Berkshire is a ceremonial county in Southeast England, which means it has a Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff for ceremonial purposes related to the monarchy. One of its most famous landmarks is Windsor Castle, which is owned by the British Crown and a residence of King Charles III. It’s known as the ‘Royal County of Berkshire’ for its ties to the British monarchy, including the prestigious Eton College, where the Prince of Wales studied.
Aside from its royal status, Berkshire is an idyllic county to settle down with lush green spaces and urban towns including Reading, where you can get a fast 30-minute train to London.
Key summary
- Berkshire has royal connections including Windsor Castle and Eton College, and picturesque green spaces including nature reserves and country parks
- Reading is the main town in Berkshire with good employment prospects, a university, shopping centres, restaurants and more
- South Wokingham is an up and coming area with new build homes in Berkshire including our Holme Meadows development
What we’ll cover
- Is Berkshire a good place to live?
- Cost of living
- Best areas in Berkshire
- Things to do in Berkshire
- Public transport
- New homes in Berkshire
Is Berkshire a good place to live?
Berkshire is a great place to live, it offers a high quality of life with the countryside mainly in West Berkshire and urban areas like Reading with restaurants, shopping, sports, leisure and more. The River Thames runs through much of Berkshire, where you can enjoy boat tours, parties and private events.
There is no city in Berkshire but the biggest town is Reading, which has a total population of around 413,000 including the greater urban area. Reading has been named the fourth best town in the UK for jobs in 2025, and has a high employment rate as well as its own university.
Outside of Reading, there are smaller towns like Ascot (home to the famous Ascot Racecourse) and scenic villages for buyers who prefer a quieter lifestyle. West Berkshire is the place to be if you’re a nature lover – it’s largely made up of countryside including the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. Other green spaces in Berkshire include Windsor Great Park – 15,800 acres of royal landscape.
Cost of living in Berkshire
The cost of living and property prices are generally high in Berkshire, with the average house price in West Berkshire £398,000 in April 2025 and £348,000 in Reading. That said, Reading is 20.5% less expensive to live in compared to London, with estimated costs for a single person around £800 per month. London is also an easily commutable distance for work.
Best areas to live in Berkshire
There are some stunning areas to settle down in including Windsor and Ascot, which have been named as one of the UK’s most desirable towns.
More affordable towns and villages include:
Reading
Reading is a key economic centre in the UK, particularly in the technology sector, with global brands like Microsoft, Nokia and Virgin Media all having offices there. It’s also popular for its shopping, food and music scene. Top things to do in Reading include:
- Broadstreet Mall and The Oracle shopping centres
- Reading Festival – one of the UK’s largest music festivals
- Reading Museum
- Beale Wildlife Park
- Stanlake Park Wine Estate (vineyard)
- Reading Abbey Ruins
South Wokingham
Wokingham is a historic market town in Berkshire with pretty architecture and many restaurants, cafes and bars. Things to do in Wokingham include:
- Markets
- Home Grange Craft Village
- Wokingham Theatre
- Wokingham Superbowl
- Dinton Pastures Country Park
- Siren Craft Brew (brewery)
- Nirvana Spa
Wokingham is a 26-minute drive to Reading and smaller villages like Barkham are also nearby. South Wokingham is an up and coming area, where you’ll find Holme Meadows – a new housing development close to the town centre and train station, with a new primary school, green spaces and local centre.
Bray
Bray, or Bray-on-Thames, is a riverside village nestled between Maidenhead and Windsor. It’s a peaceful village to settle down as it’s surrounded by countryside and it’s most famous for its three Michelin Star restaurants: Waterside Inn, The Fat Duck and Hinds Head.
Bray is also really well connected – you can get to Reading in 30 minutes by car and it’s a short 23-minute drive from our Holme Meadows development.
Pangbourne
Pangbourne is another idyllic village on the River Thames, best known for its beautiful views, cottages and 1,000-year history as a crossing point of the Thames. Things to do in Pangbourne include:
- Pangbourne Meadow
- Basildon Park
- Independent shops
- Grade II listed Whitchurch Bridge
- Dolphin Centre for watersports
The village is a short 30-minute drive to South Wokingham and 17-minute drive to Reading.
Things to do in Berkshire
If you’re planning to move to Berkshire, Windsor Castle, Ascot and the county's stunning green spaces are a must-visit. But there is something for everyone including family-friendly activities such as the famous Legoland Windsor Resort and soft play centres, as well as independent pubs, restaurants and shops.
South Wokingham, home to our Holme Meadows development, is well connected with motorway access and a train station, so you can easily travel around Berkshire and visit your favourite attractions and amenities.
Schools
Berkshire is highly regarded for its educational institutions with the prestigious Eton College and Wellington College based there. There are also four grammar schools in Slough and two in Reading, along with other public and private schools across the county.
The University of Reading ranks 26th in the UK, while Imperial College and University of West London both have campuses in Berkshire.
Public transport
Berkshire is an ideal location for commuters because of its close proximity to London. Reading Railway Station is used by 20 million travellers each year and can get you to London Paddington in a little over 20 minutes. Smaller towns including Wokingham and Windsor also have train stations.
The M4 and M3 motorways run through Berkshire to get you to surrounding towns/cities and Heathrow airport is a 40-minute drive. Alternatively, you can use the bus network in Reading.
New homes in Berkshire
Popular for its outdoor spaces and royal connections, Berkshire is a fantastic place to settle down for families, retirees or working professionals. It has excellent schools, transport links, green spaces and leisure facilities. Check out our new homes in Berkshire: