Bracknell Guidebook
Great Shopping
The impressive Lexicon Shopping Centre is literally on your doorstep and its what makes staying at Royal Winchester House such a treat!
Bracknell’s post-war town centre was starting to show its age by the 2000s and over the last decade has gone through one of the largest urban regenerations in the UK. Some £240m has been invested into this project, adding 70 new shops and restaurants, but also restoring the town’s high street and buildings like the quaint old timber-framed pub, the Bull.
There’s a new 12-screen Cineworld cinema and lots of new outdoor dining terraces in summer under the canopy at Pizza Express, Nando’s, Wagamama and Prezzo.
The Lexicon is also designed to be a community space, hosting live outdoor music, exhibitions, children’s activities and seasonal events during Halloween, Christmas and Easter.
37 現地メンバーのおすすめ
The Lexicon, Bracknell
The impressive Lexicon Shopping Centre is literally on your doorstep and its what makes staying at Royal Winchester House such a treat!
Bracknell’s post-war town centre was starting to show its age by the 2000s and over the last decade has gone through one of the largest urban regenerations in the UK. Some £240m has been invested into this project, adding 70 new shops and restaurants, but also restoring the town’s high street and buildings like the quaint old timber-framed pub, the Bull.
There’s a new 12-screen Cineworld cinema and lots of new outdoor dining terraces in summer under the canopy at Pizza Express, Nando’s, Wagamama and Prezzo.
The Lexicon is also designed to be a community space, hosting live outdoor music, exhibitions, children’s activities and seasonal events during Halloween, Christmas and Easter.
Activity
In the same neck of the woods as the Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Dinton Pastures Country Park is a destination for activity-packed summer excursions.
Comprising seven lakes, the park offers boat hire from March to September, and has wildlife meadows, two cafes, an award-winning play park that opened in 2014 and an 18-hole adventure golf course.
The list of boats for hire includes canoes, kata-kanus and kayaks, as well as sailing dinghies if you already have some experience.
Open water swimming sessions take place on Wednesday evenings in summer.
On a walk or bike ride all year round there’s an enormous amount of wildlife to spot, from roe and muntjac deer to owls and all sorts of migratory and resident waterfowl, waders and passerines.
37 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Dinton Pastures Country Park
Davis StreetIn the same neck of the woods as the Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Dinton Pastures Country Park is a destination for activity-packed summer excursions.
Comprising seven lakes, the park offers boat hire from March to September, and has wildlife meadows, two cafes, an award-winning play park that opened in 2014 and an 18-hole adventure golf course.
The list of boats for hire includes canoes, kata-kanus and kayaks, as well as sailing dinghies if you already have some experience.
Open water swimming sessions take place on Wednesday evenings in summer.
On a walk or bike ride all year round there’s an enormous amount of wildlife to spot, from roe and muntjac deer to owls and all sorts of migratory and resident waterfowl, waders and passerines.
Inside a ten minute radius of Bracknell town centre there are seven different places to swing a club.
What’s great is that these aren’t all the ultra-posh courses you might expect.
Lavender Park Golf Centre for instance has a nine-hole par 3, just the ticket for newcomers, and the 18-hole par 72 at Bird Hills is very reasonable, with green fees as low as £16 at off-peak times on weekday mornings.
Lavender Park Golf Centre
Swinley RoadInside a ten minute radius of Bracknell town centre there are seven different places to swing a club.
What’s great is that these aren’t all the ultra-posh courses you might expect.
Lavender Park Golf Centre for instance has a nine-hole par 3, just the ticket for newcomers, and the 18-hole par 72 at Bird Hills is very reasonable, with green fees as low as £16 at off-peak times on weekday mornings.
Another of these courses can be found 4 miles from Royal Winchester House at Bilingbear Park where affordable pay and plays can be found on a well-kept parkland courses.
Billingbear Park Golf Course
The Straight MileAnother of these courses can be found 4 miles from Royal Winchester House at Bilingbear Park where affordable pay and plays can be found on a well-kept parkland courses.
Downshire Golf Complex is also only 4 miles away and like Billingbear offers affordable pay and plays on well-kept parkland courses.
