Virginia water pavilion in Runnymede

Great place to walk and have picnic

Parking is expensive, but the grounds itself are beautiful and spacious. Not everyone pays attention to the signs saying about dogs needing to be on leads in some areas. Maybe more signs would help?

Oh, what a fantastic idea! Decided to head to Virginia Water for an hour or so on Mother’s Day, because who doesn’t love spending time in a queue, right? So, I walk up to get my coffee and that elusive whipped ice cream—only a quick 25-minute wait. No big deal! Eventually, I make it to the front of the line, ready to place my order, and of course, I get the classic “Computer says no!” moment. Apparently, to get my ice cream, I had to wander all the way to the back of the restaurant at their coffee shop next door—so, obviously, another 25-30 minutes in line. I politely asked if she could just pop around the back since it was literally right there—NO! Obviously. So off I go, back outside, ready for another 30-minute wait. But finally, finally, I’m holding that whipped ice cream. Hooray, right? My son can finally eat his ice cream—how lovely. Then, I asked the lady if she could just throw a couple of marshmallows on top to make my son happy. A bargain at 0.5p. Sure, it’s not a big deal, but really? Charging for two tiny marshmallows? The nerve! And this delightful treat? Only £4.50 for a whippie. So, thank you, Virginia Water. Really, thank you. Instead of spending an hour enjoying the sunshine, I got to spend it talking to two charming ladies who have absolutely no clue about customer service.

Lovely restaurant with a great view of the lake.

Went for a run & breakfast after

A horrendous experience. We arrived after a run for breakfast and ordered our food at 9:14. Our drinks arrived within five minutes; however, our food did not. After 35 minutes, our food finally arrived, but it was cold. I took it back to a staff member and pointed out that it was cold and that three out of four tables had received their orders before us, even though they had arrived after us. There was no apology or customer service. After a further 10 minutes, our food still had not arrived. I went to the counter and asked to speak to a manager, but no manager was available. I then requested a refund, at which point I was told our food was ready. However, since we had already been waiting for nearly 50 minutes, we decided to leave. While processing the refund, I was told that the delay was our fault because we had not provided a table number, and they had been looking for us. I received a refund for our food, but the staff were rude, and no manager was present to handle our issue.

Called in for a coffee after a walk round the lake. It was lovely to sit in the sunshine after months of cols, wet weather. First day of spring!

Very slow food. Took 30mins to get a bacon roll and egg&salmon roll. At £18 for two rolls and one hot drink, with that wait time, it’s just not worth it.

Most beautiful place great for a good long walk takes about one hour 45 mins to walk around the lake. Peaceful and very well but totally natural, there are swans and Deers.

Where do i start. i would leave zero stars if i could please. ordered a mochy mocha and it tasted like mochy water, has no flavour after queuing for 45mins. really sad

Nothing like £9.00 quid parking to keep the hoi pollois out! And if that fails getting skinned alive for a coffee and cake! Well, I suppose it goes on the upkeep of the place. The gardens are great in the summer though the lycra-clad Chelsea joggers dragging their pooches around are a bit of a distraction. For some reason there are no waste-bins anywhere. There is also a dearth of park benches... Why? The online map is a study in obfuscation. I mean how many tourists from abroad know what/where an oblisk is? So expect to go round and round in circles... All the trees don't help much either. Last summer I nearly died from heat exhaustion. You'd think that they would put water pipes around the park at least! It felt silly almost dying in a public park. Anyway, nice park lousy map. Lots of well-heeled walkers enjoying a spot of sun.

Nice place - very busy and staff seem a bit distracted, but helpful when asked.

Menu not as gd as it used to be. Very slow service - waited 25 mins for 2 bowls of soup and a children’s meal on a Monday lunchtime that wasn’t busy. Foid was very average. Serving staff were very pleasant though.

Saw a black swan!!! Walked around the lake singing love songs with my date. White hot chocolate smacks. 10/10 would do again

Looks lovely but no descriptions or allergy info on any of the sweets and cakes. We unfortunately couldn’t ask staff as we gave up waiting to be served after 25mins in a queue with around 10people in front of us, which barely moved. Very disappointed and hungry. The take away cafe/kiosk had an even longer queue. Staff looked barely awake!

