Windsor

Windsor, a compact and easy walking town, originally grew up around the royal residence of Windsor Castle. Daytime crowds trample Windsor's charm, which is most evident when the tourists are gone — consider overnighting here. Nearby is an oddball collection of intriguing sights, including Legoland, Eton College (Britain's most elite high school), Ascot Racecourse, and Highclere Castle, where Downton Abbey was filmed.