Big Wheel set to return to Windsor for summer season

A big wheel is set to return to Windsor this March and remain in place throughout the summer, subject to approval from the Royal Borough.

Roses Pleasure Parks Ltd has applied for a six-month licence to operate the observation wheel and a refreshment unit in Alexandra Gardens, with proposed opening dates from March 19 to September 6.

These would be sited on March 14, ahead of the public opening and if approved, the attraction would operate seven days a week.

Opening hours would be 11am to 9pm on weekends and during school holidays, and from 1pm to 9pm on weekdays outside holiday periods.

The applicant noted that visitor numbers to the gardens and surrounding areas are expected to rise during this period and says it would be ‘good practice’ to have a travel plan in place to manage the wheel’s popularity.

A dedicated travel plan coordinator, Perron Coupland, has been appointed to oversee travel arrangements and ensure all visitor information is accurate before the attraction opens to the public.

Roses Pleasure Parks confirmed that no road closures would be required during the operation period, with visitor numbers managed through ticket sales.

At full capacity, the observation wheel can accommodate up to 432 people per hour, which the company says is well within the overall capacity of Alexandra Gardens.

In its application last year, Roses Pleasure Parks said the attraction would build on the success of previous events in the gardens, such as Windsor on Ice.

The company believes the wheel will draw tourists by offering views across the town and Windsor Castle that are not visible from ground level, boosting footfall and trade for local businesses.

Roses Pleasure Parks said: “The Observation Wheel would be an excellent addition to Alexandra Gardens and will bring a great number of people to the local area, benefiting visiting public to Windsor as well as established, local businesses.”

The wheel’s position within the gardens was revised following feedback from earlier installations.

A previous layout was criticised for obscuring views of the castle, but the wheel is now placed adjacent to the main footpath.

The observation wheel would have a ground footprint of 21 metres by 17 metres and a diameter of 30 metres, reaching approximately 35 metres in height.

A refreshment unit with an 8-metre frontage would be located on a decked waiting area designed to keep the main path clear for other park users.

Lighting plans include spotlights from below, low-powered LED lighting on the wheel’s arms and rim, and low-level ambient lighting in and around the gondolas.

All lights would be switched off outside public opening hours.

Construction vehicles would access the site via Goswell Road, with no changes required to the park entrance. Vehicles would remain on paved paths and avoid grassed areas.

Four articulated trailers and a crane would be used, with the crane on site for no more than 10 hours during both the installation and dismantling. The wheel would be fully removed from Alexandra Gardens by September 7.

The plans are currently under consideration by RBWM, under planning reference 26/00395/FULL.