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.

Notice to dog walkers. Blue-green algae – Obelisk Pond.

A late ‘bloom’ of blue-green algae has been detected on Obelisk Pond.

Dogs are at risk from blue-green algae if they swim in or drink contaminated water, or if they get algae caught in their fur and ingest it while cleaning themselves later on.

Please keep your dog out of Obelisk Pond until further notice. Read here for more information about blue-green algae.

Facility closures
Severe weather closures – Monday 15 September

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Monday 15 September.

In light of this and following our severe weather procedures, we have taken the decision to close the following facilities on Monday 15 September:

Closed areas and facilities

Car parks

  • Virginia Water South car park
  • Wick Road (Members only) car park
  • Ranger’s Gate car park
  • Cranbourne Gate car park

Attractions

  • Adventure Play
  • The Queen Elizabeth Temperate House in The Savill Garden

If you have pre-booked tickets for Adventure Play, we will be contacting you separately you can also change your tickets by following the link in your confirmation email.

Footpaths

  • The south side of Virginia Water Lake between Virginia Water Pavilion and Blacknest Gate

Pedestrian gates

  • Wick Lane corner gate
  • Blay’s Lane gate
  • Cheesman’s gate
  • Virginia Water plantation gate
Open areas and facilities

The following areas and facilities will remain open with our regular opening times:

Car parks

  • The Savill Garden car park
  • Virginia Water car park

Attractions and facilities

  • The Savill Garden
  • The Savill Garden and Adventure Play Visitor Centre including Gift Shop
  • The Savill Garden Kitchen, Gallery Café and the Potting Shed
  • Virginia Water Pavilion Gift Shop & Café
  • Windsor Farm Shop & Café

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

Virginia Water Lake closures – Tuesday 29 April & Wednesday 30 April

Please be aware of upcoming essential works scheduled on the south side of Virginia Water Lake from the morning of Tuesday 29 April 2025 to the evening of Wednesday 30 April 2025.

During this time the following will be closed:

  • Virginia Water South car park
  • The footpath on the south side of Virginia Water Lake between the Virginia Water Pavilion and Blacknest Gate

While the works are being carried out, there will be no access to the Cascade and the site of the Leptis Magna Ruins, and no circular route around Virginia Water Lake.

Please plan your visit accordingly and you can check the Park map & guide for alternative routes here.

For your and the team’s safety, please follow any directions given by the team and take notice of all signs in place.

These areas will re-open on Thursday 1 May 2025.

The Savill Garden – restricted access

Restricted access

From Monday 4 August until Tuesday 26 August, essential operational works will be taking place to improve the quality of the ponds in The Savill Garden.

This much needed work forms part of our ongoing activity to provide better habitats for our wildlife as well as allow the stream to flow more effectively.

Please observe the signs in place and follow an alternative route around the Garden

Adventure Play – water features

The 2 water pump features at Adventure Play are currently out of order while we await replacement parts. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. We hope this does not affect your enjoyment.

Adventure Play – 22 September & 23 September

Adventure Play will be closed on Monday 22 September for essential maintenance works. On Tuesday 23 September, Adventure Play will open at 11.15am.

Severe weather closures – Adventure Play and The Savill Garden – Sunday 26 January

With the severe weather arriving sooner than expected today, Adventure Play and The Savill Garden will be closed for the remainder of the day, Sunday 26 January. All other facilities will remain open.

Virginia Water Café

Please be aware that the Virginia Water Café will close at 5pm on Wednesday 3 September for operational reasons.

The Savill Garden Kitchen

The Savill Garden Kitchen will close at 3.30pm on Friday 13 September 2024 for a private event. Last orders will be at 3pm.

All other facilities will be open as usual. 

The Savill Garden Visitor Centre, The Savill Garden and Adventure Play – Monday 3 February

To allow for essential maintenance works, on Monday 3 February some areas and facilities will close earlier than our regular operating hours.

Adventure Play

  • Adventure Play will close at 3.15pm. The last session begins at 1.15pm

Adventure Play Café

  • The Adventure Play Café will close at 2.30pm

The Savill Garden

  • The Savill Garden will close at 3.30pm. Last entry will be at 2.30pm

The Savill Garden Visitor Centre, The Savill Garden Kitchen and Gallery Café

  • The areas listed above, including toilet facilities will close at 4pm. Last entry into the building will be at 3pm

The Potting Shed

  • The Potting Shed will close at 4pm
Windsor Half Marathon – temporary access restrictions

Running for Women and Windsor Half Marathon will be returning to Windsor Great Park on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September 2025.  

As is usual during this event, horse riding, carriage driving and cycling are not permitted in Windsor Great Park on the following mornings:

  • Saturday 27 September – until 12pm
  • Sunday 28 September – until 1pm

Pedestrian access is also reduced during these times. Please observe the signs that will be in place to help ensure a safe and smooth event for all.

