While the elegant town of Windsor in Berkshire is famed for its historic castle and royal connections, it’s also a great location for some retail therapy. With trendy boutiques, delicatessens and smart department stores brimming with bargains, there are plenty of options for the perfect memento of your stay. Read on for our pick of the best places to buy unique souvenirs in Windsor, England.
Packed with antiquarian books and second-hand reads from floor to ceiling, this brilliantly British bookshop is a must-visit for browsers and buyers alike, and an easy stroll from central Windsor. With shelves full of fiction and fantasy, reference and fact, you’ll be sure to find a well-priced novel or biography to devour on the journey home. This store also has lots of historic maps and photographs too, which transport you straight back to Windsor’s intriguing past. The store’s owners are warm, friendly and unmistakably passionate about their work.
Eton Antique Bookshop, 88 High Street, Eton, Windsor, UK
Though they don’t have an official store – yet! – Sweet Delights knock up pretty personalised gift boxes and decorative signs for birthdays and celebrations, focusing on the little ones. Give your credit card a rest from the glossy high-street chains and support a smaller local business by ordering a cheeky chest of typical English confectionary for a mouthful to remember.
If you do decide to explore Windsor Royal Shopping as we’ve suggested, one stop you really shouldn’t miss is Havana House. While we’re more or less agreed that smoking is a dirty habit, it’s harder to shake the glamour of a real Cuban cigar. With expert staff and a wide selection, this place is a treasure trove for a ciggie connoisseur. A box of Havana’s finest may not be the most English of offerings, but certainly makes a sophisticated gift anyway. Tip: Don’t inhale. It’s the thought that counts.
Havana House, Windsor Royal Shopping, Windsor, UK