Berkshire

Often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire due to Windsor Castle being based there, this is one of Britain’s oldest counties, which dates back to the 840s.  Today Berkshire is a thriving place with over 800,000 people based mainly in Reading, Slough, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Wokingham, Windsor and Sandhurst.  It is now as famous for its heritage as it is for its cutting edge offerings.  Eton College, founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, is located just outside Windsor and has educated 19 of Britain’s 52 Prime Ministers, including current PM David Cameron.  Meanwhile the 300-year old Ascot Racecourse continues to lead the way in the UK racing world.  And alongside the famous cheese the county has produced for centuries (including Wigmore, Waterloo and Spenwood today), Berkshire is the location of Heston Blumenthal’s three Michelin starred restaurant, The Fat Duck, which continues to attract gastronomy enthusiasts worldwide.

Barchester homes in Berkshire: