Berkshire, often called the Royal County of Berkshire, is a historic and ceremonial county in South East England. It is known for its strong royal connections, beautiful countryside, and affluent towns.

Key Facts About Berkshire:
Location: Bordered by Oxfordshire (north), Buckinghamshire (northeast), Greater London (east), Surrey (southeast), Hampshire (south), and Wiltshire (west).
Status: A ceremonial county, meaning it has no single local government, but consists of six unitary authorities (Reading, Slough, Wokingham, Bracknell Forest, Windsor and Maidenhead, and West Berkshire).
Population: Around 900,000 people.
Royal Connection: It is home to Windsor Castle, a key residence of the British monarchy.
Major Towns & Cities:
Reading – The largest town, a major business hub, and home to the University of Reading.
Slough – A diverse, industrial town with strong transport links to London.
Windsor – Famous for Windsor Castle and Eton College.
Maidenhead – An affluent commuter town near the Thames.
Newbury – Known for horse racing (Newbury Racecourse) and its proximity to the countryside.
Bracknell – A modern, high-tech town with many corporate headquarters.
Historical & Cultural Highlights:
Windsor Castle – One of the oldest and largest occupied castles in the world, dating back to the 11th century.
Eton College – One of the most prestigious private schools in the UK, attended by many British Prime Ministers and royals.
The Thames River – A major natural feature, running through towns like Henley-on-Thames, Maidenhead, and Reading.
Donnington Castle – A ruined medieval castle with Civil War history near Newbury.
Greenham Common – Once a Cold War military base, now a nature reserve.
The Ridgeway – An ancient trackway running through the Berkshire Downs.
Economy & Industry:
Thames Valley Tech Hub – Often called the “Silicon Valley of the UK”, Berkshire has many technology and pharmaceutical companies, especially in Reading and Bracknell.
Transport & Logistics – Slough and Reading serve as key distribution hubs due to excellent motorway and railway links.
Tourism – Windsor Castle, Ascot Racecourse, and historic sites bring in millions of visitors annually.
Transport:
Motorways – The M4 motorway runs through the county, linking it to London and South Wales.
Rail – High-speed trains connect Reading to London Paddington in about 25 minutes.
Airports – Heathrow Airport is just outside Berkshire, making international travel very accessible.

Berkshire County

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