Great Fosters

Surrounded by vast, picturesque gardens and parkland in the heart of Windsor, leisure at Great Fosters is all about reducing the pace of life, taking advantage of the great outdoors and taking a moment to feel like a member of the aristocracy. As you stroll around the formal gardens, you can just imagine yourself stepping back in time. Originally designed by W H Romaine Walker and Gilbert Jenkins, they are amongst the finest Arts and Crafts gardens in Europe, complete with exquisite details such as a Saxon moat, a knot garden designed to reflect the intricate beauty of a Persian rug, fragrant beds of flowers and herbs, manicured topiary and at the heart the Drake sundial, which historians suggest may have been donated by Sir Francis Drake and is believed to date back to 1585. In short, the gardens are very much an experience in their own right.

With this much space however, the leisure experience does not stop there. Here you can play outdoor chess, life-sized Jenga or croquet, swim in their magnificent outdoor pool or simply sit by it, reading a good book and enjoying the surroundings. As a dog friendly destination you’re welcome to bring your dog to enjoy a stroll around the grounds as well. Meanwhile, once you’ve enjoyed the great outdoors to your heart’s content, there are two treatment rooms in the Utopia Spa, where you can enjoy a range of holistic beauty and wellbeing therapies from the Temple Spa product line, inspired by the sunny shores of the Mediterranean.

A retreat fit for royalty, Great Fosters is a four star hotel that sits within 50 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and parkland in Windsor. Practically in the shadow of Windsor Castle, reputedly the Queen’s favourite residence, Great Fosters is the sister hotel to another great luxury retreat, Alexander House Hotel. A magnificent red brick homage to Elizabethan design, the hotel’s history dates back to 1598, and testament to that is an original royal crest of Queen Elizabeth I above the main porch. Over the years it has played host to an eclectic array of guests, including the likes of Orson Welles and Charlie Chaplin, but today it remains as luxurious as ever following a careful period of restoration.

While the exterior is all about history, inside the hotel is an exercise in options both historic and contemporary. There’s a range of rooms and suites available, from the Historic Suites to Comfy rooms and private residences for those who want a little extra peace and quiet. Historic Suites are a sensory experience brimming with Flemish tapestries, luxe velvet finishes, rich colours and Grade I Listed Jacobean wall features - in short, they are the height of romance. Meanwhile, 'Cosy' rooms and ‘Comfy’ kings situated in either the Coach House and Cloisters or the Main House, are more contemporary in style but no less decadent. The hotel also offers vast suites that are practically houses in their own right, and dog friendly rooms so that four legged friends don’t need to miss out.

The luxury doesn’t stop there however. Great Fosters is also a master of superb dining, with Michelin Star restaurant, The Tudor Room, proving to be a perennial favourite, as well as the more contemporary surroundings of The Estate Grill being a gastronomic delight. The hotel specialises in modern English and European cuisine, while each space brings its own atmospheric experience to the table. Also a must while you’re here are indulgent afternoon teas (preferably with Champagne), and cocktails on the terrace overlooking the pristine formal gardens.