Visit Windsor, Berkshire Places

Welcome to Visit Windsor, Berkshire Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Windsor, Berkshire

  

Windsor, Berkshire Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Windsor, Berkshire

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Windsor, Berkshire history

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Medieval period

The early history of the site is unknown, although it was almost certainly settled some years before 1070 when William the Conqueror had a timber motte-and-bailey castle constructed. The focus of royal interest at that time was not the castle, but a small riverside settlement about 3 miles (4.8 km) downstream, possibly established from the 7th century.

Plantagenet period

The settlement at Old Windsor largely transferred to New Windsor during the 12th century. New Windsor was a privileged settlement from the start, apparently having the rights of a free borough, for which other towns had to pay substantial fees to the king. It was the site of the Treaty of Windsor in the year 1175, following the Normans invasion of Ireland.

Tudor and Stuart periods

Shakespeare’s play The Merry Wives of Windsor is set in Windsor and contains many references to parts of the town and surrounding countryside. Henry VIII was buried in St George’s Chapel in 1547, next to Jane Seymour, the mother of his only legitimate son Edward (Edward VI) Henry, the founder of the Church of England, may have wanted to benefit from the stream of pilgrims coming to the town. With the closures of the Reformation, Windsor’s pilgrims traffic died out, and the town began to stagnate about ten years afterwards.

Georgian and Victorian periods

In 1778, there was a resumption of the royal presence, with George III at the Queen’s Lodge and, from 1804, at the castle. This started a period of new development in Windsor, with the building of two army barracks. The associated large numbers of soldiers led to a major prostitution problem by 1830, in a town where the number of streets had little changed since 1530.

Later periods

“New Windsor” was officially renamed “Windsor” in 1974. Most of the current town’s streets date from the mid to late 19th century. The main street, Peascod Street, predates the castle by many years, and is probably of Anglo-Saxon origin.

Windsor, Berkshire etymology

Windlesora is first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The name originates from old English Windles-ore or winch by the riverside. By 1110, meetings of the Great Council were noted as taking place at the castle.

You can visit Windsor, Berkshire places with Walkfo Windsor, Berkshire to hear history at Windsor, Berkshire’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Windsor, Berkshire has 99 places to visit in our interactive Windsor, Berkshire map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Windsor, Berkshire, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Windsor, Berkshire places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Windsor, Berkshire & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 99 audio facts unique to Windsor, Berkshire places in an interactive Windsor, Berkshire map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Windsor, Berkshire Places Map
99 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Windsor, Berkshire historic spots	Windsor, Berkshire tourist destinations	Windsor, Berkshire plaques	Windsor, Berkshire geographic features
Walkfo Windsor, Berkshire tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Windsor, Berkshire

  

Best Windsor, Berkshire places to visit

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Windsor, Berkshire has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Windsor, Berkshire’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Windsor, Berkshire’s information audio spots:

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Visit Windsor, Berkshire plaques