Close Attractions
Sand Martins Golf Club - Wokingham
Talk to any of our members and you'll soon discover that the wonderfully friendly and relaxed atmosphere which they enjoy is the envy of clubs for miles around. Add to that the superb facilities on offer, and the combination of traditional values with a refreshing modern approach to golf, and you have the recipe for the perfect Golf Club Membership. Opened in 1993, the Course's maturity far exceeds its tender years and offers a challenging 6,212 yards, par 70, maintained to the very highest standards, with tees and greens built to USGA specifications. Sown with bent and fescue grasses, the course comprises two contrasting loops of nine holes.The outward nine, set in parkland, boasts extensive lakes and water hazards, offering a challenging but thoroughly enjoyable start to the round.
Ascot Racecourse -Berkshire
Ascot, founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, is one of the world's greatest racecourses. It was while Queen Anne was out riding on the edge of Windsor Great Park that she noticed a natural clearing near the villge of East Cote, now called Ascot. Queen Anne ordered a course to be laid out 'for horses to gallop at full stretch' and so the Royal Racecourse was born. The first four-day Royal Meeting was held in June 1768 and it has continued to the present day. Today Ascot Racecourse stages 27 days of the highest quality flat and National Hunt racing throughout the year. Royal Ascot is internationally renowned as a sporting and social occasion, where tradition, pageantry, fashion and style all meet in a glorious setting.
Royal Windsor Racecourse - Windsor
Windsor Racecourse is situated between Windsor and Maidenhead and has excellent access to most major motorway networks and rail services. The course is laid out in the form of a figure eight just over a mile and a half in length, the final five furlongs of which are virtually straight. Six furlong races start on an extension to this straight. There are three different areas: the Club enclosure, the Grandstand Enclosure and the Silver Ring. All enclosures have TOTE betting facilities, bookmakers and access to the centre of the course. The Club Enclosure gives you access to all public areas, bars and restaurants and allows entry to the Members Lawn, Paddock lawn, Parade Ring, Pre-Parade Ring & Silver Ring areas. The Club Enclosure also has the prime position next to the winning post.
Windsor Centre
Windsor's number one attraction is, of course, the Castle, and deservedly so.Windsor's excellent road and rail links make it a good place to stay. Windsor has an excellent choice of shops for a town of its size. The town centre has department stores, high street names, a supermarket, and a great many specialist and fashion shops, in addition to shops catering for tourists and a Saturday Market. Whilst shopping, food is always close at hand! The main shopping areas are Peascod Street, the High Street and Thames Street, Windsor Royal Station / King Edward Court, and Eton High Street. Slightly further out is St Leonards Road. Peascod Street, Windsor Royal Station and King Edward Court are all pedestrianised.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world, and the oldest in continuous occupation (over 900 years). It is one of the Queen's three official residences, and is often said to be her favourite. The Royal Standard flies over the Round Tower of Windsor Castle when the Queen is in residence - at other times, the Union Jack flag flies in its place.Samuel Pepys proclaimed the Castle to be "the most romantique castle that is in the world". That was in 1666, and the same is true today.The origins of Windsor were in the 7th century Saxon settlement of Windlesora, where the present day village of Old Windsor is located. The town of Windsor is correctly known as "New Windsor" - the word "new" being used in a strictly relative sense!Windsor Castle was first built by William the Conqueror, following his invasion of England in 1066. The original structure was built from timber with earth fortifications. The Castle held an obvious strategic position on a steep hill overlooking the River Thames, and was part of a ring of castles around London, with the Tower of London, one day's march away, at its heart. The Castle was later rebuilt in stone, and grew in importance over the years. Henry II constructed the Round Tower and the original stone outer wall. Following the English Civil War, the Castle's primary role became that of a royal palace. The Castle has remained largely unchanged since the early nineteenth century, apart from the restoration work following the fire.The Fire of Windsor Castle took place on 20 November 1992 - ironically the 45th wedding anniversary of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. During work on some of the State Rooms in the castle, a fire broke out in the north-east part of the Castle and rapidly spread to engulf many rooms. Fortunately most treasures and works of art had been removed temporarily and so few items were lost, although over 100 rooms in the Castle were badly damaged or destroyed. The fire took 250 firefighters some 15 hours to extinguish. The Castle was renovated, the aim being to restore the damaged rooms to their former glory using authentic materials and craftsmanship, and was re-opened in 1997 after five years of work. The cost of the renovation was 37 million pounds.