and the Kennedy Memorial, remembering the life of the assassinated American President, John F Kennedy.
Across the Thames from Windsor, Eton is most famous as the home of Eton College founded by King Henry VI in 1440 and with 21 of the UK’s prime ministers being Old Etonians. Eton itself is charming and well worth a walk through the streets – as is a tour of Windsor, with historic buildings ranging from Charles II’s mistress Nell Gwynne’s house, to the historic Guildhall dating from the 1680s, and where King Charles III married Queen Camilla in 2005.
In addition to guiding across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire, I’m now looking forward to doing walks and tours in Windsor and Eton.
If you’re interested in doing a guided tour in Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire – in any of the cities, towns, or historic buildings – or in Windsor and Eton, please do get in touch.
Caroline Wigley 