Why Windsor is leading the way for post-lockdown family days out
While the town of Windsor tentatively reopened for business on Saturday, with its restaurants, river cruises and tourist attractions finally able to welcome visitors, one local resident remained steadfastly at home.
The Queen, you see, has spent lockdown in Windsor Castle, her presence announced by the vast Royal Standard flag – which flaps constantly above its stone turrets whenever she’s ‘in’. I wondered, though, if Her Majesty was now staying put in a ploy to attract visitors back to the Royal Borough: after all, in ‘normal’ times, her mere (out-of-sight) presence is enough to lure tourists in droves. By staying at home, perhaps she was giving the local economy a boost once again?
Like all of England’s top tourist destinations, Windsor has been hit devastatingly hard by the pandemic. While Peascod Street – the major shopping area – seems to have bounced back well since the reopening of non-essential retail, the visitor-focused attractions face a far more bleak scenario. On any typical summer’s day, the town is usually abuzz with international visitors: you can hear languages from all over the globe within just a few paces, with tour groups revelling in the history, charm and utter loveliness of this Thames-side town. In their absence, could Windsor now be a haven for domestic day-trippers – or would it feel depressingly flat?
As soon as I stepped onto the Long Walk, I had my answer. In one direction, the deer-dotted meadows of the Great Park unfurled, while in the other, the mighty Castle loomed close – but the real treat? Seeing people enjoy it. Social distancing was in full swing, with clusters of picnickers, dog walkers and sunbathers as far as the eye could see.
Elsewhere in town, and on Castle Hill, the streets were pleasantly busy. I’ve spent the last few weeks playing it very safe, so would’ve beaten a swift retreat if the BC (Before-Covid) crowds had been present – but it was easy enough to maintain social distancing, especially with the added peace-of-mind of a face covering. It was clear, however, that these tourists hadn’t come far: I spent a good half-hour quizzing people where they’d come from, and the farthest-afield hometown was Nottingham. “It feels great to finally have a day trip outside,” said one couple from Purley. “We’ve spent the last few weeks making plans for where to visit when lockdown was over, and Windsor was top of our list.”
The Castle itself isn’t yet open to visitors, but Windsor’s other attractions are raring to go – with a few ‘new normal’ alterations, of course. On French Brothers river cruises, seating areas are sectioned-off to maintain social distancing on board, with boats cleaned rigorously between passengers. “Even during the Second World War, we had boat trips out on the Thames every day,” said company director Chris French. “So lockdown, as you might imagine, was incredibly hard for us.” We dutifully boarded while maintaining over a metre’s distance from others, and gave our details for contact tracing. The river, however, was unchanged: its rippling water overlooked by million-pound mansions and glorious countryside, with swans and cygnets paddling in the shallows.
Elsewhere in the town, other tourism companies have adapted well. For Blue Badge-accredited guide Amanda Bryett, investment in a new voiceover system means she’s able to lead her award-winning tours from a safe distance – while Windsor Escape Experience has transformed its ‘escape room’ game into an outdoor treasure hunt that takes participants through Windsor. With competitors in bubbled-up groups, and iPads for an augmented reality twist, it’s already proving popular with families looking for a fun day out.
I also popped into the Queen Charlotte pub, a few steps from the Castle, for a G&T made from their very own ‘Gin&’er’ tipple – which was created in honour of Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018. There were screens between groups, and strictly table service only – but after a long day’s exploring, I was very happy to be waited on.
Windsor Carriages, meanwhile, has installed a perspex screen in its largest horse-drawn carriage – and is hoping to relaunch trips in late July. “Our horses enjoyed their time in furlough,” owner Rebecca Seear told me over the phone, “but I can just hear my grandfather saying the business survived two World Wars – so it can survive this, too. It’s up to me to keep it going, however we can.”
Of course, no visit to Windsor is complete without a trip to Legoland – which also reopened this weekend. With signs reminding visitors about social distancing, hand sanitizing stations everywhere, and masks mandatory on many of the rides, it was a reassuringly well-managed experience. And, through their face shields and masks, the staff were clearly over the moon to be back: “I felt really emotional when we opened the gates this morning,” said one park employee. “We’ve spent months preparing for this moment – it was just fantastic to see families here again.” On all rides, selected areas were cordoned off to maintain social distancing – with staff swooping in to clean the cabs as soon as each group left.
Over in Miniland, with its famous Lego-built world icons, there’s a new addition: a Key Worker ‘Thank You’, which features lockdown heroes galore. Here, immortalised in Lego bricks, you’ll find mini NHS medics, teachers and posties, alongside a lunging Joe Wicks, and Honorary Colonel Tom Moore doing some laps of his garden. Maybe it was all the fresh air, or the excitement of England’s Big Day Out – but suddenly I felt a little misty-eyed too.
