On
arriving at Alexander Gardens, it maybe a good time to get our directions.
Consult the Windsor Town Map.
Windsor
Town Centre Map
Behind you is Windsor Castle. Walk down the centre of Alexander Gardens
following the wide path. If the sun is shining its very pleasant and
will look uncannily like the picture below !
If you've kiddies there is a mini fun fair at the end of the park.
On your right you will see a road running along the edge of the park
with cars parked. In your own good time make for road and cross over.
It doesn't matter how far you have walked down Alexander Gardens,
cross the road and on the other side is the River Thames. There are
regular gaps where you can descend a few metres down to the path by
the bank side. |
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The
old fashioned "Tea Gardens" pictured above is here and if
you fancy an ice cream or similar is much quieter than other similar
opportunities nearby.
Now turn right and follow the river path towards Windsor Bridge.
Normally you will find a pleasant family scene here, with young kids
and old kids feeding the birds. If you've bought some bird food this
is a good spot.
The river at Windsor is graced by hundreds of mute swans. All the
swans on the River Thames are owned by Her Majesty The Queen and the
Vintners’ and Dyers’ Livery companies, and are allocated
at an ancient ceremony each July called Swan Upping, when the cygnets
are weighed, ringed and recorded.
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As
you near the bridge you will come across boats for hire and pleasure
cruises. (Though during the winter months the River Thames runs too
fast for the operation to run).
French Brothers run two regular trips lasting 35 minutes and 2 hours
on the Thames. They also run interesting alternatives to Runnymede
and Hampton Court on an irregular basis.
See their web site for details : French
Brothers
As you near Windsor Bridge, you view Eton on the opposite bank with
the rowing club. Windsor Bridge is the original route out of Windsor
to London, but is now pedestrianised. (Its about 3 miles by car to
get to the opposite side).
Windsor Bridge as it is now was completed on 1st June 1824, at a cost
of £15,000. It was a toll bridge until 1874. There has been
a bridge here of one sort or another, since shortly after the building
of the castle. There are records that in 1242, permission was granted
for oak trees to be felled in Windsor Forest for the purpose of constructing
a bridge between Windsor and Eton. |
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