For a mix of royal history, shopping to your heart’s content and a great nightlife scene, Windsor is a treat for visitors.

We arrived just in time for dinner, where we were treated to a feast of delights in The Steak Club, the in-house restaurant run by the Macdonald Windsor Hotel, which is just a stone’s throw away from the castle entrance.

Never before had I stepped out of a hotel’s reception and been greeted with such a beautiful, close-up view of a castle, which is certainly appealing for families and fans of architecture.

We went upstairs to find a large plush room and see the castle from a different view out of the big bay windows which let the light flood in and is ideal for a warm, cosy sleep.

We made the most of the valet parking, which ensures your car, should you choose to drive like we did, stayed safely looked after while we paced the streets of the town.

One thing you really must catch is the changing of the guards for Windsor Castle, which happens every day at 10.45am, where lines of men dressed in smart red uniforms march through the town’s streets.

It is ceremoniously patriotic but leaves you feeling a sense of pride for Britain and is a great welcome on your short walk into the castle.

The beautiful Windsor Castle itself is filled with art and history, with St James’ Chapel being a personal favourite, adorned with colourful stained-glass windows and the tombs of ten members of the Royal Family.

Little girls (and their grown up family and friends) will love the beautiful Queen Mary’s Doll’s House, which was built by leading British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens between 1921 and 1924.

It features thousands of tiny objects, made to scale, along with working electricity, running hot and cold water, working lifts and flushing toilets, as well as miniature paintings and a library.

My friend and I also took a boat trip along the Thames, which not only offers beautiful views but also a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of tourists visiting the area.

During the weekend we chose to stay in Windsor, we were treated to beautiful sunshine and blue skies, which showed off the best views of Ascot racecourse from the waterside.

It’s also a welcome sight to see a different view of the castle on the way back to the boat port.

After dinner, we went to investigate what kind of nightlife Windsor had to offer and found a host of wine bars, restaurants and outdoor eateries offering the chance to mingle with some of the locals.

We also made a point of visiting the children’s favourite of Legoland, which opened its big brick gates for the first time in 1996. It offers a host of real landmarks re-created in miniature, which is fun to see.

It also offers the UK’s largest shop for Lego, which handily offers the opportunity to buy items and collect them later, meaning that we beat the long queues at the end of the day.

For more details call the Macdonald Windsor Hotel on 0844 8799101 or see macdonaldhotels.co.uk