The Cascade, Virginia Water Lake, Windsor Great Park.

Visitor updates

As an operational Estate, it is sometimes necessary to close parts of Windsor Great Park. Please check the updates below before you travel and, if you are unfamiliar with Windsor Great Park, download the Park map & guide

Closures which can occasionally happen on the day are communicated on our Social Media channels. If you are not already following us, you can do so here:

Windsor Great Park map & guide

Before you visit, download or bookmark the Windsor Great Park map & guide.

Restricted access to The Savill Garden and Adventure Play car park: 13 March 2024

Due to a road closure on Wick Lane, there will be diverted access to The Savill Garden and Adventure Play car park from Bishopsgate Road or Kings Lane. Please follow the diversion signs that are in place.

Access to the car park is available from Wick Road, via the A30 London Road.

Severe weather closures – 22 January 2024 UPDATE

Monday 22 January

After an assessment and following our severe weather procedures, we have taken the decision to close the following facilities:

Car parks

The following car parks will open at 10am on Monday 22 January:

  • Virginia Water South car park

All other car parks are now open.

Attractions

The Queen Elizabeth Temperate House remains closed.

Please take extra care when visiting Windsor Great Park, stick to the designated paths and observe any signs in place.

Facility closures

Picnic Field car park

Due to the wet ground conditions, the Picnic Field car park will be closed on weekdays until further notice.

The car park remains open on weekends.

Virginia Water Café Terrace closure – 4 March 2024

The outdoor seating terrace for the Virgnia Water Café will be closed from Monday 4 March 2024 for essential maintenance work.

The terrace will re-open on Saturday 16 March 2024.

Limited outdoor seating will be available outside the exit of the Virginia Water Café, beside the Virginia Water Pavilion dog terrace.

Seating remains available inside Virginia Water Café, however on busy days you may wish to plan ahead and a full list of our food & drink options in Windsor Great Park can be found here.

Crowthorne Forest and Bracknell Road

Forestry operations

Throughout February and March, the Forestry Team will be undertaking timber harvesting works in Crowthorne Forest. This is part of our ongoing forest management across the Windsor Estate which is in line with our long-term forest plan. The Forests are managed to balance economic, social, and environmental objectives and routine forest management in the form of harvesting, planting and habitat management contribute towards these objectives.

Conifer woodlands generally receive a harvesting intervention every 5-7 years. This is in the form of thinning (where 20-30% of the trees are removed from a woodland to allow the remaining trees more room to grow) or clear felling, where mature trees are felled to allow for replanting to take place. This rotation can be around 70 years in conifer woodlands.  

Crowthorne is generally a young forest with lots of areas regenerating following the forest fire in 2011. Over the coming weeks we will be focusing on thinning some of the middle and mature-aged plantations. The timber harvested will be used in construction, fencing and landscape materials, animal bedding and biomass. Because our woodlands are continually growing and are replanted following felling it makes these wood products completely sustainable. 

Wildlife habitats

This cyclical management also ensures that there is a wide range of habitats available in the Forest. There are species in Crowthorne that depend on different stages of woodland cover and our management aims to ensure that there is continuity of availability of all habitat types.

Ground nesting birds such as Woodlark, Nightjar and Dartford Warbler will use the felled areas and the young plantations, as will reptiles and insects. Young crops provide thicket conditions and provide cover for other nesting bird species and mammals. Mature trees provide roosting habitats, and an element of decaying wood will provide habitats for invertebrates. Following the fire in 2011 a network of ponds and wetlands were created throughout the Forest which are great habitats for dragonflies, amphibians, and reptiles.

Bracknell Road

Along with routine forest management activities, we will also be felling trees alongside Bracknell Road. These trees are in poor condition and are beginning to pose a risk to motorists using this busy stretch of road. They are also encroaching into the overhead powerlines running just inside the woodland causing damage to the network and regular power outages to nearby properties.

Working with SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy) and Bracknell Forest Council a road closure has been put in place to allow this work to be undertaken safely. We appreciate that this will cause disruption in the short term, but the work will bring longer term benefits in terms of road safety and improved energy supply.

