A Classic Windsor Boutique Hotel with the Royal Touch
It’s not every weekend you get to spend your weekend in the presence of royalty. Over the Easter weekend I noticed the Royal Standard flying from the Round Tower at Windsor Castle that I realised the Queen was at home. I was staying next door to her majesty at one of the towns oldest Hotels, The Castle Hotel on the High Street opposite The Guildhall. The Castle Hotel is a beautiful Georgian building with a long history going back over 500 years. Windsor has a lot to offer the day or weekend visitor. The castle has been home to the Kings & Queens of Britain for over a thousand years and dwarfs the town over its 13 acres.
The town’s cobbled streets and superb Thame side location offers the visitor much to explore with a rich mix of history, culture, heritage and fun. There were plenty of musical and theatrical events advertised around the town, there are excellent shopping and retail outlets and plenty of dining experiences to suit every budget and taste.
The Hotel provides plenty of car parking at the rear and on arrival at the hotel reception we were swiftly and efficiently checked and a bell-boy collected and delivered our luggage to our room.
The hotel offers a `sensory story telling` experience which started with my selection of a fragrance for my room. I was also invited to continue the journey with an afternoon tea experience and to enjoy a specially created cocktail later in the afternoon. The hotel interior was beautiful with several authentic features including the fireplaces and lovingly restored décor.
The Superior bed room was beautifully decorated in a clean contemporary design. The King Size bed was enormous with the finest Egyptian cotton sheets. The shower room was smart and compact with a full complimentary range of luxury Lanvin toiletries and two very much appreciated fluffy bath robes. The bedroom also provided free High Speed Internet, a 48inch Television, Mini Bar with complimentary soft drinks and a Nespresso machine along with other tea/coffee making facilities.
The `Hart in the Park` afternoon tea was a real treat for the taste buds with serving staff providing an attentive but not intrusive service whether we were asking for more tea, extra napkins or extra side plates. The afternoon tea began with a generous amount of salmon on toast topped with small round capers. I then enjoyed a collection of finely cut sandwiches including cucumber, egg sandwiches and then ham on red bread. The warm scones, jam and clotted cream were tasty and filling and the Jasmine and Vanilla mini – sponge cake delicate and refreshing. I even struggled to finish the chocolate ganache delicacy!
Later in the evening I completed the `sensory` journey by enjoying a cocktail called `The Windsor Dynasty` in the comfortable library area of the hotel. The cocktail was a strong alcoholic combination of smoked vodka infused with citrus peel and zest, Gin infused with fresh lavender blended with bergamot, lemon balm, freshly squeezed orange juice and Acacia honey syrup.
From my room, I could see The Guildhall and parts of the castle walls.
Next morning, I stood outside the Hotel and watched the Changing of the Guard. The Coldstream Guards, a Regimental Band, Corps of Drums and a Pipe Band marched past the hotel from the Victoria Barracks at the bottom of the High Street and back again about thirty minutes later. It was a colourful spectacle of British pageantry I felt fortunate to witness at such close – proximity.
I had such a wonderful stay and I can’t wait to visit this beautiful town again sometime soon!
*This stay was complimentary but all views are my own!
