Places of interest in Berkshire

The Heritage of West Berkshire

Kennet Cruises
	Our historic narrowboat 'Lancing' provides a range of public trips and private party cruises from our base at Burghfield Bridge or from Reading Town Centre. Our self-drive narrowboat 'Rosina Emma' is available for day hire for up to 12 passengers or flexible period hire for four people.

The Royal County of Berkshire Show
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th September

The Royal County of Berkshire Show is one of the area's most anticipated events. It takes place just outside Newbury and draws crowds from far and wide. Exquisite local produce is proudly displayed in the marquees as landowners gather together to parade their cattle in the hope that they will win first prize. Mix these traditional pleasures with a white knuckle fun fair ride and then settle back to watch the show end with hot air balloons rising en mass, weather permitting

Or why not visit Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire offers some of the best horse racing both on the flat and over jumps. It is home to the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and the Juddmonte Lockinge , Ladies Day in August and a summer season of top-class racing, including three evening meetings and Family Fun Days. uperbly located in the heart of the M4 corridor in Berkshire , Newbury Racecourse is a flexible Conference Venue with excellent Event Facilities accommodating events ranging from 10 to 10,000 guests.

Newbury is a classic, vibrant market town that enjoys a unique mix of heritage and technology, creating a diverse and charming environment in which to shop, work or spend time. It lies in beautiful countryside, much of which has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and sits astride the Kennet and Avon canal, which winds its way through the heart of the town centre on its way to the Thames at Reading .

The pedestrianised town centre has an excellent and varied selection of department stores, national multiples and independent shops. The Kennet Shopping Centre has recently undergone a major refit and boasts a host of well known names and smaller independents, offering something for everyone. There is an open air market in the Market Place every Thursday and Saturday that dates back to 1204. The market stalls sell everything from clothes to fruit and meat.

Throughout Newbury there is a wealth of eating places catering for all tastes and pockets, including traditional pubs, popular cafes and fashionable restaurants.

The town's most famous figure was the clothier John Winchcombe, known as Jack of Newbury, who died in 1519. At the peak of the cloth trade, he is said to have had 200 looms and employed 1000 men, women and children. He was also supposed to have entertained King Henry VIII and Queen Catherine of Aragon at his mansion in Northbrook Street .

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Thomas Dolman became the envied leader of the cloth trade, and in 1581 he built Shaw House on the northern side of the town, a mansion which still stands today, although in grave need of restoration.

A remarkable event took place in 1811 when Sir John Throckmorton, a Berkshire landowner, made a thousand guinea wager that he could wear a coat in the evening which had been on a sheep's back that morning. The coat, now very faded and fragile, still exists at the Throckmorton home at Coughton Court in Warwickshire. In September 1991, this remarkable feat was re-enacted at the Newbury Show, breaking the previous record and the new coat is now on display in the West Berkshire Museum .

SLOUGH

Located in the South East of England, Slough is close to West London . The town is an important commercial centre servicing the whole of the country and has many international affiliations. It's location and access to fast communication links are a key factor in the town's commercial success.

•  Slough is within a 10 minute drive of Heathrow Airport and is only 45 minutes drive from Gatwick Airport . These are the UK 's busiest Airports and amongst the busiest in the World.

•  It is a mere 20 minute train journey from Slough to Paddington Station in central London . From Paddington there are fast train links nearby to the rest of the UK and to Europe .

Visit Slough football team at www. slough townfc.net

WINDSOR

A short break destination combining 1,000 years of history, contemporary shopping and fine dining, with sports, leisure activities and events. The home to 13 attractions including Windsor Castle, Eton College, Changing of the Guard & LEGOLAND ® Windsor. Select a B & B or luxury hotel to make the most of your stay!

Two of the UK 's Top 20 attractions, Windsor Castle and LEGOLAND® Windsor are perhaps what Windsor is most famous for. Add to this Eton , the Changing of the Guard and the Savill Garden , Windsor Great Park + 17 other things to do and you can make the perfect holiday!

Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle has been named one of the Seven Wonders of Britain in a major survey by Yellow Pages, backed by the English Tourism Council. Sharing the limelight with attractions such as the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and Cornwall's Eden Project, Windsor Castle is considered one of the ‘must see' sites for visitors from Britain and overseas. Scroll down for more information on the Castle.

Windsor Castle is one of three official residences of The Queen and has been home to the Sovereign for over 900 years. The Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and the oldest in continuous occupation. The imposing towers and battlements of the Castle loom large from every approach to the town, creating one of the world's most spectacular skylines. No other royal residence has played such an important role in the nation's history. Between 1 October 2005 and March 2006, the semi-state rooms will be open to the public. George IV created these in the 1820s as part of a new series of Royal Apartments for his personal occupation. They continue in use by The Queen for official entertaining. Damaged in the 1992 fire, they have been restored to their original appearance and contain furniture and works of art chosen by George IV. The semi-state rooms include The Green Drawing Room, The Crimson Drawing Room, The State Dining Room and The Octagon Dining Room.

Abingdon was occupied in prehistoric times by settlers of the Bronze and Iron ages. It was a flourishing town in the Roman period, which in turn gave way to a Saxon settlement. The earliest documents tell of a hamlet called Sevekesham sited at a ford of the Thames . Hean, nephew of King Cissa was granted land for founding a Benedictine monastery called Abbandun (Hill of Ebba) at the same time as his sister Cilla founded the Nunnery of Helnestowe on or near St Helens Church , the principal church in 675AD. When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in 1538, Abingdon Abbey was the 6th richest in Britain .

The Monday market has existed since 1556. The Michaelmas Fair (now known as the Ock Fair) was originally a 'hiring mart' for those seeking employment.

In 1810 the Wilts and Berks canal arrived with Abingdon becoming a key link between such places as Bristol , London , Birmingham and the Black Country . In 1906 it was abandoned as the canal sides collapsed and the railways offered faster transport. The first link to the railway came in 1856 with a branch connection to Culham and subsequently via Radley. The local station closed in 1963.

Abingdon was the county town of Berkshire , becoming part of Oxfordshire after local government re-organisation in 1974