Shopping Local in My Royal Borough
This is part two in our three part-series on shopping local, shopping safely in My Royal Borough.
Shopping is one of the top reasons to come to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. You can safely browse its pedestrian-only shopping centres and shop-lined streets offering shoppers a great mixture of high-street names and independent retailers.
It offers a great mix of cafes and restaurants that enables locals and visitors to enjoy the simple act of enjoying a meal together, from dining under the stars to enjoying meals adorned with Michelin-stars. Whether you fancy independent stonebaked pizza served with cask ales to French cuisine paired with the perfect wine, My Royal Borough has got your taste buds covered.
Easy to get to, easy to get round!
Arriving by train? Windsor and Eton’s railway stations are centrally located for the towns’ shopping areas, so too is Maidenhead railway station.
Coming by car? Head for a long-stay car park where a day’s parking is more economical.
Elegant and distinctly well-heeled, there is a wealth of good shopping opportunities, whether you’re after original handmade items, vintage gems, quality high-street goods or lush plants for your house or garden.
And the compact town centres mean everything is easily accessible.
Windsor & Eton
At the heart of shopping in Windsor and Eton is Windsor Royal Station, a mostly covered area that occupies the site of an 1850s railway station where you can still see Queen Victoria’s royal waiting room.
Here you can browse upmarket brands in a continental café setting; you might also be intrigued by Artique, an art gallery with a consultancy service.
From Windsor Royal Station, steps lead down to Windsor Yards, a pedestrian-friendly collection of good high-street stores including Daniels of Windsor department store, independent family-run jewellers Anthony Paul Design Goldsmiths, Zara and Cotswold Outdoor.
Peascod Street, the car-free road that runs down the hill directly opposite Windsor Castle, has more high-street brands including Superdry and Barbour.
You might want to pop into vintage store Really Me at no 44 which sells clothing, accessories, furniture, bric-a-brac, books and vinyl and also helps fund Thames Hospice.
Lower Peascod Street and St Leonard’s Road are where Windsorians love to shop. Here you’ll find a part of Windsor that champions the independent retailer and you'll discover cosy cafes, original homeware shops and great food and wine, with a bit of fashion thrown in for good measure.
Shops in Windsor along the High Street, Thames Street and the 17th-century Windsor Guildhall enjoy a scenic location beneath the Castle, and specialist shops entice visitors with local jewellery and woollens, as well as royal regalia in the form of souvenirs.
Eton
Stroll from here across the bridge over the Thames and you’ll come to Eton High Street, leading towards the famous Eton College – where one normally couldn’t miss the pupils in their chalk-stripe trousers, tailcoats and wing-collared shirts.
Amongst the tailors, discover quintessential gentlemen's outfitters New & Lingwood, founded in 1865 to cater for the sartorial needs of Eton College pupils and still occupying the same site on Eton High Street all these years later.
Aside from the school, Eton is renowned for its art and antique shops and appealing small family businesses, including jewellers, bookshops and gift shops.
On the mile-long strip of shops between the Thames and Eton College you can browse for original paintings, prints and photography, haute couture and leather goods.
There are plenty of traditional pubs and eating places to stop and refuel too.
Out of town
One of the most beautiful and unusual shops in the area is located in The Savill Building; it has a dramatic, undulating wooden ceiling and is the elegant gateway to The Savill Garden in Windsor Great Park.
The shop proudly sources most of its products – from gourmet food to kids’ games – from across the UK, and they favour fairtrade, organic and charitable suppliers.
Keen gardeners will be drawn to the outdoor plant area with plants lovingly nurtured in The Savill Garden itself, and you’ll find gifts, books and maps, bespoke stationery and Windsor Great Park preserves.
Many like to finish off their visit with tea and a homemade cake in The Savill Garden Kitchen.
Maidenhead
Neighbouring Maidenhead is perfect for high street shopping, independent shops and is brilliant for markets. The Nicholsons Centre has everything under one roof and has fantastic shops like Craft Coop, which provides a safe and socially distanced space for local designers and makers to sell, exhibit, and make! It is a community space that also offers unique handcrafted treasures for lucky people to buy for themselves or for very special gifts.
There is also a tempting weekly produce market with fresh and delicious street food.
Neighbouring Towns and Villages
Ascot, Cookham, Sunninghill and Sunningdale offer fine boutiques, arts and crafts stores, florists and wine merchants.
Thank you for supporting your local businesses and our community. We are in this together and are working tirelessly to ensure the safety of our community. Have we missed any businesses that you think we should highlight? Are there any businesses you would like to promote or send a “thank you” to?
Drop us a line or tag us on our digital channels at #MyRoyalBorough and let us know.
Stay tuned for our final blog in our series next week where we cover extending your stay in the borough.