Berkshire

Berkshire mixes royal heritage with quiet countryside. Windsor draws visitors for its castle and riverside charm, with Eton just across the bridge offering its famous school and pretty high street. Reading and Slough are the county's busiest hubs, useful for transport links and shopping, while Bracknell and Wokingham offer solid, practical bases with good facilities. Maidenhead sits on the Thames and suits those wanting a gentler pace close to the water.

Ascot is best known for its racecourse and appeals to those after a smarter day out, while Hungerford, further west, has an attractive market town feel with antique shops and canal walks. Villages such as Riseley, Crowthorne and Bishops Green provide a slower, rural alternative, ideal for travellers seeking peaceful surroundings within easy reach of the county's larger towns.

Berkshire's mix of business travel, royal tourism and rural charm makes for a broad spread of places to stay. Windsor draws the crowds heading for the castle, with options ranging from boutique stops like Pinfield Boutique Hotel to serviced apartments such as 12 Helena Luxury Serviced Apartment. Reading and Slough, meanwhile, cater more to corporate visitors and travellers passing through, with serviced rooms and straightforward hotels close to the stations and business parks.

Away from the towns, the county's farmland and villages hold a good number of B&Bs, from Field Farm Cottage and Manor Cottage to Park Farm and Little Park Farm's Queen Anne Farmhouse. These tend to suit anyone wanting a quieter base for exploring the Thames Valley or the Berkshire countryside, while inns like The Union Inn offer something more local and sociable. With 222 places listed, choice comes down largely to whether you want to be near the sights, the trains, or the fields.

Windsor sets the tone for Berkshire's days out, with the Castle drawing visitors from across the world and its streets filled with trails, tours and activities built around royal history. Racing at Ascot adds another draw, from the Qatar Racing British Champions Day down to regular fixtures that pull crowds year-round.

Beyond the obvious landmarks, the county has plenty for families and groups looking to fill an afternoon. Reading offers escape rooms and mystery trails for a rainy day, while Bracknell and Maidenhead have activity centres, gaming buses and bubble football for something more energetic. Hungerford and Thatcham suit a quieter pace, often built around outdoor pursuits like cycling or stables visits.

Choosing between them depends on what sort of day you want: heritage and grandeur around Windsor, active pursuits scattered through Bracknell and Maidenhead, or low-key exploring further out towards Hungerford.

Berkshire's dining scene runs from riverside pubs to city-centre restaurants, with plenty of choice across its towns. Windsor and Ascot lean towards smarter options suited to a day out near the castle or racecourse, while Reading and Slough offer a broader mix of everyday cafés, takeaways and ethnic restaurants serving office workers and residents alike.

Maidenhead adds another cluster along the Thames, with pubs such as The Belvedere Arms typical of the county's traditional side. Elsewhere you will find independent cafés like Perk Café and The Grove Cafe sitting alongside chains, bakeries such as Ole And Steen, and specialists including Memory of Sichuan for something more distinctive.

With so many venues spread across the county, it is worth deciding whether you want a quick bite, a proper sit-down meal or somewhere geared to families before choosing a town to focus your search.

Berkshire's campsites make the most of its mix of river valleys, downland and woodland, with a good spread across Newbury, Reading and the quieter villages between. Sites such as Bishops Green Farm Camping and Ellis' Hill Farm Campsite offer a simple rural base near Newbury and Lambourn, useful for exploring the Berkshire Downs, while Hurley Riverside Park sits closer to the Thames for a waterside pitch.

Families tend to head for Wellington Country Park or Bucklebury Farm & Deer Safari Park, both combining camping with animals and outdoor activities on site. For something different, Hollington Park Glamping and Orchard View Wedmore offer more comfortable, ready-made stays, and Heritage Family Naturist Campsite caters to a specific niche. Around Sandhurst, Crowthorne and Riseley, smaller sites like Scotlands House Campsite give easy access to the county's eastern edge without straying far from Bracknell or the M4 corridor.