The North West Downs, an Area of Outstanding Beauty flanks an area of Berkshire known as West Berkshire. The picturesque chalkstream, River Kennet runs from west to east along side the Kennet and Avon Canal joining the wonderful market towns of Hungerford and Newbury. Both the river and the canal flow on to Reading where they join the River Thames.
Despite its rural charm, West Berkshire is well-connected to major cities and transport hubs. The M4 motorway provides easy access to London, Bristol, and the South West. The A34 runs north/south through the county. Hungerford, Kintbury and Newbury, link to Reading and onto London Paddington. The proximity to Heathrow Airport is a significant advantage for international travellers. These excellent travel links make West Berkshire an ideal location for those who need to commute or travel frequently while enjoying the benefits of countryside living.
The area is surprisingly short of private school within the county, but does have the very impressive girls school Downe House and co-ed prep; Elstree School. There are a good number of schools nearby such as Cheam in north Hampshire, Pinewood on the Wiltshire/Glos border and then Wellington and Eton just along the M4.
The market towns of Newbury and Hungerford offer a mix of traditional and modern shopping, with independent boutiques, farmers’ markets, and well-known high street brands. The area also has a rich cultural scene, with venues like the Corn Exchange in Newbury offering theater and live music. Other hidden gems include the Watermill Theatre in Bagnor and tucked away on the edge of Newbury is its wonderful racecourse. Greenham Common once famous for its protesting women is now a fantastic nature reserve.
There are lots of lovely villages with property ranging from grand Manor Houses to quaint thatched cottages, good pubs and all are very accessible due to the excellent travel communications. All of which makes West Berkshire a fantastic place to live.
West Berkshire Highlights
Well Connected – The transport links are fantastic with the M4 running east/west and A34, north/south connecting London, Heathrow and all other parts of the country. The railway lines link through Reading to London Paddington.
Racing – Newbury’s race course has a full season of both Flat and Jump meetings, including the Gold Cup in November. In addition at Lambourn the county has the second largest race horse centre with lots of yards and gallops that stretch up over the downs.
Breathtaking views – due to the Kennet Valley running through the heart of the county, the views from the downs either side are amazing. A drive up to Combe Gibbet near Inkpen will not disappoint.
Treading the boards – The Watermill Theatre at Bagnor www.watermill.org.uk offers a wonderfully unique experience. They have a fantastic range of performances from Shakespeare to modern comedy and is well worth a visit.
West Berkshire is relatively speaking not huge, but properly packs a punch with some beautiful countryside, pretty villages and amazing communications. It amazes me how quickly one can get off the beaten track, yet remain so accessible.
George Burnand
