Old Windsor

Old Windsor is a civil parish and village situated along the River Thames in Berkshire, with Windsor Great Park bordering its western edge. The settlement spreads across land shaped by the river, forming a rural community within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

This settlement began as a Saxon royal residence in the 7th century, before Windsor Castle was established as a seat of power. It served as a key administrative center and hunting ground for English kings of that era.

The parish church of St Peter and St Andrew occupies the site of a former chapel linked to Edward the Confessor's hunting lodge. The location has remained a spiritual and community hub for the people of the settlement.

The village has good road connections to London via the M4 motorway and sits roughly 20 minutes driving time from Heathrow Airport. Keep in mind this is a rural area, so having a car makes it easier to explore the wider region.

Excavations uncovered an extensive complex featuring a watermill built on an artificial millstream, revealing sophisticated engineering knowledge for that time. The remains of these structures show the place was more technologically and economically advanced than many other rural settlements of that period.