Newbury Estate Agents
55 Northbrook Street
Newbury
RG14 1AN
Berkshire is a county steeped in a rich and unique history, very well connected and desirable, within the sought after Home Counties and is commutable to London from all areas by road and rail.
Pangbourne Estate Agents
1 High Street
Pangbourne
RG8 7AE
Ascot Estate Agents
37 High Street
Ascot, SL5 7HG
Welcome to our Berkshire area guide where we will be taking a look at this desirable and affluent county together with details on transport links, schooling, property prices and things to do.
This, combined with its beautiful landscape and excellent schools, makes Berkshire a natural choice for many families wishing to enjoy the country life but remain close to the capital, with a number of attractive market towns and lovely villages.
The Strutt & Parker offices in Ascot and Sunningdale cover the whole of East Berkshire with the support of the National Country House Department based in our head office in Mayfair. As well as unique and imposing country houses, Surrey and Berkshire has its fair share of manor houses, farms, detached family homes with land and quaint cottages.
Things to do in Berkshire
The rich culture and diverse scenery offer an extensive amount of opportunity for activities and exploring.
A rich sporting destination
There is an abundance of leisure activities in Berkshire with some of the best known golf courses in the world situated in the Royal Borough including The Berkshire and Sunningdale Golf Club to name but a few. In neighbouring Virginia Water lies The Wentworth Club which is undeniably one of the most famous and exclusive golf clubs where they regularly hold world class events such as the BMW PGA Championship.
Ascot is a magnet for race-goers throughout the year, both flat and jumps, to more relaxed events including evening racing at Windsor and horse riding in Windsor Great Park and Chobham Common. Polo is also a popular pursuit in the region taking place at both The Guards Polo Club, Cowarth Park and The Royal Berkshire Polo Club.
Outdoor action
The County’s varied landscape makes it an ideal spot for all sorts of activities, including walking and cycling. The River Thames meanders through the county providing extensive opportunities for enjoying the great outdoors, as well as being home to some interesting wildlife. Without a doubt, Windsor’s main attraction is Windsor Castle, but there are also 5000 acres of Crown Estate parkland to explore.
Family attractions
Attractions for all of the family include LEGOLAND, Thorpe Park, Windsor Castle, Windsor Great Park with Virginia Water Lake and Savill Garden.
Excellent spa facilities are available at Pennyhill Park, Coworth Park, Wentworth, The Berystede Hotel and Foxhills.
Our Strutt & Parker teams in Ascot and Sunningdale recommend the following:
Pubs & restaurants
Many of the picturesque villages of Berkshire have successful restaurants and traditional pubs at their hearts, such as The Carpenters Arms in Sunninghill, The Barn at Coworth Park, Bluebells in Sunningdale, The Windmill in Windlesham and The Winning Post in Winkfield. Michelin starred restaurants include The Royal Oak in Paley Street, the Roux brother’s Waterside Inn and Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck and The Hinds Head in Bray.
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Key villages & towns in Berkshire
Sunningdale
A small but busy town on the border between Berkshire and Surrey, comprising of Sunningdale village and Sunningdale town, home to many independent shops as well as a church and a Waitrose supermarket. The renowned Sunningdale Golf Club is on the edge of the town as is Chobham Common.
Sunninghill
A quaint predominantly Victorian village close to Ascot, home to various village amenities and boutiques as well as a number of lovely restaurants.
Ascot
Famous for its historic racecourse of which Royal Ascot is a staple in the social calendar. Ascot’s bustling High Street boasts local day to day amenities, friendly restaurants and elegant clothing shops.
Maidens Green
A picturesque hamlet close to Windsor yet nestled in the countryside consisting of the popular pub, The Winning Post as well as a local church and popular schools such as Lambrook.
Windsor
An historic Royal town based on the River Thames with its imposing Windsor Castle. A popular tourist destination, the bustling High Street offers various brands as well as boutique shops and an abundance of restaurants, bars and hotels, together with Legoland and the Windsor Racecourse close by.
Bray
A quiet village situated near Maidenhead on the River Thames, best known for the amount of Michelin starred restaurants it is a gastronomic centre with The Fat Duck, The Hinds Head and The Waterside Inn.
Reading
Reading is the hub city and commercial centre for the region, serving a huge number of picturesque villages and small towns across West Berkshire. It has a good university, very extensive shopping, entertainment and leisure facilities, and has played host to the famous Reading Festival for over 40 years. Among a huge choice of restaurants in the city centre, the London Street Brasserie gets excellent reviews for both food and atmosphere.
Reading boasts lots of good schools and is very well connected; just a 30 minute journey, by either car or train, from London.
Holyport
A charming and historic village with a classic village Green with pond close to Windsor. It benefits from a number of pubs as well as one of the oldest Real Tennis Courts in the country.
Wantage
Wantage is a small market town in The Vale of the White Horse with half-timbered buildings lining the streets. The birth place of King Alfred the Great, the well-respected secondary school of the same name is at its heart. The traditional market square offers an excellent selection of shops, pubs and restaurants; in particular, The Shoulder of Mutton is a very popular ‘real’ pub with a well-reputed vegetarian restaurant attached.
Schools in the area
Berkshire certainly has its fair share of well-renowned schools.
East Berkshire is a county that is fortunate enough to be home to some of the most prestigious schools in the world. Exceptional private schools include Eton College, St George’s Ascot, Wellington College, Papplewick, Sunningdale School, The Marist and Lambrook as well as The American Community School and TASIS based in nearby Egham which are popular for international students. In the state sector, Charters has been rated “outstanding” by Ofsted as have primary schools including St Michael’s CE Primary School, St Francis Catholic Primary School and Holy Trinity CE School.
For a more comprehensive list of schools in Berkshire we recommend the Good Schools Guide.
Transport links
By train
From Ascot and Sunningdale there are excellent rail connections to Reading (20-30 minutes) and Guildford (20-30 minutes), as well as Gatwick, Newcastle, South Wales, the West Country, Manchester, Oxford, the Cotswolds and the South Coast. On top of this, there is a regular service (just 55 minutes) to London Waterloo, approximately every half hour.
From Woking station a faster train into London Waterloo takes approximately 30 minutes and nearby Maidenhead will also be on the Crossrail route in December 2019. Conveniently we have the nearby M3, M4 and M25 motorways which provide fast access to London in the east, Reading and Oxford to the west as well as Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton Airports.
By train
Berkshire is also blessed with good road links, with the M4 passing east to west through the county, connecting to Bristol, South Wales and London. From there, the M5 and M25 connect to the broader national road network. Similarly the A34 runs north to south, running via Newbury from Oxford to Winchester and, from there, the M3, M40 and M27 are all easily accessible.
Outdoor pursuits, exploration and sport are just a few of the things that visitors and residents can enjoy in Berkshire.