ダウンシャー・ゴルフ・コンプレックス
West RoadDownshire Golf Complex is also only 4 miles away and like Billingbear offers affordable pay and plays on well-kept parkland courses.
At the other end of the spectrum, and again only 4 miles away, is The Berkshire Golf Club (£150 on weekdays)
The Berkshire Golf Club
Swinley RoadAt the other end of the spectrum, and again only 4 miles away, is The Berkshire Golf Club (£150 on weekdays)
Mill Ride (3 miles away) is a little cheaper and has a championship course designed in 1990 by the esteemed architect Donald Steel.
Mill Ride Golf & Country Club
Mill RideMill Ride (3 miles away) is a little cheaper and has a championship course designed in 1990 by the esteemed architect Donald Steel.
Also a remnant of the Windsor Forest, this massive tract of woodland marks Bracknell’s southern boundary, 3 miles from the centre.
The Swinley Forest is now mostly a modern Scots pine plantation and is still managed in the hands of the Crown Estate.
The woodland encompasses gently rolling hills, with a few man-made earthwork mounds that go back to training grounds built just before the Napoleonic Wars.
A scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part I was filmed in Swinley Forest, requiring 160 trees to be cut down.
The forest has a few visitor amenities, including the Look Out Discovery Centre, and is also considered one of the best places in the Southeast to go mountain biking.
11 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Swinley Forest
Nine Mile RideAlso a remnant of the Windsor Forest, this massive tract of woodland marks Bracknell’s southern boundary, 3 miles from the centre.
The Swinley Forest is now mostly a modern Scots pine plantation and is still managed in the hands of the Crown Estate.
The woodland encompasses gently rolling hills, with a few man-made earthwork mounds that go back to training grounds built just before the Napoleonic Wars.
A scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part I was filmed in Swinley Forest, requiring 160 trees to be cut down.
The forest has a few visitor amenities, including the Look Out Discovery Centre, and is also considered one of the best places in the Southeast to go mountain biking.
For Kids
The towering pines in the Swinley Forest are just right for a high ropes course, built by the much-loved Go Ape brand.
The main “Tree Top Adventure” course has been designed to test stamina and skill, but also endurance as you may need up to three hours to complete it.
Some of the toughest challenges are the Swinley Swing and Pendulum Pass bridges, where you’ll have to shimmy sideways over a 13-metre drop.
The exhilarating Alpine Zip-Wire on the course is 160 metres long! Kids between 1 and 1.4 metres can take on “Tree Top Junior”, a bite-size version of the adult course, while Go Ape also hires out Segways for off-road rides through the Swinley Forest.
30 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Go Ape Bracknell
Nine Mile RideThe towering pines in the Swinley Forest are just right for a high ropes course, built by the much-loved Go Ape brand.
The main “Tree Top Adventure” course has been designed to test stamina and skill, but also endurance as you may need up to three hours to complete it.
Some of the toughest challenges are the Swinley Swing and Pendulum Pass bridges, where you’ll have to shimmy sideways over a 13-metre drop.
The exhilarating Alpine Zip-Wire on the course is 160 metres long! Kids between 1 and 1.4 metres can take on “Tree Top Junior”, a bite-size version of the adult course, while Go Ape also hires out Segways for off-road rides through the Swinley Forest.
Bracknell’s main pool is only 3 miles from the Royal Winchester House and looks like the kind of thing you’d find in a waterpark rather than a public amenity.
There’s an erupting volcano, five water slides, a pirate ship, rapids, a bubble pool and all sorts of things for younger children to climb on in the Little Corals area.
Adults meanwhile can retreat to the peaceful Coral Spa, away from the madness of the main pool.
This has a spa pool, cool pool, heated sun loungers, three saunas and a Japanese steam room, ensuring an hour or two of perfect relaxation.
55 現地メンバーのおすすめ
コーラルリーフ・ブラックネルズ・ウォーターワールド
Nine Mile RideBracknell’s main pool is only 3 miles from the Royal Winchester House and looks like the kind of thing you’d find in a waterpark rather than a public amenity.
There’s an erupting volcano, five water slides, a pirate ship, rapids, a bubble pool and all sorts of things for younger children to climb on in the Little Corals area.
Adults meanwhile can retreat to the peaceful Coral Spa, away from the madness of the main pool.
