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While you're in the Royal Borough visiting Windsor, Eton or Maidenhead why not enjoy exploring further afield? Venture out to our pretty towns and villages including Bray, Ascot and Cookham; you'll discover some true picture-postcard areas rich in history!
The landscape, the buildings, the people and the general atmosphere of the towns and villages combine to reflect that special character which is the epitome of the Royal Borough.
Each town and village has its own history and distinct personality, many with boutiques, fine arts and crafts, florists and wine merchants.
With charming surroundings and friendly people where better to spend your time?
Discover more about the towns and villages of the Royal Borough by clicking on the links below.
Ascot was originally a village called East Cote meaning Eastern Cottage from the old English Estcota and lies just 6 miles from Windsor Castle. It's most renowned as a mecca for racing enthusiasts as it's home to the world-famous Ascot Racecourse. Ascot has a bustling high street featuring independent shops, restaurants and cafés as well as recognisable high street names. Top places to stay in the area include Coworth Park, Macdonald Berystede Hotel and Royal Berkshire Hotel.
The dense woods at Bisham provide a dramatic backdrop to its historic buildings. The best-known sight in the village is Bisham Abbey, actually a 13th-century manor house built by the Knights Templar.
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 to the Royal Borough as it features a wealth of cottages, houses and attractive riverbank properties. If you enjoy fine dining you'll find Bray hard to resist with its Michelin-starred eateries including Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck (3 Michelin stars), The Hind's Head (1 Michelin star) and Alain Roux's The Waterside Inn (3 Michelin stars). For lovers of Italian food, book a table at Caldesi in Campagna. Rest your head for the night in a riverside bedroom at the Monkey Island Estate.
Clewer is the oldest village in the Royal Borough. In the days when the River Thames meandered through a wide flood plain, and in the absence of bridges, Clewer became well known for its ford as this was the only place to cross the river for several miles. It was used by soldiers, traders and pilgrims. Clewer is home to the Church of St Andrew's. You'll also find The Swan, an 18th-century community pub and hub.
Cookham is one of the most popular Thameside resorts with its many superb restaurants and inns. The name of Cookham today is closely associated with Sir Stanley Spencer, one of the greatest British painters of the 20th century who lived in the village until his death in 1959 and who used its scenery as the background to many of his paintings. You'll find his artwork in the fascinating Stanley Spencer Gallery situated in the old Methodist Chapel on Cookham High Street.
Despite much modern development, Datchet still manages to retain many features of the quiet riverside settlement it once was. The older buildings cluster around The Green with its central oak tree commemorating Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, while those of later periods line the roads towards the river where Thameside gardens form an attractive feature. A Golden Tours open top bus includes a visit to Datchet. And you can hire a Kris Cruisers self-drive boat from the River Thames here and enjoy the pace of river life.
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. Located just a short walk from Windsor across the pedestrian bridge that spans the River Thames, explore the fascinating high street which includes lots of independent shops and cafés. Stay at the historic coaching inn, The Christopher Hotel. Join a seasonal heritage tour of Eton College (May to September). Drop by Eton Information Centre. Book a riverside table at Côte Brasserie and enjoy the views of Windsor Castle from the Eton perspective.
The name most associated with Horton is that of John Milton (1608-74) who wrote many of his poems while living here.
Hurley lies halfway between London and Oxford, being 55 miles from each by river. There was a monastery here but it was dissolved in 1536 and relics of its buildings can still be seen in many of Hurley's private residences. Stay and enjoy riverside camping and caravanning at Hurley Riverside Park. Nearby Danesfield House Hotel and Spa is situated high on the cliffs on the opposite side of the river. Keen walkers can follow the Thames Path from the free car park in Hurley: head downstream towards Marlow or upstream towards Henley on Thames.
Littlewick Green 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.
Old Windsor was the oldest Saxon town in Berkshire and the seat of Edward the Confessor. It was gradually overshadowed from 1100 when Windsor Castle was built. Nearby accommodation includes The Runnymede on Thames, De Vere Beaumont Estate and Fairmont Windsor Park. Most of the wonderful Windsor Great Park falls within the parish's boundaries. You can board a French Brothers Boat and travel to Windsor from nearby Runnymede. The Windsor Farm Shop is located on the outskirts of Old Windsor, selling locally-sourced goods and produce from the Royal Estates and Windsor Great Park, and you can enjoy a cuppa at The Windsor Farm Shop Café. Discover riverside walks along the tow path; the southeast of the parish adjoins the county of Surrey where the road from Windsor to Staines leads to historic Runnymede.
Although the smallest parish in the Royal Borough, Shottesbrooke contains one of the most noteworthy churches in Berkshire.
Sunningdale is noted for its fine displays of trees and shrubs, especially banks of rhododendrons, and its famous golfing facilities.
Sunninghill means 'the home of Sunna’s people'. Most of the development around the large country houses of the 18th century was accelerated by the discovery of health-giving salt springs and rapidly increased with the advent of the railway in 1841.
One of the most westerly parishes in the borough, Waltham St Lawrence includes the hamlets of West End and Shurlock Row and contains many fine examples of domestic architecture.
During World War II an airfield was established at White Waltham which was subsequently used as the headquarters of Home Command of the RAF.
For lovers of Tudor history this area has special associations. It was at the yew tree in the grounds of Ankerwyke Priory, half a mile from Wraysbury, that Henry VIII used to meet Anne Boleyn.
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is very fortunate to have some amazing towns and villages, all with their own unique history and personality and just waiting to be discovered.
If you require more information on the various things to do and our wide range of attractions such as Windsor Castle, Legoland and Dorney Court, then we highly recommend you visit those individual pages.
If our 'what's on' and events guide – which includes big annual events such as the Royal Windsor Horse Show and Royal Ascot – is more your thing, then we highly recommend you visit those pages too.
If you would like to book some accommodation, whether it be from our range of hotels, homely guest accommodation, clean and presentable self-catering properties or even a campsite to set up base, then you can visit those pages for more information.
If you do plan to visit Windsor and Maidenhead then you should check out the amazing food, drink, shopping and entertainment in the local area.
You can find out more information by visiting our shopping, restaurants, pubs and nightlife pages.
Last but not least, if you are planning to come by car then we definitely recommend you visit our maps and parking pages for more information on the various car parks and 'park and ride' options throughout the Borough.
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