Been there with friends and enjoyed the food and drinks. Especially the mindful drinks., favorite was butterfly pea one. And the lasagna was delicious. Highly recommend this place

Virginia Water Lake is an absolute gem in the heart of Surrey, offering a breathtaking escape into nature. From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted by stunning scenery, with the shimmering lake stretching out before you, surrounded by lush woodlands and beautifully maintained pathways. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful stroll, a scenic run, or a family day out, this place has it all! The circular walk around the lake is simply enchanting—every turn reveals something new, from cascading waterfalls and ancient ruins to vibrant wildlife and picturesque picnic spots. The towering trees create a magical atmosphere, especially in autumn when the leaves explode into shades of gold and red. The fresh air and serene ambiance make it impossible not to feel completely relaxed. One of the highlights is the stunning cascade waterfall, which adds to the tranquil yet invigorating experience. The totem pole, a striking historical landmark, is another unique feature that makes Virginia Water so special. There’s also a fantastic café nearby, perfect for grabbing a coffee and soaking in the views. The real showstopper, though, was the sunset. As the day came to a close, we were treated to the most breathtaking display of pink and red hues reflecting off the water, creating a truly magical and unforgettable scene. It was the perfect ending to an already wonderful visit. Whether you’re a nature lover, a photographer, or just someone looking for a break from the hustle and bustle, Virginia Water Lake is an absolute must-visit. It’s a place where beauty and tranquility meet, leaving you refreshed and inspired every time. Highly recommended!

Won an opertunity to visit the grounds and fish the lake with the syndicate. What a wonderful and beautiful place. Found most people to be friendly and talkative. Definitely worth a look

Place is nice but the main waterfall is next to the road. Also carpark is very expensive!!!

Monday is a much quieter day. Can enjoy the walk better.

Terrible service, waited almost an hour for a burger. Rude, dismissive staff.

What a great place to come and relax and have a nice walk, no matter the weather

Beautiful place to visit. Easy walks on clear paths. Two parking machines were out of action which meant a long queue to pay for parking at the end, which was a shame. Given how much money the parking is they really could do with sorting that.

A lovely area to walk. The parking is expensive.

Very nice place on paper but actually terrible service. Kitchen was supposed to be open until 3.30pm (kitchen for sausage rolls and similar, not real meals…) however when tried to order at 3:20pm I was told by a very rude waitress that they would only do toasties of ready-made stuff, with no explanation whatsoever. Also these toasties are really not worth the money (over £8 for a small ciabatta sandwich with mozzarella). Disappointing despite the very nice location.

Usually very good place, but this time ended up with heavy food poisoning, please check.

Beautiful cafe, a little pricey but portion sizes are huge! Staff seem to be a little more on the "don't care" side. Overall experience was good!

wow it was bad, in fact how to ruin a nice walk, family of 5 and i thought we would get lunch after walking around the lake. ordered our food and waited 20mins, ok it was busy but they only delivered two meals. and one of them was wrong. when we asked where the other meals were they realised they had sent someone elses order to our table. so after sorting that out we got another two meals to our table. this was now 45mins from ordring and we are still waiting over the hour and the last meal didnt turn up, we ended up getting a refund for the missing food. and to top it off the carpark was £12.40 long story short it cost me best part of £100 to walk around the lake. our garlic bread got delivered to the table next to us and we had to sit and watch them eat it dribbling. its a good walk but ill never use that cafe again

Incredibly slow, bacon bun fell apart and entirely overpriced - unsure what the hype is about

Lovely ground and part of a beautiful estate. Car park prices are steep. But hey ho.

Pretty good food here, maybe a little pricey, though, but that's the "location premium" I guess. The bacon sandwiches at £4.50 each are little steep, but at least they taste good and don't skimp on the quality of the bun, either - which is often forgotten but it (also) is a vital bacon butty ingredient!

The cafe here is not at all dog friendly despite the huge number of people who must come to the park with dogs. Although there are no signs on the doors we were told dogs were not allowed inside. It was a bitterly cold day but they don't provide blankets for the outside seating unlike many other cafes. Apparently this is all due to 'Crown Estate' rules. Service was also amazingly slow. Add the very expensive parking charge and you get a visit WE won't be repeating.

Lovely friendly cafe/restaurant. Excellent food, yummy cakes, friendly and helpful service, if a little slow. Good outside space. Amazing views over Virginia Water lake. Lots of parking, excellent toilets etc . Lovely end to a long walk.