This has a spa pool, cool pool, heated sun loungers, three saunas and a Japanese steam room, ensuring an hour or two of perfect relaxation.
In the south of the town, on the cusp of the 2,500-acre Swinley Forest, the Look Out Discovery Centre is a hands-on science attraction for kids.
There are more than 90 activities to take part in, diving into topics like Light and Colour, Woodland and Water, Body and Perception, Forces and Movement.
Children will be able to play a tune with laser beams, capture their silhouette in the shadow box, create crazy designs with the art machine, launch a hydrogen rocket and see an inflatable globe suspended in the air by a Bernoulli blower.
Outside, “Build It” is a play construction site where little ones can design a house and work together using dumper trucks, wheel barrows and a rubble chute.
43 現地メンバーのおすすめ
The Look Out Discovery Centre
Nine Mile RideIn the south of the town, on the cusp of the 2,500-acre Swinley Forest, the Look Out Discovery Centre is a hands-on science attraction for kids.
There are more than 90 activities to take part in, diving into topics like Light and Colour, Woodland and Water, Body and Perception, Forces and Movement.
Children will be able to play a tune with laser beams, capture their silhouette in the shadow box, create crazy designs with the art machine, launch a hydrogen rocket and see an inflatable globe suspended in the air by a Bernoulli blower.
Outside, “Build It” is a play construction site where little ones can design a house and work together using dumper trucks, wheel barrows and a rubble chute.
A 20-minute walk into the Swinley Forest from the Look Out Discover Centre will bring you to an Iron Age hill fort covering 17 acres and encircled by a mile-long ditch.
Caesar’s Camp is a name given to many Iron Age sites around the country, and has no obvious link to the Romans.
But that doesn’t make this 2,500-year-old site any less intriguing.
It’s easy to make out the steep rows of earthwork ramparts that formed the defences, and the council has installed a series of interpretation panels illustrating Iron Age society and the possible political and commercial activity that took place at Caesar’s Camp.
Birds like nightjars and woodlarks make a habitat on the site, while at the highest points you can look across central Bracknell to the north.
Caesar's Camp, Bracknell Forest
B3430A 20-minute walk into the Swinley Forest from the Look Out Discover Centre will bring you to an Iron Age hill fort covering 17 acres and encircled by a mile-long ditch.
Caesar’s Camp is a name given to many Iron Age sites around the country, and has no obvious link to the Romans.
But that doesn’t make this 2,500-year-old site any less intriguing.
It’s easy to make out the steep rows of earthwork ramparts that formed the defences, and the council has installed a series of interpretation panels illustrating Iron Age society and the possible political and commercial activity that took place at Caesar’s Camp.
Birds like nightjars and woodlarks make a habitat on the site, while at the highest points you can look across central Bracknell to the north.
Only 8 miles from Royal Winchester House and in the top ten most-visited theme parks in Europe Legoland is of course themed on the world-famous Lego toy system.
It’s a day out for kids between the ages of 3 and 12 and has rides, shows, amusements and shops across 12 themed “lands”. Miniland for instance is a miniature park with monuments like St Paul’s Cathedral at a 1:20 scale, using a total of 40 million bricks.
Duplo Valley is for the youngest children, while at Lego City allows children to control a Lego fire engine and drive their own car at the City Driving School.
391 現地メンバーのおすすめ
LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort
Winkfield RoadOnly 8 miles from Royal Winchester House and in the top ten most-visited theme parks in Europe Legoland is of course themed on the world-famous Lego toy system.
It’s a day out for kids between the ages of 3 and 12 and has rides, shows, amusements and shops across 12 themed “lands”. Miniland for instance is a miniature park with monuments like St Paul’s Cathedral at a 1:20 scale, using a total of 40 million bricks.
Duplo Valley is for the youngest children, while at Lego City allows children to control a Lego fire engine and drive their own car at the City Driving School.
One of the top family attractions in neighbouring Surrey and among the best theme parks in the country, Thorpe Park is a 30 minute drive from Royal Winchester House. It includes the world’s first horror movie themed rollercoaster, Saw – The Ride, Derren Brown’s Ghost Train, Rise of the Demon and The Angry Birds 4D Experience and is, of course, where Princess Diana famously spent the day with William and Harry.
