A Guide to Living in Berkshire

Where is Berkshire?

Berkshire is a county in the south of England. It’s located between Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, with Surrey to its east and Hampshire to its west.

Areas in Berkshire

The county of Berkshire is divided into six local authorities: Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham. The towns with the most inhabitants are Reading, Newbury and Bracknell. The most popular areas with home buyers include:

Reading

The largest town in Berkshire, Reading is an excellent location to live and work. It’s home to the University of Reading, which is one of the best universities in England, and it has a vibrant cultural scene with theatres like The Hexagon.

Windsor

Located along the River Thames near Eton College, Windsor is a great choice for home buyers. It benefits from good transport links and easy access to the countryside, and it’s popular with commuters who work in London

Slough

Slough might be known as London’s gateway from Heathrow Airport due to its proximity, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty more going on. With a thriving economy based around industries such as pharmaceutical research and electronics manufacturing 

Maidenhead

Maidenhead is a town in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, located west of London. It has excellent schools and a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants.

Newbury and Thatcham

Newbury and Thatcham are great for families with young children because of the good range of schools on offer. Both towns are also home to a number of businesses, making them perfect for commuters and it’s an easy commute to London from these towns as well!

Universities in Berkshire

There are many educational institutions to choose from if you want to study in the county of Berkshire. The top three universities are Reading University, University of West London and Imperial College’s Silwood Park post-grad campus.

Reading University

Reading University is the largest university in Berkshire and it has a great reputation for academic excellence and student satisfaction. The campus is located right in the heart of Reading, making it perfect for those who want to be close to everything.

University of West London

With a campus located in Reading, the University of West London is a well-known and respected institution. It offers high-quality courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as short courses for professional development.

Imperial College’s Silwood Park campus

Silwood Park is Imperial College’s post-grad campus and it specializes in agricultural sciences, biosciences and environmental sciences. It is located in Sunninghill, near Ascot, making it the perfect place to study if you want to be close to London but not right in the city centre.

Berkshire’s Top Schools

Some of Berkshire’s top schools include Pangbourne College, The Kendrick School, and Windsor Girls’ School.

Windsor Girls’ School – The Windsor Girls’ School is a highly successful school for girls aged 11-18. It has been awarded an ‘outstanding’ rating by Ofsted, the education watchdog, and it is regularly ranked in the top 25 secondary schools in the UK.

Pangbourne College – Pangbourne College is one of the top independent schools in the UK, with boarding facilities for girls and boys aged 11-18. It has also been awarded an ‘outstanding’ rating by Ofsted, making it a popular choice among parents living in Berkshire who are looking for great state or private school options.

The Kendrick School – The Kendrick School is a co-educational independent school for boys and girls aged 11-18 based in Reading. It has been ranked as one of the top 20 schools in England, offering excellent academic results at both GCSEs and A levels.

Population of Berkshire

According to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics, the population of Berkshire is around 640,000. This number is projected to grow by a further 16% over the next 25 years, making Berkshire one of the fastest-growing counties in England.