Location

Dating back to Saxon times, when the village of Ellington grew up as a trading post on the River Thames between Cookham and Bray, Maidenhead – or Maidens’ Wharf – took its name from the fair ladies who populated the nunnery nearby.

However, it was not until 1250 when the first wooden bridge was built across the Thames, (since superseded by a stone version designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel) that Maidenhead developed into the thriving town it is has become today. Easily accessible by both road and river, over the years it became a popular centre of commerce and trade.

These days, Maidenhead remains an enviable place to both live and work. Situated within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, and making the most of the tranquil Thames flowing within a mile of its centre, it offers cosmopolitan living in an idyllic location, surrounded by lush Berkshire countryside.

The area’s innumerable attractions are as legend as its history. High street stores, designer boutiques, antiques and art, culture and cuisine – it’s no coincidence that thousands of tourists visit the Royal Borough every year. A vast array of sports and leisure facilities, from sailing and canoeing to tennis and cricket – not forgetting the town’s modern leisure and recreation centres – ensure everyone with an active nature is amply provided for. The new multiplex cinema offers up-to-the-minute entertainment, or for the more high-brow, there are a number of theatres in nearby Windsor, High Wycombe and Reading.

Parkland is plentiful within the Maidenhead area, and nearby Burchett’s Green is home to the annual Berkshire Show, complete with shire horses and birds of prey. A short drive from the town centre in any direction will yield an historic town – such as Windsor, just six miles away – or a picturesque village to peruse. Cookham and Holyport boast their own particular pleasures, and Bray, gastronomic centre of the universe with no less than two Michelin starred restaurants, is where you’ll find The Fat Duck, voted “Best Restaurant in the World” 2005.

In the 18th century, Maidenhead became an important stopping place for coaches on the ‘Bath Road’ from London to Bath. These days, few towns are better situated for national and international travel. With London just 30 miles away, the world is your oyster – catch a train from Maidenhead and you can be at Paddington in around half an hour. Road links are equally ideal, with the M4, M25, M11 and M3 all effortlessly accessible – providing direct routes to Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports.