A guide to living in Berkshire

Berkshire is a county in the South East of England. It has a population of around 540,000 and contains some beautiful countryside and towns. The landscape here is varied, from chalk downland through rich farmland to woodland and water features. The county town is Reading and there are many other large towns such as Newbury, Swindon and Wokingham which all have their own attractions. Berkshire also has many amazing educational institutions including world-leading universities like the University of Reading.

Excellent

69.6

Very Good

22.0

Average

5.2

Disappointing

1.9

Very poor

1.3

Best places to live in Berkshire

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Viewing 1-5 out of 59

Rental Only

Award Winner 2025

Ebb & Flow, RG1

By Native Communities

Award winner 2025

4.87

(166 reviews)

Ebb & Flow offers a collection of Studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments in the heart of Reading. All apartments have spacious kitchens, enhanced floor to ceiling height, and bespoke furniture. As well as this, residents benefit from a 24hr support team, wellness classes and community events. Private social and co-working spaces are also included. A buzzing new neighbourhood right on your doorstep.

1st

Ranked 1st out of 36 in Berkshire

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Leaf Living at Buckler's Park, RG40

By Leaf Living

4.77

(17 reviews)

Experience tranquillity village life with a modern twist at Buckler's Park in Crowthorne. The village is bustling with coffee shops, cosy pubs and hosts of seasonal food festival. Nestled within a nature reserve you are spoilt for choice when it comes to walks and cycling routes, with Buckler's Forest on your doorstep. This new community is close to excellent schools and a short drive to Crowthorne Station with a direct train to Reading and London Gatwick.

2nd

Ranked 2nd out of 36 in Berkshire

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Development image of Berkshire House, SL6

Rental Only

Award Winner 2024

Berkshire House, SL6

By Essential Living

Award winner 2024

4.64

(161 reviews)

£1,100-£1,300 pcm

1 beds

Berkshire House is a Build to Rent development managed by Essential Living. There are 68 apartments, and these are a range of studios as well as one and two-bedroom apartments. Additionally, Berkshire House has a central location on Maidenhead High Street. Therefore, it is close to Maidenhead station and a short drive from the historical town of Windsor, which hugs the River Thames.

3rd

Ranked 3rd out of 36 in Berkshire

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Emporium House, RG1

By Allsop Letting and Management

4.38

(19 reviews)

Previously known as Domain Apartments, Emporium House is a newly rebranded and professionally managed Build-to-Rent community in the heart of Reading, offering modern living across two distinct buildings: Emporium House West, and Emporium House East. The development comprises a total of 418 high-quality rental apartments, with a mix of stylish one, two, and three-bedroom homes, all available fully furnished to suit flexible lifestyles. Residents enjoy access to an impressive range of on-site amenities, including a fully equipped gym, private screening room, co-working spaces, resident lounges, a private dining room, and landscaped courtyards. Perfectly located, Emporium House is just a 7-minute walk from Reading Station and 10 minutes from Broad Street Shopping Centre, offering excellent connectivity and local convenience.

4th

Ranked 4th out of 36 in Berkshire

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L&Q at Huntley Wharf, RG1

By L&Q

4.83

(8 reviews)

L&Q at Huntley Wharf is a collection of riverside 1 and 2-bedroom Shared Ownership apartments and duplex apartments in the prospering town of Reading. The development will compliment the transformation of Reading as an urban hub, providing contemporary riverside apartments to this evolving town. Huntley Wharf will provide a new destination for central Reading featuring a central riverside square with proposed local amenities such as a café, restaurant, a local store, gym, nursery and landscaped open spaces along the river. The apartments will provide a desirable specification, making it the perfect space for modern day living.

5th

Ranked 5th out of 36 in Berkshire

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Page 1 of 12

Featured developments in Berkshire

Latest Reviews in Berkshire

918 total reviews

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Viewing 1-5 out of 916

Cigdem sayaroglu (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Dec 2025

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Happy place to live

Cigdem sayaroglu (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Dec 2025

We are generally very happy with all the renovations and improvements carried out in the building. The overall design and facilities have been enhanced, and both the building management and property management teams have been responsive and professional. The only area that still needs attention is the terrace on our floor, which would benefit from some updates and improvements to match the quality of the rest of the development. Other than that, we are very satisfied with the progress made.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Overall, we are satisfied with the area we live in. The local shops, restaurants, transport links and open spaces are generally good. Our street is usually calm and well-maintained. The only real issue is that on weekends, the shouting of people who are out drinking can be quite disturbing. Other than that, we don’t experience any major problems.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

We are happy with them; they have responded to any issues we raised promptly and helpfully.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

One thing I wish I had known before moving in is that there are quite a lot of spiders due to the garden area. It’s not something you really notice during a typical viewing. Because of this, I think some improvements or maintenance work in the garden level would be helpful. This would make the area more comfortable for future residents.

