Waltham Place - Windsor and Maidenhead

My mother and I had a fantastic lunch at Waltham Place. The set menu was delicious and the service was very friendly and welcoming. We also enjoyed a 2-hour private tour with one of the estate's experienced gardeners, Tim, which cost £40 for our group of up to 4 people. The gardens were absolutely stunning, set against the backdrop of the beautiful house. We had a wonderful afternoon and will definitely be returning in the future.

The original manor was constructed in 1634, but the history of the land can be traced back to 1086! Visitors can book a tour of this enchanting place. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, as the property has expansive grounds. The site is also home to a restaurant where visitors can purchase jams, seeds, pickles, and more. Additionally, the area is used for educational research, including the cultivation of ancient grains and the use of upcycled materials in the landscaped gardens.

This restaurant is anything but ordinary. It is only open for lunch on Wednesdays from March to October and uses ingredients from their biodiverse farm. The menu is small, but the service is warm and welcoming. You can enjoy tasty, locally sourced food in a cozy barn setting.

I booked a tour of the gardens with my baby son and parents £5 per head with a tea/coffee/squash included) as I'd driven past it a number of times and decided to Google it one day. Not much parking but a pretty courtyard welcomes you where the cafe, organic shop and toilets are located. We were taken round in a small group by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable gardener I think called Louise), who was very sweet and kind. I took my son around in the buggy and most areas were accessible only the woodland wasn't so I waited on a bench for 10 mins or so). The gardens are very pretty and impressive, despite the fact that the gardeners are clearly overworked. The land is a stunning mix of landscapes and I really do hope that this isn't sold off for housing or other developments in the future. We had lunch after the 2 hour tour very limited menu just bbq steak, soup or one other dish apart from some cakes); BUT the steak was in a delicious marinade and cooked very nicely. The presentation was also very nice and there was service with a smile. The shop is very small and only stocks the produce that is fresh every day so come early if you wish to buy things as they will run out. Some nice looking chutneys and sauces though. The toilets were clean as well so this ended up being a really enjoyable day. A very cute and much loved local treasure book a visit when the season is open.

We recently did a tour of the gardens which only takes place on Wednesdays for individuals and found the whole experience to be excellent (it's advisable to pre-book beforehand by calling 01628825517). You are shown around in small parties by one of the gardeners who are really friendly, helpful and rightly passionate about their work, they are very knowledgeable too. The tours take about 2 hours and it's definitely worth doing. After the tour we enjoyed lunch in the restaurant which very nice, and whilst the menu is a bit limited the food was very enjoyable and the service came with a genuine smile. There is also a small farm shop adjacent to the restaurant too.