You’re bound to feel at home staying in Berkshire - one of the ‘home counties’ surrounding London. Whether you explore its royal connections with a posh hotel stay in Windsor or cuddle up in a cosy village pub, you’ll be glad you stopped by.
Along the way you’ll discover plenty of characterful pubs. Many taking inspiration for their names from the resident royals. Try The Royal Oak in the pretty village of Yattendon. Some of their boutique bedrooms have views onto the walled garden. Or the Queens Arms, East Garston, right in the heart of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.
As a county with an impressive landscape of castles, country houses and sprawling estates, it’s a fine place to get a taste for how the English aristocracy live. There’s Donnington Grove near Newbury. The 18th-century Gothic house was once home to Daisy Fellowes, a socialite and fashionista said to have owned the largest jewellery collection in the world.
Alternatively, stay in Reading and visit illuminating attractions such as The Museum of English Rural Life and Reading Museum. The Roseate Reading has some sumptuous suites, including the resplendent Roseate Suite with its 4-poster bed and private dining area.
If you’d rather create your own home from home, book into a self catering cottage. Sheephouse Manor Cottages, located between Maidenhead and Cookham, have everything needed for a comfortable stay, from a fully-equipped kitchen to a BBQ for when you fancy some al fresco dining.
See below for more places to stay in the Royal County of Berkshire.