The Best Things to Do in Berkshire

What better event to plan your cottage holiday around than Royal Ascot? Whether it’s an all girls escape for Ladies Day or a romantic break for two, put on your gladrags and soak up the atmosphere as you enjoy a flutter. This quintessentially English tradition began at Ascot with Queen Anne in 1711 and it’s one of three racecourses in the county, the others being Royal Windsor Racecourse and Newbury Racecourse. On non-race days at Ascot, The Heath, a circular walk around the vicinity of the racecourse, is open to the public. There are also various events taking place at the race grounds throughout the year. Later, let the good times continue as you raise a glass of bubbly inside one of our equally stylish cottages.

As one of the oldest counties in England, Berkshire has plenty for history buffs to sink their teeth into. Whether it’s the aesthetic beauty of old buildings or the stories behind them that captivate you, find Victorian manors, Medievel castles and buildings recorded in the Domesday book. Many belong to the National Trust or English Heritage and are open to the public. In Reading, feast your eyes on a rare Victorian copy of the Bayeux Tapestry inside Reading Museum or discover rural England through the ages inside the Museum of English Rural Life. A hop, skip and a jump from there are the Reading Abbey ruins, an important site for pilgrims taking the Camino de Santiago to Spain since the Middle Ages. And Windsor Castle, an official royal residence since the 11th century, is steeped in history.

A bike ride is the perfect way to cover more ground than walking without getting in the car. Pack a picnic and venture out on one of the county’s numerous trails through unspoiled English countryside and quaint villages. Swinley Forest in Bracknell has 24km of waymarked bike trails at various lengths and activity levels, ideal for families. Those looking for a challenge could embark on the 38-mile Ludgershall Loop from Hungerford or the 36-mile North Wessex Downs AONB loop from Newbury. Both take around four hours to complete non-stop, but you could easily make a day of it by stopping to refuel at a country pub or viewpoints along the way.

Whether you set sail on a barge or kayak, the network of waterways in Berkshire offer an alternative way to see this beautiful county. Head to Reading, Streatley-on-Thames and Goring or Windsor and Maidenhead where there are various guided tours and self-sail options. Many boats and barges will allow dogs, so it’s a great activity to do with furry friends. If self-guiding, you can enjoy the freedom to stop off and explore as you choose.

From independent shops to popular high street names, there are plenty of opportunities to shop until you drop in Berkshire. The Oracle in Reading is a modern shopping mall with a vast array of fashion, tech, beauty and home stores as well as a cinema and several restaurants and bars. In Windsor, a mixture of high street chains and independent retailers are housed inside a Grade II listed Victorian train station, now the Royal Windsor Shopping Centre. And in Bracknell town centre, The Lexicon offers shopping and dining in a contemporary semi-closed complex.