Virginia Water Gift Shop

Please be aware that the Virginia Water Gift Shop will be closing at 4pm on the following dates:

  • Thursday 28 August
Windsor Farm Shop and Windsor Farm Shop Café – September

Windsor Farm Shop and Windsor Farm Shop Café will be closed for operational reasons on the following dates:

  • Wednesday 17 September – all day
  • Thursday 18 September – until 1pm. The Mobile Fish Company will not be operating this week

These facilities will re-open at 1pm on Thursday 18 September.

Wick Road car park

The Wick Road (Members and Friends only) car park will be closed on the following dates for essential maintenance:

  • Monday 12 May 2025
  • Tuesday 13 May 2025
  • Wednesday 14 May 2025

The car park will re-open on Thursday 15 May 2025.

Wick Road pedestrian gate

The pedestrian gate on the corner of Wick Road will be closed on Friday 20 June for essential maintenance.

Please check the Windsor Great Park map for alternative entrances.

Windsor Farm Shop Café

Please be aware that on Tuesday 1 April 2025, the Windsor Farm Shop Café will close at 2.30pm

Virginia Water South car park – September

For operational reasons there will be reduced capacity parking at Virginia Water South car park on:

  • 16 – 30 September

Virginia Water South car park will also be closed on:

  • Wednesday 24 September

And will re-open on Thursday 25 September.

Valley Gardens – Main Valley

Please be aware that the lawn area of the Main Valley in the Valleys Gardens is closed for essential forestry works.

During this time there is no access between the Plunket Memorial and Virginia Water Lake along the lawns of the Main Valley. Footpaths leading to the Main Valley are also closed.

The footpaths surrounding the Plunket Memorial and the north side of the lake remain open.

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.

Deer Park

The Deer Park will be closed for operational reasons on:

  • Tuesday 9 September
  • Wednesday 17 September
  • Thursday 18 September until 1pm

Take a look here for other places to walk in Windsor Great Park.

Swinley Forest bike trails

It is sometimes necessary to temporarily close bike trails. These closures are updated on Trailforks.

Please use this link to check the trails that are open before you leave home and search for Swinley Forest.

Queen Anne’s Ride and Deep Strood

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.

Obelisk Causeway footpath closure – 22 April – 29 April

From Tuesday 22 April the Obelisk Causeway footpath will be closed for essential maintenance works.

The closure is highlighted on the map below.

During this time there is no full loop 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 in place.

For an accessible diversion, please follow the footpath around Obelisk Pond via Smith’s Lawn.

We anticipate the footpath will re-open by Tuesday 29 April.

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.
Roadworks
Restricted access to The Savill Garden and Adventure Play car park

Please be aware that Thames Water will be carrying out works on Wick Lane from on Tuesday 19 August.

During this time there will be no access to The Savill Garden and Adventure Play car park from Wick Road, via the A30 – London Road.

Access to The Savill Garden and Adventure Play car park is available from Wick Lane, via Kings Lane or Bishopsgate Road.

Access to the Wick Road (Member and Friends only) car park remains accessible from Wick Road.

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.

Operational works
Guards Polo Club

Pitch maintenance

A large area of Guards Polo Club will be closed off for pitch maintenance until spring 2025. Please observe the fencing and signage in place.

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. 

Swinley Forest

Forestry operations

Please note that timber harvesting operations will take place throughout Swinley Forest during the autumn and winter months of 2024 and into 2025.

These works are part of our ongoing forest management across the Windsor Estate, in line with our long-term forest plan for Swinley Forest. 

Tree Harvesting

Forestry management requires a rotation of both harvesting and planting to maintain a balance of economic, social and environmental objectives. 

At any given harvesting intervention approximately 30% of trees can be removed, with several interventions required over the lifetime of a plantation.  

At Swinley Forest, these cleared areas will be planted with a mixture of softwood and hardwood trees. 

This cycle of harvesting and planting brings with it several opportunities including: 

  • An increased of diversity of habitats and wildlife 
  • Improved tree health 
  • Improved safety and sustainability for the future 

Environmental benefits

In addition to producing sustainable timber products, our aim is to also enhance and expand areas of important ecology within Swinley Forest.  

Forest thinning opens up the tree canopy, reducing competition and allowing the retained trees more space to grow and provide more varied habitats as they mature. 

This open tree canopy also lets more sunlight and water reach the Forest floor allowing the young newly planted trees and other ground vegetation to grow and provide a wider diversity of habitats for wildlife. 

Space along the forest track network also creates natural breaks around the Forest which reduces the risk of forest fires spreading and protects the Forest for future generations to enjoy. 

These open areas around the forest track network are also an important feature that allows wildlife that thrive in the scrubby, heather-rich vegetations to travel across the Forest and populate other areas.

Visiting Swinley Forest

The work is being carried out under a felling licence issued by the Forestry Commission. 

We will do everything we can to minimise disruption during the work, but there will be times when we need to close tracks or sections of the forest to complete the works. 

  • Increased vehicle movements: Please ensure all dogs are kept under strict control at all times 
  • Safety: Follow all signs and directions while we operate around the working environment 

We apologise for any inconvenience this causes and ask for your patience and understanding during these essential works. 

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
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.

Royal Windsor Flower Show

Tickets for this event are now sold out.

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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