Forbury Gardens

Forbury Gardens

Reading

Things To Do in Berkshire

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With so many places to visit in Berkshire, you can easily forget you're right on London’s doorstep. Just 45 minutes by train from London, you'll discover a wealth of towns, villages and countryside to explore, making this county the perfect antidote to UK city life.  A county with unique connections to the British Royal Family, where you will find the River Thames meandering along its northern edge and beautiful parks and gardens ablaze with colour. 

The North Wessex Downs (AONB) to the west of the county, a rich mosaic of chalk habitat, woodland, pastures and common land and the world famous historic town of Windsor to the east.  You'll find a year round events calendar, along with vibrant riverside towns of Reading and Maidenhead, the famous college of Eton and the place where the historic Magna Carta was signed.  Today this romantic county offers the perfect escape from the everyday, combining royal heritage, a slice of luxury with the great outdoors.  To get the most out of your stay, start planning your days out in Berkshire here.

Visit Berkshire

Windsor, Berkshire, the weekend home of the British Royal family, home to the iconic Windsor Castle, the world famous long walk and the beautiful Windsor Great Park.  With history and heritage at every turn, beautiful parks and gardens, riverside walks and great shopping, this beautiful historic town makes for a great South East short break destination.

Berkshire is the birthplace of the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, raised in the quaint village of Buckleberry where her parents’ home is still located today. It was in the village of Pangbourne in Berkshire where she spent her school days at St Andrew’s School. Situated on the River Thames, Pangbourne has been cited as the inspiration of many famous authors’ novels including Kenneth Grahame and Jerome K. Jerome.  Full of character, Pangbourne is a great place to visit.

Vibrant Reading, Berkshire, a modern destination with a medieval history, packed full of in or on the water activities, adrenaline fuled attractions, rich history and great places to stay.  Located on the River Thames it is home to the 900 year old Reading Abbey ruins, the Reading Festival, and the departure point for modern pilgrims and walkers retracing the steps of medieval pilgrims along St James’ Way to Southampton.  

Berkshire is also home to many other picturesque towns and villages such as Newbury, HungerfordAscot, Hurley, Cookham, Bray, Littlewick Green, and Waltham St Lawrence. Find out more about towns and villages in the county with our interactive map of Berkshire.

Things to do in Berkshire this weekend

Many of Berkshire's tourist attractions are open all year round so find the best days out in Berkshire with activities listings each showing a map and opening times for your convenience. Or why not browse our Berkshire events guide to find out what's on this week.

Top 10 things to do in Berkshire

For things to do in Reading, Newbury, Maidenhead, Bracknell and other Berkshire towns, browse our pick of the best attractions below or find a more comprehensive list of what to do and places to visit at the bottom of the page.

List of things to do & places to visit for days out in Berkshire

For more about Berkshire, including ideas on days out, where to stay and things to do in Berkshire, browse through the below selection of attractions and towns and villages that collectively make Berkshire such a memorable destination to visit. Use the 'map view' button to find something near you.

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Number of results: 147

, currently showing 1 to 20.

  1. Streatley-on-Thames

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    Towns & Villages

    The village of Streatley-on-Thames stands on the opposite side of the River Thames to Goring; Oxfordshire on one side and West Berkshire on the other, linked by a bridge which was built in 1923

  2. The Reading Room

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    Type:

    Bar

    Reading

    Opened in 2020, The Reading Room at the Roseate Hotel Reading  offers delicious modern cuisine revolving around the freshest, seasonal ingredients and best of British produce from Executive Chef Rajesh Maharjan.

  3. Reading

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    Towns & Villages

    Reading

    Perhaps the most bustling and energetic of Berkshire towns, Reading is an appealing combination of excellent shopping facilities and historic buildings.

  4. Kris Cruisers

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    Type:

    Boat Trip

    Slough

    Whether you have a week, a day or just a few hours, relax, unwind and discover the hidden treasures of the River Thames with Kris Cruisers self-drive Day Boats and Boating Holidays.

  5. Windsor & Maidenhead Boat Company

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    Boat

    MAIDENHEAD

    Here at the Windsor & Maidenhead Boat Company, we like to make your day out one to remember. We operate a beautiful vessel called the Georgian, which is more like a floating restaurant rather than a boat that you might expect. We offer four types of…

  6. Eton

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    Towns & Villages

    It is impossible to think of Eton without reference to its famous public school, Eton College, and indeed the later history of the town is inseparably entwined with that of the college.

  7. Go Ape Bracknell

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    Climbing / High Ropes

    Bracknell

    Axe Throwing
    Every tried slinging an axe? Not only is it the perfect stress-reliever but it's bags of fun too. Enjoy an action-packed hour of axe-flinging in the great outdoors, as you go in search for that all-important bullseye (it's harder than…

  8. The Eton Walkway

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    Waymarked Trail

    Eton, Windsor

    The Eton Walkway, a 2-mile/one-hour circular walk, connects 18 points of interest in the town starting at Windsor Bridge.

  9. Littlewick Green

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    Towns & Villages

    The village is set just off the main Bath Road two miles west of Maidenhead and has a certain charm, with many of its cottages and houses set around a sizeable green with the school and parish church completing the picture. Also here is 'Redroofs',…

  10. Wellington Country Park

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    Country / Royal Park

    Riseley, Reading

    Wellington Country Park, ‘The Biggest Outdoor play in Berkshire’, was established in 1974 by the Eighth Duke and Duchess of Wellington. Set in 350 acres of beautiful parklands off the A33 between Basingstoke and Reading, Wellington Country Park…

  11. Sandhurst

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    Towns & Villages

    Sandhurst

    Sandhurst is a small town and civil parish and is in the south eastern corner of Berkshire, within the Borough of Bracknell Forest, situated 33 miles south west of central London.

  12. Windsor Castle

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    Castle / Fort

    Windsor

    Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen. Its rich history spans almost 1000 years.

  13. Kennet Horse Boat Company Ltd

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    Type:

    Boat Trip

    HUNGERFORD

    Traditional horse-drawn and motorised canal boats. Kennet and Avon Canal. Refreshments, coach parking. Suitable for all age groups.

  14. Thames Rivercruise

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    Boat

    Caversham, Reading


    Thames River Cruise was established in 1974 when it all started very simply with one small open launch operating from Caversham to Mapledurham.

    Things have moved on considerably. All our vessels are of the finest standing on the Upper Thames and…

  15. Ascot

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    Towns & Villages

    Ascot was originally a village called East Cote meaning Eastern Cottage from the old English Estcota and lies just 6 miles from Windsor Castle. Home to arguably the most famous racecourse in the country, most commercial development has grown up…

  16. Bray

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    Towns & Villages

    A pretty riverside parish with a three-mile frontage on the Thames between Maidenhead and Windsor, Bray has become a very popular stopping place for visitors

  17. Bracknell

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    Towns & Villages

    Bracknell

    Bracknell is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire.

  18. Wokingham

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    Towns & Villages

    Wokingham

    Wokingham is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire It is about 7 miles east-southeast of Reading and 4 miles west of Bracknell.

  19. Hurley

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    Towns & Villages

    Pretty riverside Hurley lies halfway between London and Oxford, being 55 miles from each by river. The river has always been an important part of the village’s history with records of a ford as early as the 6th century.

  20. Slough

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    Towns & Villages

    Slough

    Slough is a town in Berkshire, England, about 20 miles west of central London.