216 現地メンバーのおすすめ
トープパークリゾート
Staines RoadOne of the top family attractions in neighbouring Surrey and among the best theme parks in the country, Thorpe Park is a 30 minute drive from Royal Winchester House. It includes the world’s first horror movie themed rollercoaster, Saw – The Ride, Derren Brown’s Ghost Train, Rise of the Demon and The Angry Birds 4D Experience and is, of course, where Princess Diana famously spent the day with William and Harry.
Sightseeing
Over the last 35 years South Hill Park has evolved into a performing arts centre whose patrons include Kate Winslet and Kenneth Branagh.
This began with the construction of the Wilde Theatre, while the mansion went through a multimillion-pound revamp in the early 2000s, furnishing it with arts and craft studios, another performance stage, galleries, a cinema, dance studio, a recital room and bar in the mansion’s atrium.
There are more than 300 events, shows and films at the centre each year, together with over 250 workshops and courses.
South Hill Park also has seven artists in residence, specialising in printmaking, jewellery design/silversmithing and ceramics.
Beyond the glorious 18th-century Italianate mansion, out in the refined parkland, you’ll come across a rose garden, a graceful Italian formal garden, a special toddler garden, lots of sculptures and deep oak, sweet chestnut, lime and birch woodland.
There are four waymarked trails showing you around the estate, as well as an educational nature trail with quirky wood carvings.
32 現地メンバーのおすすめ
サウスヒルパーク芸術センター
Over the last 35 years South Hill Park has evolved into a performing arts centre whose patrons include Kate Winslet and Kenneth Branagh.
This began with the construction of the Wilde Theatre, while the mansion went through a multimillion-pound revamp in the early 2000s, furnishing it with arts and craft studios, another performance stage, galleries, a cinema, dance studio, a recital room and bar in the mansion’s atrium.
There are more than 300 events, shows and films at the centre each year, together with over 250 workshops and courses.
South Hill Park also has seven artists in residence, specialising in printmaking, jewellery design/silversmithing and ceramics.
Beyond the glorious 18th-century Italianate mansion, out in the refined parkland, you’ll come across a rose garden, a graceful Italian formal garden, a special toddler garden, lots of sculptures and deep oak, sweet chestnut, lime and birch woodland.
There are four waymarked trails showing you around the estate, as well as an educational nature trail with quirky wood carvings.
Only 3 miles from Royal Winchester House is one of the country’s most distinguished racecourses.
Staging National Hunt “jump” meetings, and races on the flat, Ascot is active all year round.
To give newcomers an idea of Ascot’s importance to horse racing in the UK, 13 of the country’s 36 annual Grade I horse races (the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standard-bred stakes) are held at this track.
But one week in June is extra special: Royal Ascot dates back to 1711 and is attended each year by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family.
For centuries Royal Ascot was a mainstay of the British social calendar for the aristocracy, and still receives nationwide attention, especially in the tabloids.
Eight of the track’s Group 1 races take place in this week, including the most prestigious, the Gold Cup on Ladies’ Day on the Thursday.
181 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Ascot Racecourse
High StreetOnly 3 miles from Royal Winchester House is one of the country’s most distinguished racecourses.
Staging National Hunt “jump” meetings, and races on the flat, Ascot is active all year round.
To give newcomers an idea of Ascot’s importance to horse racing in the UK, 13 of the country’s 36 annual Grade I horse races (the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standard-bred stakes) are held at this track.
But one week in June is extra special: Royal Ascot dates back to 1711 and is attended each year by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family.
For centuries Royal Ascot was a mainstay of the British social calendar for the aristocracy, and still receives nationwide attention, especially in the tabloids.
Eight of the track’s Group 1 races take place in this week, including the most prestigious, the Gold Cup on Ladies’ Day on the Thursday.
Windsor Castle is 10 miles from Bracknell and is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It is open to visitors throughout the year.
Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has since been the home of 39 monarchs. Today The Queen spends most of her private weekends at the Castle.
To provide you with the best quality visit experience we strongly recommend that you arrive at the Castle after midday and book tickets in advance to guarantee entry.
506 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Windsor Castle
3 Lanark PlWindsor Castle is 10 miles from Bracknell and is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It is open to visitors throughout the year.
Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has since been the home of 39 monarchs. Today The Queen spends most of her private weekends at the Castle.
To provide you with the best quality visit experience we strongly recommend that you arrive at the Castle after midday and book tickets in advance to guarantee entry.
Berkshire’s largest vineyard is about ten minutes from Bracknell town centre, outside the village of Twyford.
The winery was born in 1979 but is on an historic estate around a beautiful 16th-century Elizabethan manor house.
Growing in Stanlake Park’s 25 acres are more than 10 grape varieties, as you’ll discover on a tour.
These visits are designed to be fun and down-to-earth, normally taking place on a weekend.
As they book up weeks in advance you’ll need to plan ahead.
You’ll be shown the vines in the walled garden before seeing where the grapes are pressed, viewing the fermentation tanks, the barrel room, the “fizz room” and finally the bottling line.
At each point you’ll be able to try a different wine, adding up to eight in the end (three whites, two roses, two sparkling wines and one red).
Stanlake Park Wine Estate
Waltham RoadBerkshire’s largest vineyard is about ten minutes from Bracknell town centre, outside the village of Twyford.
The winery was born in 1979 but is on an historic estate around a beautiful 16th-century Elizabethan manor house.
Growing in Stanlake Park’s 25 acres are more than 10 grape varieties, as you’ll discover on a tour.
These visits are designed to be fun and down-to-earth, normally taking place on a weekend.
As they book up weeks in advance you’ll need to plan ahead.
You’ll be shown the vines in the walled garden before seeing where the grapes are pressed, viewing the fermentation tanks, the barrel room, the “fizz room” and finally the bottling line.
At each point you’ll be able to try a different wine, adding up to eight in the end (three whites, two roses, two sparkling wines and one red).
A worthwhile day out for aviation fanatics, this museum is only ten minutes on the A329 from the centre of Bracknell.
The Museum of Berkshire Aviation is at what used to be the Woodley Aerodrome, which was home to the manufacturer Miles Aircraft between 1932 and 1947. The museum displays a number of planes by this company, some of which, like the Miles Student two-seat side-by-side trainer and the Miles Martinet, are the last surviving models in the world.
Also extremely rare is the Fairey Jet Gyrodyne, a cross between a helicopter and an autogiro.
Miles Aircraft was taken over in the late-40s by Handley Page, and the Handley Page airliner on show outside was built here at Woodley in accordance with a Miles design.
7 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Museum of Berkshire Aviation
Mohawk WayA worthwhile day out for aviation fanatics, this museum is only ten minutes on the A329 from the centre of Bracknell.
The Museum of Berkshire Aviation is at what used to be the Woodley Aerodrome, which was home to the manufacturer Miles Aircraft between 1932 and 1947. The museum displays a number of planes by this company, some of which, like the Miles Student two-seat side-by-side trainer and the Miles Martinet, are the last surviving models in the world.
Also extremely rare is the Fairey Jet Gyrodyne, a cross between a helicopter and an autogiro.
Miles Aircraft was taken over in the late-40s by Handley Page, and the Handley Page airliner on show outside was built here at Woodley in accordance with a Miles design.
Food scene
There is something to delight everyone's palate at The Lexicon!
Bills (European), Blues Smokehouse (US style Barbeque), Wagamama (Japanese), Gourmet Burger Kitchen (Superior Burgers), Zizzi (Italian), The Bull (Traditional English Pub with craft beers), Greens Steakhouse (Steaks) and Carluccio's (Italian where, as our guest, you will receive a complimentary glass of Prosecco and 20% off your bill!)
And why not enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail or two at Las Iguanas?!
37 現地メンバーのおすすめ
The Lexicon, Bracknell
There is something to delight everyone's palate at The Lexicon!
Bills (European), Blues Smokehouse (US style Barbeque), Wagamama (Japanese), Gourmet Burger Kitchen (Superior Burgers), Zizzi (Italian), The Bull (Traditional English Pub with craft beers), Greens Steakhouse (Steaks) and Carluccio's (Italian where, as our guest, you will receive a complimentary glass of Prosecco and 20% off your bill!)
And why not enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail or two at Las Iguanas?!