Berkshire: Royal Landmarks, Riverside Life and Open Country
Berkshire is a county west of London where royal landmarks and busy commuter towns sit close to riverside paths and open countryside. Windsor Castle gives the eastern part of the county a strong royal identity, while the Thames shapes many of its walks and waterside communities. Farther west, the landscape opens around the Kennet Valley and the chalk hills of the North Wessex Downs. Travelers can pair historic buildings and gardens with walks, boating or a day at the races. Berkshire also works well for short trips from London, though its character changes noticeably from one part of the county to another.
Places in Berkshire
3 places
Reading
Get to know Reading, Berkshire: a well-connected town with riverside walks, abbey ruins, museums and a busy center shaped by work and shopping.
Slough
Get to know Slough, Berkshire: a working town near Windsor and Heathrow, with rail links, a major trading estate, local parks and a diverse food scene.
Wokingham
Get to know Wokingham, a Berkshire market town with a historic center, nearby country parks and rail links to Reading and London.
About Berkshire
Two rivers and a changing landscape
The Thames is a defining feature of Berkshire’s north and east, with paths, bridges and stretches of open water that make it easy to spend time outdoors without heading deep into the countryside. The Thames Path passes through the county, linking riverside settlements and offering walks that can be as short or as ambitious as you like. In the west, the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal create a different waterside landscape, with towpaths, locks and quieter rural stretches. Beyond the valleys, the North Wessex Downs bring chalk hills, farmland and long views. This variety makes Berkshire particularly good for travelers who want to combine a historic stop with a walk rather than choose between them.
Royal associations and country houses
Windsor Castle is Berkshire’s most prominent historic landmark, and the surrounding streets and parkland give the area a character distinct from the rest of the county. Royal connections are only one part of the story, though. Berkshire also has country houses, landscaped gardens and older village churches that reflect centuries of life beyond the court. Some estates welcome visitors, while others are best appreciated from public paths or nearby villages. Ascot’s racing heritage adds another recognizable strand to the county’s identity. If a particular building, garden or race meeting is central to your trip, check access and opening arrangements before traveling; these can vary by season or event.
From London-facing towns to rural west Berkshire
Eastern Berkshire feels closely connected to London, with frequent travel, substantial residential areas and a mix of historic sights and everyday town life. Reading is a major transport and commercial center rather than a traditional sightseeing town, but its rail connections make it a practical base for exploring. Moving west, the pace becomes more rural, with market-town streets, farmland and access to the downs. The county is not a single, continuous visitor circuit: attractions are spread across different towns and landscapes, and a route that looks simple on a map may require a change of train or a local bus. Choosing a base near the places you most want to see will make the trip easier.
What is Berkshire known for?
Royal heritage
Windsor Castle and its surroundings are central to Berkshire’s identity and draw visitors interested in British royal history.
Thames-side walking
The Thames Path provides access to riverside scenery, bridges and settlements across parts of the county.
North Wessex Downs
Western Berkshire reaches into a landscape of chalk hills, farmland and walking routes.
Horse racing
Ascot and Newbury give racing a visible place in the county’s sporting and social life.
Country houses and gardens
Historic estates and designed landscapes offer a quieter complement to the county’s royal sites.
Kennet and Avon Canal
Towpaths, locks and canal boats lend parts of western Berkshire a slower, waterside character.
Why visit Berkshire?
Easy to combine with a stay in London
Royal sites alongside less formal countryside walks
Rail links between several major towns
A choice of Thames, canal and downland scenery
Historic houses and gardens for slower-paced days
Things to know
Berkshire is varied: the London-facing east feels different from the more rural west.
Trains serve many main towns, but some country houses and walking routes need a bus, taxi or car.
A rail journey between two sights may involve a change, even when they appear close on a map.
Check opening arrangements for castles, estates and gardens before making a special trip.
Race meetings and major events can make nearby stations and streets busier than usual.
Riverside and downland paths can be muddy or exposed in wet or windy weather.