Within hours of Buckingham Palace’s announcement that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were to be married in May 2018, we received hundreds of searches online at Stay In Britain from people looking for accommodation in Windsor. It really took us by surprise and it wasn’t something we expected to see when looking back at the site traffic a little over a week after the announcement.
We’ve been inundated with requests for assistance from outside the UK and particularly from America, Australia and New Zealand! Interestingly, most of the demand was from various news agencies who were keen to secure accommodation with balconies on the route which Harry and Megan are expected to take through the town. Those rooms with the best camera angles are expected to fetch a very high premium indeed!
A date has not yet been announced for the wedding ceremony yet but we do know that it will take place at the 15th-century St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle. St George’s is also the chapel of the Order of the Garter. Find out more about the Order of the Garter here >
So where are the best places to stay in Windsor if you are planning to get involved in Harry and Meghan’s big day? To help you prepare, we’ve compiled our ‘top tips’ to get you off to a flying start. When the precise date is finally announced (we expect it will be in the last two weeks of May), the booking frenzy is going to start in earnest. Do your research now and get ready to reserve your room!
Here are our top picks:
Macdonald Windsor Hotel
Situated just two minutes’ walk from Windsor Castle, you’ll find over 100 luxury bedrooms at the Macdonald which is right in the centre of the historic old town. The hotel also has rooms with balconies and rooms which overlook Sir Christopher Wren’s Guildhall. Many rooms also afford views up towards Windsor Castle and Castle Hill.
Castle Hotel
Beginning life as the Mermaid Inn in 1528, the Castle Hotel won a royal warrant to provide horses and carriages for the royal household in the early 1700s. The Duke of Wellington allegedly dined here after his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815.
The Harte & Garter
Named after two 14th century inns (the Garter Inn and the White Harte), this luxurious hotel has achieved worldwide acclaim in recent years. Not only was the Gart Inn featured in several Shakespeare plays, it is named after the chivalric order (see above). The White Harte, was the official ‘press centre’ for Charles and Camilla’s wedding in 2005. The hotel has various rooms and suites which look out over both the castle and Windsor high street.
Of course, these are all top end hotels which are featured on the leading hotel booking sites like Hotels.com. Demand for beds at these hotels will be very high and the prices will reflect the demand.
A clever alternative would be to book your accommodation outside Windsor where prices will be more sensible and then travel in by taxi or public transport to absorb the atmosphere in the town.
Here at Stay In Britain, we feature several hotels and B&Bs in the local area which offer great value for money. And because we only feature independent hotels and guest houses, you will not find them on the major booking websites. Book direct with the hotel owners and get the best prices as the hotels we feature do not have to pay commission back to owners of external websites!