By far the worst service I've experienced in my lifetime. 6 staff members, 1 of which operating the till (struggled to understand simple orders),1 making drinks and the other 4 standing around. Took 15 minutes to get to the front of the queue (3 people in front of me), the poor lady in front of me had been waiting 20 minutes for a coffee and cake and was forgotten. One of the waitresses was asked about allergy information and said: 'I don't know anything about allergies'. Absolutely appalling and potentially life-threatening for some. I won't even mention the prices...

Stunning part of Windsor Great Park. Very attractive contemporary pavilion. Ok to good service. Limited menu offerings of breakfast, brunch, lunch & afternoon tea cakes. Ice creams. Good choice of coffees. A little overpriced. Tables not always cleared or cleaned, but there is a fast turnover with not enough staff, so it’s understandable. 6/10

Beautiful autumn walk. Parking charges seemed extortionate!

Busy. Always busy but good service and nice food.

Can get very crowded at the weekends

Very disappointed, inside the building it was cold, the coffee was luke warm and tasteless, it was in a mug with a tiny wooden spoon that wouldn't reach the bottom of the cup. Plenty of nicer cafes in the area

Lucky to have this gem on my doorstep, and I have been making the most of it at every opportunity I can grab!

Lovely and well kept walks . It's just a shame that the cafe exploits it with inflated prices.. enjoy the walks and bring your own flask

What a Beautiful and Tranquil place. CarPark quite expensive and closes at 17:30. Lots of dog walkers and even has a dog bath for £3.50

A very wonderful area for walking in nature

A peaceful place to be and a beautiful view. I love walking there.

Beautiful park with huge amount of walking space, great for dogs, families and kids

Nice lake to have a walk around it

Fantastic park with plenty of facilities & well-maintained gardens.

Lovely views and walks and great for dogs 🐕

Great place for the nature lover

A group of us went to photograph woods and the lake. A good variety of things to look at .

Great place, parking fees are very expensive 😑

Small menu, delicious food and excellent coffee. Decent parking, clean bathrooms, friendly and pleasant staff.

can get really busy at times and parking is limited .really nice cafe and small shop. once your in it's an amazing place really beautiful great for dogs. just make sure if you have kids get them to use the loos as some of the walks are long and there are no toilets on the way.other than that it's a good day out. we stayed for 4hrs and it cost £12:40.

The piece of quite you're looking for !

Virginia Water itself was beautiful but this cafe was rubbish. The food was overpriced and unimpressive, the wait times for food exceeded 40 mins and the mocha tasted like pond water. At least the parking was only £9 (yikes).

Lovely walk and great views, lakes, birds etc and there are a couple of places to eat, one being right at the start. Further on there is, a cafe/restaurant which also has a gift shop. Further on for those who only want a drink or snack, there is a mobile coffee/snack unit (they also have seating)

After a lovely walk around Virginia Waters just the perfect place for a break with a great view across the lawns to the lake.The food choices are brilliant from a snack to a full meal.We have visited often and always had a lovely meal. The staff are super helpfull and nothing is too much for them It’s also dog friendly with a well kept and sheltered area to take it easy in.

It's not cheap and when it's busy you might wait a while to be served but the food was beautifully cooked, the staff are lovely and the views are stunning (this includes the staff) Sit back, enjoy the views, and take some time out at one of the most beautiful places on middle earth!

The walk up cafe window Barista, Ilker, is awesome and he makes the perfect Flat White!! Thank you Ilker!

Plenty of space, queue was long and slow moving when we went, decided to instead go for the outside take away, reasonable prices and clean relaxed atmosphere

Wonderful circular walk around lake. Dog friendly. My first visit. Looking forward to next. Scenery will be different every season. And therefore worth another visit.

The garden is beautiful, large and has wild animals.

Lovely walk , finished with coffee and bacon roll at the Pavillion cafe. Great service and banter with Elton and Ilker in the cafe… top boys who obviously enjoy their jobs.

Great cafe great walks , only gripe is lack of loo other side of waterfall

Great place for all kinds of people. Nice jogging track, cafe, picnic area, history as well as walks. Sadly restrictions and prices creeping like inflation. £15 for 4hrs parking. £6.5 for 1-2 hrs. Don't be surprised if the oarking prices are doubled when you visit next time.