Long term plans

Once the trees have been removed, the aim is to plant a new hedge in their place that can be managed for biodiversity benefits without compromising road and energy infrastructure.

We appreciate your patience while this work is being undertaken and ask that you follow signs and directions from operators as they are there to ensure your safety on the worksite. 

Winter closures of areas of Windsor Great Park

During the winter, ground conditions in some areas of Windsor Great Park can become extremely wet and boggy.

To protect the historic landscape of the Windsor Estate, some areas of Windsor Great Park are closed until spring. This includes:

  • Queen Anne’s Ride
  • Deep Strood

Other areas of Windsor Great Park may also be closed but not listed here. Please observe the signs and fencing that will be in place across all areas of Windsor Great Park.

Winter business hours: 29 October – 15 November 2023

The Savill Garden, Visitor Centre and Gift Shops

The Savill Garden

  • 9am – 5pm (last admission to the Garden is at 4pm)

The Savill Garden Gift Shop & Plant Centre

  • 9am – 5pm

Virginia Water Gift Shop

  • 8.30am – 4pm

Food & drink

The Savill Garden Kitchen

Monday – Friday

  • Lunch: 11.30am – 3.30pm
  • Drinks & Desserts only: 3.30pm – 4pm
  • The kitchen closes at: 4.30pm

Saturday – Sunday & Bank Holidays

  • Breakfast: 9am – 11.30am
  • Pizza only: 11.30am – 12pm
  • Lunch: 12pm – 3..30pm
  • Drinks & Desserts only: 3.30pm – 4pm
  • The kitchen closes at: 4.30pm

The Gallery Café

  • 9am – 5pm

Virginia Water Café

  • 8.30am – 4pm (last orders at 3.40pm)

Takeaway facilities

The Potting Shed

  • Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm
  • Saturday – Sunday & Bank Holidays: 8.30am – 5pm

Obelisk Lawn

  • 8.30am – 4pm

Virginia Water Lake

  • 8.30am – 4.15pm

Blacknest Gate

  • 9am – 4.15pm

The Totem Pole

  • Weekends and school holidays only: 10.30am – 4pm

The Valley Gardens

  • 9am – 4pm
Deer Park closures

For operational reasons, please be aware that on Tuesdays throughout autumn and winter, the Deer Park will not open until 9.30am at the latest.

Obelisk Lawn Toddler play closure – 19 February 2024

The toddler play area on Obelisk Lawn will be closed on Monday 19 February 2024 for essential maintenance.

The area will re-open on Tuesday 20 February 2024.

Car Park closures

Stag Meadow car park will be closed from the morning of Monday 25 March until the evening of Wednesday 27 March 2024 for operational reasons.

Deer rutting season

During the deer rutting season, please be reminded of the following guidance when visiting the Deer Park to keep yourself, others and the deer safe.

  • Dogs must be kept on a short lead and under close control at all times
  • Do not approach or follow the deer
  • Keep your distance – binoculars or a long range lens are essential
  • Follow any signs and the directions given by the team

In the unlikely event that you are threatened, back away slowly and try to put a barrier, such as a tree, between yourself and the animal.

Remember, deer are wild animals and we ask you to be respectful of them.

Sharing the space with horses

Please be aware of a temporary closure on the National Cycle Route Network 4 inside Stag Meadow for essential maintenance.

The area of the closure is small. When cycling along the route, cyclists should dismount and walk the few steps around the closure.

Obelisk Pond footpath closure – 30 Oct – 15 Nov

From Monday 30 October to the evening of Wednesday 15 November, the highlighted footpath around Obelisk Pond will be closed to allow for the installation of Windsor Great Park Illuminated.

During this time there will be increased vehicle movement around Obelisk Pond.

For your safety and the safety of others, please take due care when visiting the area and follow any signage and directions from the Windsor Great Park and Windsor Great Park Illuminated teams.

The footpath will re-open from Thursday 16 November.

A large black and white dog sits on grass on the left side of the picture. It the background is a person holding the reins of a black horse.

Discover more

These useful links will help you make the most of your visit to Windsor Great Park. 

Windsor Great Park
Windsor Great Park

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