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Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Marina (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Weavers Yard, RG14

Dec 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Brilliant performance second to none, definitely a 5 star review!

Marina (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Weavers Yard, RG14

Dec 2025

The design of the building is very modern and chic with easy to maintain hardware. The rooms are really spacious and overall have a clean appearance! The local management team is a dream those ladies Linda and Carmen have been awesome. Linda always a bowl of sunshine with her bright personality and Carmen so calm assertive and attentive. They have been very supportive in me settling in and ensuring I’ve had a wonderful stay. 10 out of 10

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Newbury is a gem with the perfect mix of calm quiet and access to main cities! It’s home for me and I love it!

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Yes always timely responses with the day and time of repair

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I’m not sure if I have anything to add her to be honest

・・

HomeViews

Satya Sree (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Dec 2025

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

The best place to live in Maidenhead!

Satya Sree (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Dec 2025

The best part of living in Berkshire House is the building management team. We have always had a very thoughtful, supportive and friendly Resident Service Manager, and the current manager is no different. They are always considerate, and do go to great lengths to either fix the issue or provide a workaround. Having spoken to my friends living in various parts of the city, I have not heard any other building management to be so accommodating and willing to provide the best help they can offer. With the resident building caretaker, any issue in the apartment is looked in to and most often resolved within 24 hours.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Central location of Berkshire House makes it easy and convenient in many aspects and is one of the reasons to live here. Whether it is a last minute milk run or a late night commute to home, the fact that BH is 5-10 mins of walking distance to local stores, and train station takes away the stress. Another perk of living in the town center is access to the fresh vegetables, and food sold by local businesses, and library is 5 mins away by walk. Occasional noises from the pub/party goers is the downside of living in a prime location.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The management does not disregard any of the issues raised, no matter how small or big a concern is, they look in to it immediately. More often than not, the issue is resolved in 24 hours and the cases where it takes longer, they ensure that the effect is minimal and provide alternate solutions until the issue is fully fixed. To borrow a friends' words, we pay more for the comfort and security.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Nothing to be honest. My friends were already living here, so I had known what it is like. Having lived in an apartment with the worst building management, moving in to Berkshire House was a 180 degree shift in experience which I cherish every day.

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Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Lory (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Dec 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

My home, My Family

Lory (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Dec 2025

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

I cherish my lovely home here at Ebb and Flow dearly. The community team with Khadija, Harlie, Mia and Michael are like a family to me and I really appreciate all they work and love for this building. The building design is overall very nice classy and the cleaners do an amazing job keeping it nice.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Yes they are helpful and attentive, always available and Happy to resolve any issues

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

How many great events we do here on a weekly basis

・・

HomeViews

Law L (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Dec 2025

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

High Professional Management Delivering Exceptional Service

Law L (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Dec 2025

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Very good place to live in with a good variety of shops and restaurants. Easy transport to central London. A pleasant experience.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They respond promptly and are pro active. I would recommend them.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Nothing. We had lived at BH before and decided to return with prior unpleasant experience with another BTR property in the same town. Berkshire House is very professional.

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Page 1 of 184

These reviews are the subjective opinion of a HomeViews user and not of HomeViews

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Hampshire

Hampshire is a county in the south of England that borders Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. It has some beautiful towns such as Winchester, Basingstoke and Romsey which are perfect for those who want to live near London but without all the hustle and bustle. Hampshire's largest city is Southampton with over 200,000 people living there. With lots of green space, outdoor activities and cultural events, Hampshire offers a vibrant lifestyle for families with young children.

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Kent

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Milton Keynes

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Reading

Reading is a large market town and borough in the county of Berkshire. Located on the M4 motorway 40 miles west of London and within easy reach of both Oxford and Bristol, it has been described as having some of the best transport connections in England. The impending addition of the Elizabeth Line will further boost its appeal with London escapees lured by the scenery of the Chiltern Hills and North Wessex Downs that surround the town.

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Surrey

Surrey is a county in the south of England. It has an area of 1,663 square kilometres and a population of 1.2 million people. Surrey borders London to the North West and Hampshire to the East. The county has many beautiful parks which are great for families, as well as areas with wild landscapes ideal for outdoor pursuits such as cycling or walking. There are so many things to do in Surrey - find out more about this wonderful place!

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West Sussex

West Sussex is a county that has something for everyone. Whether you love the hustle and bustle of London and want somewhere in easy commuting distance, or prefer the peace and tranquillity of rural life, West Sussex has it all! There are many different towns and villages scattered across this beautiful county. From Eastbourne to Worthing, there is no shortage of charming little places with great schools, shopping centres, local amenities and lots more!

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