The Castle Hotel Windsor — Hotel in Great Britain

Attended my brother's wedding at this venue, unfortunately it had to be rescheduled due to the COVID pandemic. By the time of the event rooms had been booked for 2 years. It came to our attention (through our own checks) that the hotel had changed its booking system. Luckily we called to check our rooms were still all booked however, at this point, we found out that the information of our booking had been lost in this transfer of information and our rooms had been rebooked by others. At this stage we were assured that this would be resolved and that all our expectations and requests regarding our rooms would still be met. The member of staff on the phone was Avery apologetic and we were thankful that the situation had been resolved, or so we though. I think it is important to mention that whilst the hotel were very apologetic at the time I was rather shocked that the hotel hadn't checked there records more thoroughly after changing there booking system. I genuinely believe that if we had not called to check our bookings were accurate we would have had a nasty shock on the night of the wedding. As part of the request for our booking it was important that the parents of the groom had interconnecting rooms as they were going to be looking after grandchildren on the wedding night. Come the wedding night on 28th August 2022, I went to reception to check along with the parents of the groom (who also had to deal with the rigmarole of the booking system and losing their room, which obviously would have been a complete disaster) to be advised that the room for the parents of the groom was not interconnecting. Now two major issues I have with this are that, one, we were assured over the phone that this was possible and had been all booked. How then there were further booking problems after the initial disaster is beyond shocking. If a travel lodge or premier Inn made this kind of mistake this would have been bad enough, however for a well renown establishment such as The Castle Hotel Windsor to make such a fundamental booking catastrophe twice in the same booking is absolutely unforgivable. Secondly, when it was discovered that the interconnecting rooms, as requested, was not possible why did the hotel staff not contact us to let us know. This adds to my concerns about the previous discussed booking system error, it seems the hotel staff are completely comfortable in not checking there records for a wedding and have no intention to contact customers to check things when they have made an error. The amount of time and stress this caused the parents of the groom on the wedding night was completely unacceptable and I would advise anyone who is booking here for any reason to double check that your booking is correct as the staff do not seem competent enough to do this themselves.

When speaking to the staff on the night to try and avoid undue stress of the parents of the groom I would say they were unhelpful, at best. The first lady we spoke to advised us that the rooms were not interconnecting and that's was the end of that. No apologies or real concern that they may have made a mistake there end. She advised that there were no interconnecting rooms left available as if that was going to help calm the situation. I asked another member of staff if a manager of available, and he stated that he could help. From this I understood that there was no management in the hotel at the time. Again this came as a surprise considering there was a wedding party in attendance and thought a manager would have been on hand to deal with any issues. I suppose they were confident they couldn't possibly mess up room bookings seeing as they are an established hotel however they were seemingly overconfident. Character limit reached but in general terrible service and not even that apologetic of the situation. Have emailed the manager for further comment but no...

A Theatrical Sip of History: Afternoon Tea at The Castle Hotel

Forget everything you think you know about a traditional cream tea. The experience at The Castle Hotel Windsor is less a meal and more a private viewing of a delicious, edible play, where the setting is the stage and every pastry has a starring role.

Your scene opens not in a stuffy salon, but in The Leaf, a space that feels like a Regency-era conservatory got a chic, modern makeover. Lush, hanging botanicals frame views of the ancient stone of Windsor Castle opposite, creating a perfect dialogue between the old world outside and the vibrant, fresh energy inside. You’re not just having tea; you’re in the front row of a living postcard.

The curtain rises with the tea itself. The menu is a novel of flavours, each blend a character with its own story. I chose the "Windsor Castle Blend," a smoky, robust black tea that tasted like the very history of the building it’s named after. It arrives in beautiful, weighty silverware that makes every pour feel like a significant act.

Then, the main performers arrive on a tiered stand that resembles a minimalist crown. This is where the hotel’s pastry chefs prove they are true illusionists.

The savoury layer is a masterclass in subtle rebellion. The classic cucumber sandwich is reimagined as a delicate pinwheel, not on white bread, but on a whisper-thin slice of earthy beetroot bread, with a hint of dill cream cheese that makes you rethink every cucumber sandwich you’ve ever tolerated. The coronation chicken is not a sandwich filler but a delicate, golden vol-au-vent, the pastry so light it threatens to float away.

The scones are the heart of the production. They arrive warm, nestled in a cloth, smelling faintly of vanilla and butter. They are neither dainty nor dense, but perfectly substantial. The crack of the crust gives way to a cloud-like interior. The accompanying clotted cream is so thick it requires a deliberate scoop, and the strawberry jam is studded with real fruit, tasting of summer, not sugar.

But the grand finale is the patisserie. This is where the magic becomes undeniable. You are presented with a miniature chocolate treasure chest, which, when tapped gently with your spoon, reveals a hidden key of white chocolate and a interior of passionfruit mousse. There’s a macaron disguised as a miniature royal portrait frame, and a sharp lemon posset served in a glass so chilled it mists, cleansing the palate with its brilliant tartness.

The service is impeccably choreographed—attentive but invisible, like stagehands ensuring the illusion is never broken. Your tea cup is never empty, yet you never see it being filled.

The Final Act: This isn't just afternoon tea; it's a two-hour escape. It’s for those who want to taste artistry and narrative, not just sandwiches and cake. It’s for the curious, the romantics, and anyone who believes that the best meals are the ones that tell a story. The Castle Hotel doesn’t just serve you a tradition; it invites you to step inside it, and for a glorious afternoon, become a part of its ongoing play.

Rating: A standing ovation. Best For: A memorable occasion, culinary adventurers, and anyone who wants to feel like they’ve discovered a...

After a business trip in London from the States, we chose to spend a few nights in Windsor to see the castle and explore the town before heading home. The pubs are fantastic and the locals were friendly. The castle was... perfect. And I loved the hotel (the staff were amazing and so was our room), despite the story I'm about to tell. ||Now, about our little ghost friend in room 206....||At the time of our stay, I was still struggling to adjust to the time difference—days into the trip and my body hadn’t yet gotten the memo. The Castle Hotel is charming in that unmistakably British way: sloped floors, oil paintings of unsmiling people, and creaky staircases that insisted on being part of every conversation—which I absolutely loved! We spent the morning wandering the cobblestone streets and had planned an afternoon walk by the river. But first, a nap.||Room 206 overlooks High Street and many Tudor style pubs and cobblestone alleyways. On this particular day, it was warm and sunny, so I drew the thick curtains closed and blacked out the room, which turned perfectly dark and cozy. I lay down and spread my hair across the cool pillow—something I always do when I have plans to go out later.||I’d just closed my eyes—maybe five seconds had passed—when I felt it: two firm hands pressing down on my head. Then they slowly slid the length of my hair, from scalp to ends. Not rushed. Not aggressive. But undeniably real.||I didn’t move. Didn’t scream. And I sure as hell didn’t open my eyes. I lay there, frozen, half-thinking I was dreaming, half-hoping I was. But I wasn’t scared—oddly enough. It felt… deliberate. Like someone appreciating something they’d missed.||Later that evening, we wandered into the Prince Harry Pub—a locals’ spot with low beams and stories steeped in ale. We got to talking with a couple at the bar, a pair who knew the city like it was their backyard. After a pint or two, I casually mentioned where we were staying.||The woman raised a brow. “Castle Hotel, is it? You’ve met the soldier, then.”||I blinked. “Sorry?”||She leaned in like she’d been waiting for someone to ask. “Old story, and I don't know all the particulars, but it is said that a young soldier is a ghost there. Appreciates women, and has a thing for hair. Long hair especially.”||I promptly gulped my ale after laughing it off—because what else do you do with a story like that? But when I got back to the room that night, I kept my hair tied in a bun. Just in case.||I still don’t know what to make of it. A waking dream? Jet lag playing tricks? Maybe. But I’ve stayed in a lot of old places, and nothing like that has ever happened before or since. I didn’t mention anything at checkout. How do you say, “I think a ghost caressed my hair” without sounding like you’re crazy?||In the end, my encounter provided a nice story to tell my kids when we got home. I wish we had stayed longer. The hotel was the perfect location, and smartly appointed. I just believe some guests haven't...