Bishops Green

Bishops Green sits just south of Newbury, on the Berkshire side of the county boundary that here runs close to Hampshire, in the parish shared with Ecchinswell and Sydmonton. It is a small, quiet place rather than a destination in its own right, with a scatter of housing that grew up around RAF Greenham Common during the Second World War and was redeveloped into its present form from the mid-1990s. What draws visitors is not the hamlet itself but its position, tucked into rolling farmland on the edge of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The surrounding countryside is classic chalk downland: hedged lanes, arable fields and beech-topped hills rolling away towards Watership Down to the south and the Kennet valley to the north. Newbury, with its racecourse, restaurants and rail connections, is a few minutes away by car, while the village of Kingsclere and the old air base at Greenham Common are both within easy reach. It is a good base for slow, low-key exploring rather than sightseeing at pace.

Top things to do near Bishops Green

Bishops Green itself has little beyond a village hall and shop, but the surrounding area offers plenty for a day or two of gentle exploring.

• Greenham Common — the former Cold War airbase, now open heathland and a nature reserve with the runway, control tower and Second World War history still visible alongside skylarks and grazing ponies.
• Watership Down and the North Wessex Downs — the chalk ridge made famous by Richard Adams’ novel, with waymarked walking routes and wide views over Hampshire and Berkshire.
• Newbury Racecourse — a major National Hunt and Flat racing venue a short drive north, hosting race days throughout the year.
• Kingsclere village — a handsome Hampshire village with a shop, pub and church, and the famous racehorse training gallops on the downs above it.
• Highclere Castle — the real-life setting for Downton Abbey, with its gardens and Egyptian exhibition, is a short drive to the south.

Getting to Bishops Green

Bishops Green lies just off the A339 between Newbury and Kingsclere, with the A34 and M4 both within easy reach for wider connections. Newbury railway station, on the line between London Paddington and the West Country, is the nearest mainline station, around ten minutes away by car. There is no direct bus service into the hamlet itself, so a car is the practical way to get around this rural corner of Berkshire.

Best time to visit Bishops Green

Late spring through early autumn suits the area best, when the downland walking routes are at their driest and the hedgerows and skylark-filled fields of Greenham Common are at their liveliest. Autumn brings good colour to the beech woods on the surrounding hills, while winter racing fixtures give Newbury Racecourse its own seasonal draw.

Where to stay near Bishops Green

Accommodation directly in Bishops Green is limited to the odd farmhouse letting, so most visitors base themselves in nearby Newbury, which has a range of hotels and inns, or in the villages around Kingsclere and Ecchinswell. Campsites and rural stays in the surrounding countryside also make a good base for exploring the North Wessex Downs.

Food and drink near Bishops Green

There is no pub or restaurant in Bishops Green itself. The nearest options are in Kingsclere and Ecchinswell, both a short drive away, or in Newbury, which has a wide choice of pubs, cafes and restaurants around its historic town centre and wharf.