The Ceremonial County of Berkshire is situated in South East England.
The area of Berkshire is 488 Square Miles (1,264 Square Kilometres). Making Berkshire the 28th smallest county in Great Britain (out of 91) and the 9th smallest county in England (out of 48).
Berkshire, just to the west of London, offers a splendid blend of historical significance and modern marvels, wrapped in the tranquility of its picturesque landscapes.
To the east, almost reaching the M25 London Motorway, you'll find bustling towns such as Slough, Maidenhead, and the most renowned of them all, Windsor. The highlight here is undoubtedly Windsor Castle, the residence of the English Royal Family and one of England's premier tourist attractions. Not far from this majestic edifice, children and adults alike can indulge their playful side at Legoland, a theme park that promises joy and creativity.
Venturing westwards, the scenery changes from urban sprawl to rural tranquility. Around the market town of Newbury lie numerous sleepy villages. The Berkshire Downs, part of the North Wessex Downs area of Natural Beauty, beckon nature enthusiasts. This serene chalk downland shelters the pure waters of the chalk land stream, which bubble up from springs and merge with regional rivers like the Lambourn and Pang, eventually meeting the River Kennet.
But it's not just nature that attracts visitors to this side. The ancient ridgeway, a Neolithic passage, crosses these lands. It touches sacred sites like Waylands Smithy and Uffington Camp, and not to be missed is the iconic White Horse, a gargantuan chalk figure with origins lost to time. Its mystery only deepens with the nearby Roman marching camp, a testament to Britain's multi-layered history.
Berkshire's landscape is steeped in the blood and valor of historic battles. The Civil War saw two major confrontations in Newbury in 1643, with Royalists clashing with parliamentary forces, each side amassing around 15,000 soldiers. The nearby Donnington Castle wasn't spared either, facing a siege by the parliamentary army. Reading, the county town, underwent its ordeal with the 11-day siege of Reading. And who can forget the intriguingly named 'Battle of Broad Street' in 1688, a clash that might puzzle modern-day visitors to Reading, but was pivotal in its time.
Today, the scars of war have healed, replaced by infrastructural veins like the M4. This motorway, also known as the M4 Corridor, stretches from London to Wales, making Berkshire a hotspot for hi-tech companies, bringing both employment and prosperity. The gentle flow of the River Thames through Reading, and the passage of the River Kennet through towns like Marlborough, Hungerford, and Newbury, serve as constant reminders of Berkshire's harmonious blend of the old and the new.
Berkshire isn't just a county; it's a captivating narrative of England's past and its vibrant present, waiting to be explored.The area of Berkshire is 488 Square Miles (1,264 Square Kilometres). Making Berkshire the 28th smallest county in Great Britain (out of 91) and the 9th smallest county in England (out of 48).
Zoom Level | Latitude | Longitude |
6 | 53.521968 | -2.164306 |