Oh hello stranger! It is no surprise that, after twelve years, the popular Royal Windsor Wheel stands proudly in the cityscape once again this summer; the return of an old friend.

As a bustling town upholding a rich history, inextricably linked to the royal family, Windsor is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK. Focus sites such as Windsor Castle, Legoland and the Great Park generate millions of visitors respectively, with the latter being the most visited attraction in the country.

Located in the picturesque Alexandra Gardens by the Thames River, the wheel is only a five-minute walk from Windsor Castle and Peascod Street (the high street), making it the ideal way to take a break from the weekend frenzy and see above the heads of the crowds.

The wheel towers over the park at a height of 115ft, giving riders a breath-taking aerial view of Windsor and Eton. Lasting around 5-10 minutes, the wheel halts momentarily at the top to allow the chance to take all the splendour in.

When asked about his experience, local resident, Tom Wilson said: ‘My friend and I came to Windsor for lunch and a catch up and we stumbled upon the Ferris wheel. It was great value and the highlight of our trip. At the top, we could see wonderful views of Windsor, from angles we’d never considered before! A real wow moment!’

There is also a food stand next to the wheel where fresh churros will be sizzled in front of your eyes!

Open weekdays from 1pm to 9pm and weekends/holidays from 11am to 9pm, timings are very flexible to incorporate a ride into your day out, even at the last minute.

The wheel will be in Alexandra Gardens for the whole summer - until September 2nd.

Tourism is an integral part of Windsor’s livelihood, supporting 11,000 local jobs and employing 12% of the town’s population, according to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead official website.

The huge volumes of people venturing to Windsor also has a huge economic impact on the town. In 2022, tourists spent £585 million on the local area, and it is estimated that this figure has risen since then, with the deleterious grasp of Covid-19 steadily easing off.

Next time you visit Windsor, perhaps arc over the city for a fresh perspective. You never know who you might see in the castle grounds!