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

67.6

Very Good

23.2

Average

5.8

Disappointing

2.0

Very poor

1.5

Best places to live in Berkshire

How is ranking calculated?

Viewing 1-5 out of 58

Rental Only

Award Winner 2025

Ebb & Flow, RG1

By Native Communities

Award winner 2025

4.85

(137 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 34 in Berkshire

View development

Development image of Berkshire House, SL6

Rental Only

Award Winner 2024

Berkshire House, SL6

By Essential Living

Award winner 2024

4.57

(130 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.

2nd

Ranked 2nd out of 34 in Berkshire

View development

Rental Only

Thames Quarter, RG1

By Savills

4.52

(31 reviews)

Thames Quarter is a recently created build to rent development where residents can benefit from excellent amenities within the building. Located in the heart of Reading's town centre there are also a variety of shops, bars and restaurants within easy reach.

3rd

Ranked 3rd out of 34 in Berkshire

View development

Rental Only

Domain, RG1

By Allsop Letting and Management

4.27

(15 reviews)

Domain, newly managed by Allsop Letting & Management, is a contemporary residential community located in the centre of Reading. This development includes one, two, and three-bedroom rental apartments, offering both furnished and unfurnished options. The community features various amenities such as resident lounges, private dining room, workspaces, gym facility, screening room, and courtyard space. Its location is convenient, being just a 10-minute walk from the Broad Street Shopping Centre and a 7-minute walk from Reading Station.

4th

Ranked 4th out of 34 in Berkshire

View development

Rental Only

Enid Wood House, RG12

By Dstrkt

3.32

(15 reviews)

Enid Wood House in Bracknell, RG12, features 97 contemporary flats centrally located near Lexicon shopping center, Fenwick department store, and various dining options. It's a short walk to Bracknell train station, providing access to London and Reading. The development offers concierge service, modern amenities, integrated kitchen appliances, and security with 24-hour CCTV monitoring. Though unfurnished, these flats are designed with modern bathrooms, fitted wardrobes, and occasionally offer town views.

5th

Ranked 5th out of 34 in Berkshire

View development

Page 1 of 12

Featured developments in Berkshire

Latest Reviews in Berkshire

815 total reviews

Write a review

Viewing 1-5 out of 813

Anonymous (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Jul 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Nice area and people

Anonymous (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Jul 2025

The building management is fantastic and the maintenance team is great. However I wish we could have at least better ventilation - let alone air conditioning. I don’t understand why the corridor door is always closed. It’s very hot and the smell of glue, paint and the new carpet can be terrible for heath. Also sometimes guest parking can be tricky cause it seems we can’t open the back door for guests.

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

Overall I like the vibe of this town though I think there could be more diversity on food choices & a bit over priced. But it’s a very safe, quiet area. Much better than London.

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

They always respond quickly and solved the issues quickly. Very high efficiency and friendly and I really appreciate this. Best building management team I’ve ever meet : )

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

I wish I could know that they would change carpet with corridor doors closed…The smell is really bad for health

・・

HomeViews

Y Chen (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Jul 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Berkshire House: A well-managed apartment at a perfect location

Y Chen (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Jul 2025

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

The location of Berkshire House is excellent, it's conveniently located near the high street of Maidenhead with only a short walk to the train station. There are lots of shops nearby and a bus station just downstairs.

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

They respond very quickly. When we report any issues with the appliances they are always fixed on the next day.

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

The location is so convenient that most things can be bought locally. No need to bring in lots of things when moving in.

・・

HomeViews

TV (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Jun 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Has everything I need and love living here!

TV (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Jun 2025

I like the design, colours and facilities within the building. The 14th flr communal area which consists of a lounge, kitchen and study area with an outdoor seating is a bonus to the building. The studio apartment I am in is tastefully styled and designed and perfect for my needs. The building management team are excellent and always friendly and responsive to whatever arises. They really look after the building so well and it's a real pleasure calling this place my home. The property management team are also great in relation to rental renewals etc.. - basically everyone I have come in contact with that works for Berkshire House including the accountants are always professional, helpful and friendly. I feel very fortunate to have found this place!

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

Maidenhead is opening up more restaurants, cafes etc and there is a great selection to choose from. All my everyday needs are met easily for example grocery stores - Waitrose, M&S, Sainsbury's, Tesco and more - banks, stationary shops etc. Excellent transport system - trains and buses all within easy reach. The streets are generally safe and at night there is hardly any noise. I've been living here about 1.5 yrs and still loving it!

