Goswell House

Tucked down a cobbled pedestrianised street, Goswell House Hotel could hardly be in a better location if you’re visiting to see the sights of Windsor. And by the sights, of course, we mean Windsor Castle. You can be gazing up at its walls after a two-minute walk from the hotel’s front door. In fact, if you’re coming by car, that curvy castle corner is the advised location for dropping off luggage – under the gaze of Queen Victoria whose statue marks the spot. But to be honest you don’t need the car here. Windsor Central Station is even closer than the castle and one of the best-loved restaurants in this royal town is right next door.

The hotel has 17 guest rooms which occupy the top three storeys of a historic building on Peascod Street in the centre of Windsor. Its entrance, tucked down a side street, offers a subtle welcome via a small lobby, which is manned during business hours, after which there’s a convenient self check-in system. Upstairs, the rooms are more comfortably furnished than you might expect from the no-fuss arrival, with plush upholstery, plump pillows and Hypnos beds.

There are family rooms as well as doubles and twins, all with clean, modern en-suite bathrooms. Each has tea and coffee-making facilities, a TV, a hairdryer, an iron and board; standard stuff for a town centre hotel which will be used as a base for exploring. With that in mind, the hotel doesn’t offer sociable spaces beyond its small breakfast room. There’s an option, if booked in advance, for a very reasonably-priced continental breakfast which is handy if you’ve got somewhere to be. But if you’re on a leisurely break, take advantage of what’s outside the front door and take your pick from the eateries in the town.

For breakfast, there’s Monty’s, Cinnamon Cafe and Bill's, none more than five minutes’ walk away. For dinner, try Sebastian’s, the Italian restaurant next door – or, for something fancy, head over the river to Gilbey’s in Eton. It’s likely that you’ve come to Windsor for the castle and that alone will take a full day to explore but the town also offers boat trips on the Thames, Windsor Great Park, the Theatre Royal and shopping, all of it within walking distance.