Windsor 2025 Christmas 23rd – 27th December
Tuesday, 13th January 2026
One Traveller again.Having thoroughly enjoyed my holiday in Venice with this company last year, after my sister Pat died on 4th October this year, I was glad that I had booked to spend Christmas organised by them Pat was returned from Epsom Hospital on her 70th birthday 25th September. As I am the eldest of five members of my family I find it very sad that Pat is the third of us to have died. Only my youngest sister and I remain. My two brothers Tim and Des are gone before us. Tim on 24th July 2004. Des 26 October 2010. My now only sister Bernadette was born on thirteenth of May 1961. There are seventeen years between us. My father died in 1988 aged 74 and my mother in 2005 aged aged 81. As I was 81 last September I have lived longer than any member of my family. My sister will only be 65 this coming May
Christmas in Windsor
Our accommodation was at:
MacDonald Windsor Hotel
23 High Street Windsor SL4 1LH
Located almost opposite Windsor Castle
Central to so much that can be enjoyed in Windsor.
Our Tour Manager was Teresa Savage-Hirst (Teri)
An experienced and approachable, efficient, good humoured and well travelled lady.
The accommodation was excellent and the staff welcoming, dutiful and dedicated.
Thank goodness for immigrants hailing from India, Africa, and elsewhere.
There were thirty holiday makers in our Group. We seemed to be aged sixty to eighty. I think that one lady was possibly ninety plus. There were only four men among us. Good, nourishing food served was not always cooked sufficiently. Of course nothing is ever perfect. One woman in the group opted to complain consistently not only about the food but almost everything else. Being mature folk the rest of us chose to ignore her negative jibs.
One Traveller provided us with a well planned programme.
On Christmas Eve a Blue Badge Guide led us around Windsor and over the bridge to Eton College. We were very fortunate with the weather. While it was cold the sun shone as walked. Mike who proved to be an excellent guide. 
I was delighted when he stopped to be introduce to a statue of an Irish Guard.
It was worth the long walk over to Eton College even though as it was over the holiday period we could not enter the premises. But I suppose that I can claim that I’ve been to Eton!
At four o’clock that evening we were transported to Saville Gardens to enjoy their spectacular Illuminations.
We walked the full 2.2 kms admiring the wonderful display.
Christmas Day
After breakfast we were invited to walk the Long Walk from Windsor Castle. This was exhilarating. The sun appeared in a radiating blue sky. Those of us who chose to walk joined many others. I continued for approximately just over one kilometre.
On St Stephen’s Day (known as Boxing Day by some) we were driven to Runnymede to the place where the Magna Carta was signed.
Terrance Rattigan’s play ‘The Winslow Boy’ reminded people of the importance of Magna Carta
Terence Rattigan (of Irish heritage)
Among the several points of interest around the memorial. For instance the Jurors artwork to commemorate 800 years since the Magna Carta was signed.
Over 800 years ago, Magna Carta was sealed on the banks of Runnymede – a founding moment in shaping the basis of common law across the world.
Writ in Water is a large-scale architectural installation designed by artist Mark Wallinger, commissioned by the National Trust in association with arts producers Situations, which celebrates the enduring significance of Magna Carta.
Set in the heart of this ancient landscape, Writ in Water reflects upon the founding principles of democracy and. through a meeting of water, sky and light, offers a space for reflection and contemplation.
After we visited the Airforce Memorial where we contemplated the great loss of many young lives during various wars, we were driven back to our hotel to enjoy our Christmas lunch. That was followed by King Charles Christmas message and some games and a sing song.
After lunch we walked to Windsor Theatre to enjoy the pantomime based on the story of Cinderella.
On our final day, Mike, our excellent guide came to our hotel where we had assembled and led over to join a very long queue of those waiting to enter Windsor Castle. It had been closed over the holidays hence the length of the queue. It was cold but the sun shone and there was a sense of expectation shared among good humoured folk hailing from many nations.
As we each had our pre-booked entry tickets once we neared the entrance we were carefully guided to see many of the numerous places of interest in and around this huge castle. There was so much to see that I was delighted to learn that our tickets would be valid for many return visits throughout the following year.
Our time in the Castle nearing closure we joined the crowds awaiting the Changing of the Guards Ceremony. Wonderfully it was the Irish Guards turn on duty.