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

They are truly amazing at responding to any problems with speed and the care and friendliness with which they treat people is so refreshing. I am so grateful and so appreciate all the work they do. Nothing is a problem for them and I feel totally looked after and I trust that whenever there is an issue it will always be resolved. This is very comforting.

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

There is nothing that I can think of that I wished I had known prior to moving in. What was lovely to find out after I moved in was how quiet our floor is, how well kept the building is including the cleanliness; also how safe I feel living in this building as they have very good security. Residents that I have met have all been so friendly too!

・・

HomeViews

Neha Shah (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Jun 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Amazing Stay experience in a modern fully equipped studio apartment

Neha Shah (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Jun 2025

The Studio is well equipped with all the Modern White goods such as Fridge, Washing Machine, Oven, Dishwasher. The apartment is fully furnished with Bed, Sofa, Sofa Table, Dining table & chairs. Even though it is a studio apartment sufficient storage space is provided and there are so many sections to keep your well organized. We've got a full Window through which Spectacular views of Maidenhead can be seen. Apart from the Apartment we also have a common communal area which has a Co-working space which we use frequently while Working from Home. Also there is a Television, dining space and Microwave in the communal area which can be used by residents.

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

Berkshire House is located right in the city center with lot of restaurants, shops nearby. Sainsbury, Boots & Nicholson Mall is just 2 min walk from the Building. Parking is also available in Sainsbury Car park. The Bus Stop is right across the street and train station is also 10 minutes walk from the Building. The High street is super safe area.

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

The Building management is very proactive in responding to any issues or questions raised and every time. Their Turn around time & availability is very good. They are very helpful and friendly and make us feel very comfortable.

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

Nothing. All the facilities provided in the Apartment & the building were clearly highlighted before we moved in.

・・

HomeViews

Thomas G (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Jun 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Excellent living in Maidenhead town centre

Thomas G (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Jun 2025

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

Right in the town centre, excellent choice of shops and restaurants. There isn't really anything bad. Friday and Saturday nights can be a bit noisy but that's totally normal and expected for a town centre.

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

The building management has been very accommodating and helpful at every opportunity. I couldn't ask for more.

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

Nothing. Everything was exactly as expected there were no surprises.

・・

HomeViews

Page 1 of 163

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

Useful articles

South East England

South East England is the third-largest of the official regions of England by area, and has the highest population of all the regions. Stretching to the west as far as the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, right across to the tip of Kent and curling around London up to Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, the South East benefits from its close connection with the capital and the national transport network. It also offers residents close proximity to the continent and swift international connections via the Channel Tunnel, Gatwick and Heathrow on its border with Greater London.

Go to article

Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire is a county in the southeast of England. The largest and most populous town in Buckinghamshire is Milton Keynes with over 200,000 residents. Other large towns include Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Slough. There are lots of villages to explore as well such as Stoke Mandeville near Aylesbury (the home of the famous Stoke Mandeville Games), Anstee near Bletchley (which has an ancient church) and East Claydon near Leighton Buzzard (famous for its cherry orchards).

Go to article

East Sussex

East Sussex is a county in the southeast of England with a coastline that has many beautiful cliffs and salt marshes which are a haven for birdlife. There are also plenty of coastal towns with stunning beaches such as Bexhill or Hastings that offer great family days out too. If you're looking for somewhere green then there's no shortage - East Sussex has over 400 square kilometres of woodland including Rother Valley Country Park near Brighton which is home to deer, wild boar and foxes!

Go to article

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.

Go to article

Kent

Kent is one of the most popular counties in England, with a population of 1.8 million people. It has some really beautiful scenery and many great amenities for families that are looking to buy their first home or move up into a nicer place. There are also several excellent universities that attract students from all over the world to come and study here.

Go to article

Milton Keynes

Just 50 miles to north east of London, Milton Keynes was devised as a ‘new town’ in the 1960s and continues to evolve and grow today. Famed for its roundabouts and district grids, the town has benefitted from a steady flow of new residents from London. House prices have seen strong growth, with amenities and schools now plentiful and high quality. Housing is more varied than its reputation might suggest, with everything from period properties in historic villages to new build homes in chic developments.

Go to article

Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a county in the south of England, home to many great schools and universities. The population is around 638,000 people. Oxfordshire has some lovely countryside that would be perfect for anyone looking to move away from city life with their family. If you are considering moving here, this guide will give you all the information you need to know about Oxfordshire!

Go to article

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.

Go to article

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!

Go to article

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!

Go to article