Where to go in Egham: Royal Edition

The Queen’s coming to visit us at Royal Holloway for the first time in almost 30 years on Friday 14th March – and the royal visit has got us all excited and itching to catch a glimpse.

The Queen visits RoHo in 1986

We’re predicting stake outs around the music department where the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are taking part in a ceremony honouring the department with the awarding of the Diamond Jubilee Professorship of Music for its world class teaching and research.

But as Egham isn’t often in the news- and she last visited in 1986 to inaugurate the newly combined Royal Holloway and Bedford New College- the Queen probably isn’t too sure where she should get a pint or a good plate of curly fries. So we thought we’d help her out a bit with a list of royal related establishments for her to peruse on her day in Egham. With our proximity to her second home in Windsor, the rather grand Windsor Castle, we think she should visit more often. So in honour of you Queenie, here are our recommendations. Enjoy!

Picnic on the Green, Englefield Green

This is the perfect café for some relaxation or afternoon tea after a tough official visit. It’s cute, slightly out of the way, and next to a florist if Phillip wants to treat you to some flowers. It’s often quiet so a great place to recuperate. The coffee’s good if you’re flagging and I personally recommend the brie and cranberry baguette, its mouthwatering-ly good!

The Crown, Egham

Where the Queen could be sitting on 14th March!

In this appropriately named cosy and traditional pub, you’re right in the centre of town, so perfect for quick bite before the slog of getting the train back to Buckingham Palace. One of the things Egham does have quite a few of is pubs (visit on a Monday next time and we’ll take you to Monkeys), but out of the lot it’s here where you can wear your royal garb with pride and not stand out. The food is tasty and pretty cheap so good if you’re on a budget; the curly fries are yummy, as is the fried chicken. There are great weekly curry deals too! Note to the Queen- if you can pass for a netballer you get 10% off food.

Puppy Therapy at the Students’ Union

Now this gives you a reason to stick around- as a known lover of corgis, the Queen would surely love the next instalment of this event. Also raising awareness for MIND, this combines petting cute animals with charity work for our Queen, so what’s not to love?

HRH enjoying some puppy therapy

Now who said Egham was boring?