Olympic Torch Relay

Olympic Flame's historic journey through the Royal Borough

Windsor's Long Walk and town centre, Maidenhead's High Street and iconic bridge across the Thames and world-famous Ascot Racecourse are among the best local vantage points to see the historic 2012 Olympic Flame when Torchbearers carry it through the Royal Borough on Tuesday 10 July.

Street-by-street details of the Flame's 8,000-mile journey across the UK are now available including the route through the Royal Borough. Local people are being encouraged to line the route at the prime local vantage points to cheer on Torchbearers and be part of the spectacle.

For most of its journey the Flame will be on board a convoy of vehicles and out of sight. The only time the Flame will be in view will be when it is being carried by Torchbearers - the reason the Royal Borough is highlighting the best vantage points for residents. Full details of the best places to watch will be available on this website nearer the time.

The Flame comes through the Royal Borough on day 53 of its 63-day journey as it travels from Oxford to Reading. It makes its first Torchbearer appearance at Bisham just after 10am as it enters Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre. It will next appear at Furze Platt Road in Maidenhead just before 11am, then into the town centre - including High Street - reaching Maidenhead Bridge by 11.13am. After a stop at Eton Dorney and then a visit to Slough the Flame will reach Windsor's Maidenhead Road around 2.30pm before passing through the town centre - including Peascod Street to the Castle and reaching the Long Walk just after 3pm before going into Surrey.

Around 4.30pm the Flame will return to the Royal Borough at London Road, Ascot, and will then be carried along the High Street to the racecourse where it will be passed to a Torchbearer on horseback and ridden around the parade ring to give spectators a view to remember for a lifetime.

The Flame will head off towards Bracknell about 5.20pm and eventually reach Reading for its overnight stop.

The day we first heard the Torch was coming to town

Local business partners, community groups and youngsters from local schools joined the council at The Guildhall in November 2011 to hear that the 2012 Torch Relay would be coming through the Royal Borough on Tuesday 10 July. Here's a snapshot of the day the news broke - in pictures.

GREAT NEWS: Keen young Olympic supporters from Windsor Sports Partnership and Newlands School join Cllr Simon Dudley (front-centre) to cheer as news breaks that the 2012 Torch Relay is coming here on 10 July.

BRIGHT SPARKS: Youngsters from Windsor Sports Partnership with one of the two torches that came through the borough in the run-up to the 1948 Olympics.

STRICTLY SPINNIN': Girls from Newlands School made the day when they performed a sneak preview of their special Olympic inspired dance - Spinnin' for 2012.

TREASURED POSSESSION: Maidenhead Athletics Club members Peter Ison (foreground) and Dave Dando (right) pictured at the launch with one of the treasured 1948 relay torches now held in safe keeping by the club.

YES!: The Torch Relay is coming to town - girls from Newlands School show their pride as Cllr Dudley looks on.

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