Awful coffee, never again. Other than that the park is amazing.

Lovely gardens to visit, but the food was very expensive; my wife was not happy with her avocado on toast but the all day breakfast was very tasty.

Amazing views and great to explore the entire park by bike.

Great area for cycling and those fit to walk and explore, really pretty On the negative side not enough signs where and what is located, I'm sure lots of people would agree, especially those not fit enough which leaves people asking every 2nd person what's where

beautiful and peaceful garden for walk and picnic

The cafe has lovely food but the drinks wasn't the best today we had peach iced tea it just tasted like sugar no peach and for £4.80 each was very bad. It's very overpriced in the cafe for what you get our food had burnt toast as well and we also got food before our drinks

Coffee was awful, made me feel really nauseous after. Lemon cake was dry and did not taste like lemon. Really slow service.

Very tranquil, nice food, great views

Staff.....boy give them some good customer training. We were there first thing, and they were miserable. I can't imagine what they're like at the end of the day. One of them was quite confrontational over an order they got wrong.....

Great atmosphere, parking very over priced!! All in all beautiful park with great scenery

Very good place to relax but they have closed the waterfall

Beautiful spot - but the cafe is not good. Incompetent staff who forget orders and wander around aimlessly. Much better to stick to the main cafe at Savill Garden

Very picturesque area but service in the cafe was poor.

Great place for picnic and good walk

Good, the food could have been better

Nice coffee and cake. Service was slow yet the cafe wasn't busy.

Overpriced place with appalling service.

Can't recommend the food. Wedges were rubbery and lumpy. The burger was overcooked & tasteless. The onion & coleslaw were stringy and unpleasant. Ceaser salad was v light on salad & heavy on croutons. At this level I'd say it's very over priced.

A great place for a refreshing drink in the shade after a lovely walk..

It was a very clean and friendly place. The stalls were genuine and polite. Don't forget to pay for your car parking.

Beautiful lake and walk, loads of people, cafes and parks. Bit pricey and car park is at least £9+ but worth it?

Service is always, always super bad!!

Great food and drinks, friendly service

Lovely park, pity about the poor service in cafe. Ordered food, it wasn't very busy, waited for 20 minutes then food came with no drinks, waitress said drinks were.coming, another 10 minutes went by before I had to ask for someone to bring. Maybe most Staff are ok here, but our waitress was not interested in doing too much that day as I saw another person same thing happened. I wouldn't go to cafe again but would prefer Saville Garden cafe anyway and park is really beautiful.

This review is for the Virginia Water Pavilion aka cafe. The atmosphere and scenery is great, especially given the price of menu items. Unfortunately the service and quality is the opposite. Many people in our group of 6 were not satisfied with their orders. In general, given the price, the quality of food & drink was poor, as was the service. Drinks were way too sweet, and the chicken pesto mozzarella sandwich was too salty (says me, who normally takes more salt than others). The serving staff are especially clueless about service, again, given the prices they're charging. One server simple came and put our plates down without asking who each item was for. Another lady came to serve us our drinks, and when we asked which was which, she basically said "No English. Italiano". Finally, I was mischarged on my order unnecessarily. The extra amount was 30p but it's still overcharging, negligence at best. I ordered a Chicken Toastie with coleslaw which should be £9.50 total but for some reason I was charged £9.80 per order. I did not order any extra salad. To top it off, the menu listing states that this item comes with Kettle crisps, but we were given tortillas with absolutely no explanation. Pictures of menu, receipt, and order are with this review. Incidentally the receipt says "Cash" but I paid by card, so I have no idea what they're doing. Overall a negative experience and one I would not recommend. Hopefully this was because of issues with staff because other ratings are high.

Lovely place, amazing scenery all year round. Spectacular in summer.

Long walk alongside the lake, loved it.

Very nice park to stroll around

It's a lovely place for a family walk but the price of parking is ridiculously high

Great place for day out with friends, family or solo mindfulness

Poor service. Had to wait half an hour for drinks only for them to say they had “forgotten” after taking the payment.

Very nice for walking and sports

Beautiful place and great for dogs and children.

Lovely Coffee out in the sunshine! (the brownies from the cafe looked good too!)

Such a beautiful place great for everyone. Walks, running and cycling. A very good half day out with the family. Highly recommend.