Hotels in Berkshire

Berkshire occupies the valleys of the middle Thames and its tributary, the Kennet. Originally largely infertile, the county supported sandy heathland, forests and pig farming. The western and northern parts of Berkshire are crossed by chalk downs that were first settled by prehistoric people in approximately 10,000 BC.

Windsor town grew up around a stronghold begun by William the Conqueror in 1070. In the Middle Ages trade in wool and cloth contributed to the growth of the area and important battles were fought there during the English Civil War. Windsor Castle itself is set upon a hill looking over the River Thames, and as a royal residence is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the UK.

The arrival of the railway helped Reading become a commercial centre; it became the county town in the late 19th century. Following the designation of Bracknell as a "new town" in 1949, and the later construction of the M4 motorway, the landscape and lifestyle have altered with many rural areas becoming urbanised, especially around Reading and eastwards towards London.