Luxury holidays in Berkshire

When to go

The summer months of June, July and August are the most reliable in terms of the ever-unruly British weather. But frankly, a fresh spring morning, colourful autumn afternoon or crisp winter’s day are just as appealing in this swathe of southern England.

Getting there

• Planes

  The nearest hub is London’s Heathrow’s airport – around a 45-minute drive from Berkshire – and Gatwick’s also within an hour’s reach.

• Boats

  It’s easy to hire boats along the river – Cliveden even has its own – and it’s one of the best ways to admire this Thameside county, where life play’s out on the water.

• Trains

  From London Waterloo, there are frequent services to Windsor and Reading; Reading also has national links to Edinburgh, Swansea, Oxford and Bristol, among others. Paddington station also offers good connections with Berkshire stations.

• Automobiles

  It’s handy to hire a car to tour Berkshire’s towns and villages. The area is popular with weekending Londoners, though, so roads can be busy on Friday and Sunday afternoons.

• Taxis

  Some of the smaller towns have limited taxi services. Your best bet is to get your hotel to sort out there-and-back drop-offs and pick-ups.