From Magna Carta 800 to Rugby World Cup via the Battle of Waterloo, Windsor's 1000 year history, Royal connections, fine dining and easy access from London make this riverside town well worth exploring in 2015.   

Magna Carta 800
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead celebrates this historic anniversary with Magna Carta 800th – the river relay. Led by Gloriana, the Queen's Row Barge, the weekend of Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June will see a flotilla of boats make its way from upstream of Cookham to Runnymede. This stretch of the River Thames provides plenty of viewing opportunities, where visitors can walk in the footsteps of King John across the ancient riverside meadows at Runnymede and visit Windsor Castle, the Royal home he loved above all others. Windsor features in one of four special Magna Carta 800 trails created to mark the anniversary of the sealing of the 'greatest constitutional document of all times'.  The four day London to Windsor itinerary covers the British Library (home of Magna Carta); Runnymede (where it was signed with the Great Seal) and Windsor Castle (King John's favourite home). There are also local guided walks and river boat trips available.

Waterloo at Windsor: 1815 – 2015
2015 marks the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo and the defeat of Napoleon. In celebration, George IV created the grand Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle, a space filled with portraits of those instrumental in the victory, among them the Duke of Wellington. Throughout 2015, Waterloo at Windsor: 1815 – 2015 combines a themed trail through the State Apartments with a display of prints, drawings and material that explores the battle and its aftermath. The trail highlights objects seized on the battlefield by the victors, including silver, furniture, weapons and the beautiful red cloak belonging to Napoleon, presented to George IV by Wellington's ally, Field-Marshal Gebhardt von Blücher.

Rugby World Cup 2015
This autumn, players and supporters alike can find a little piece of home in the Royal Borough. The All Blacks can take time out in the Savill Garden's New Zealand Garden, designed by Sam Martin and opened in 2007. Inspired by the special and diverse habitats of his native country, it showcases nearly 3,000 New Zealand plants and builds on the gift of a collection of native plants given to Her Majesty The Queen following a state visit in 1986. The mood of the New Zealand Garden is contemplative and intimate, inviting a sense of journey and discovery. Or they may choose to meet up with All Black legend Zinzan Brooke, who is now a resident of the Royal Borough.

The USA Eagles on the other hand may feel at home overlooking the river Thames.  For more than 300 years Cliveden was home to dukes, earls, viscounts and for a while a prince but with the arrival of the Astors, Cliveden entered a new era as a glittering hub of society. Home to Nancy and Waldorf Astor from 1906, Cliveden became renowned for its exclusive parties and political gatherings with guests ranging from Lloyd George and Churchill to George Bernard Shaw and Ghandi.  The guest book was a 'who's who' of the period and an invite to dine at Cliveden was rarely refused.  

The Queen's Walkway
In autumn 2015, a new walkway in Windsor will celebrate Her Majesty The Queen as the longest reigning Monarch. The 6.3km accessible route starts and finishes at Windsor Castle's King Henry VIII Gate. It links 63 places of interest with I beacons sharing information about their significance via smart phones. Work on The Queens Walkway started in January and will be completed for the 9th September - the date Her Majesty The Queen becomes the longest reigning British Monarch, serving 23,226 days and 16 hours and overtaking the record currently held by Queen Victoria.

Fine Dining at Royal Ascot
Fine Dining at Royal Ascot 2015 will be headlined by twice Michelin starred chefs, Michael Caines and Phil Howard who will each host a restaurant on all five days of the Royal Meeting next year. 35,000 guests enjoy Fine Dining at Royal Ascot every year, attracted by the internationally revered Chefs, innovative menus and the unique spectacle of the Royal Meeting. There are 12 restaurants to choose from, each with their own individual flavour. The fine dining offer complements the tradition, pageantry, fashion and style that places Royal Ascot at the centre of the British social calendar. The ultimate stage for the world's best racehorses, Royal Ascot takes place from Tuesday 16th – Saturday 20th June 2015 – with £5.3 million in prize money at stake.

Fine Dining offer at Sindhu
Macdonald Compleat Angler adds a new culinary destination to The Royal Borough's impressive gastronomic line-up. World-renowned chef-patron Atul Kochhar, the first to win a Michelin star for Indian cuisine, and head chef Gopal Krishnan, offer a sophisticated menu inspired by Atul's love of traditional Indian cuisine, his continuous research into ever-evolving regional dishes and dedication to using the finest British ingredients. The result is deliciously distinctive creations such as Hiran ka Boti (venison saddle with cardamom and mace), Meen Moilee (wild sea bass with coconut moilee sauce) and Bathak Falliyan (Gressingham duck breast with three bean stew and coriander cress) to name but a few.

The Fat Duck
In January 2015, Heston Blumenthal closed the doors of his award-winning The Fat Duck restaurant in Bray to carry out renovations to the Grade II listed building that dates from 1640. Celebrating its milestone 20th anniversary in 2015, The Fat Duck will have its kitchens modernised and dining room refurbished while preserving its architectural integrity and historical context. The Fat Duck will re-open for fine dining in September 2015.

Royal Borough Creative Photography Experiences
Explore Windsor and its surrounding area while learning how to take better, more creative and elegant photographs. Led by Gill Aspel, Windsor resident and professional photographer, there are three experiences to choose from:  Windsor and Eton (a full day from 10am to 4pm, refreshments, lunch and cream tea included £135); The Savill Garden, part of the Royal Landscape and Britain's finest ornamental garden( half day 10am-1pm, refreshments and entrance fee included £75); Cumberland Lodge and The Great Park, a 17th century Grade II listed country house hidden away in The Great Park (full day 10am-4pm, refreshments, lunch , tea and cakes included £135).  

New at Legoland Windsor Resort
There are changes afoot in 2015 at the Resort's original and most popular areas. The famous Traffic attractions become part of a new, improved LEGO® City area and ten premium themed rooms opening at the unique Resort Hotel in March 2015... followed by a totally new LEGO Friends area on the Resort for early summer.  The LEGO City Driving School gets more child-size Fiat cars as well as a new lane on the test course.  Boating School gets a new look featuring more boats and more LEGO models, featuring surprising animations and audio affects. The Resort opens for the 2015 season on 13 March 2015.

Windsor Running Festival 2015
Windsor Great Park 26 – 27 September
Run at one of the most picturesque courses in the world on traffic free roads around Windsor Great Park, with the start and finish on The Long Walk and with fantastic views of Windsor Castle as a backdrop. Windsor Running Festival incorporates the Running4Women Windsor 10K (Saturday 26 September) and the Windsor Half Marathon, the Sprite Sprint where  five to nine year-olds run 40 yards, and the 2.5 mile Glynn Shefford Memorial Run (all Sunday 27 September). The race village is in Windsor Great Park offering entertainment and catering options for the whole family, and free onsite parking nearby for runners and supporters throughout the weekend.
www.windsor.gov.uk