Berkshire is home to Windsor Castle, Royal Ascot, Eton College and a giant cast-iron lion, and it is the only English county officially called “Royal”. Here are 12 facts about Berkshire, from its famous pigs to a town that keeps being refused city status. (Locals say it “bark-sher”, not “berk-sher”.)
Berkshire at a glance
County town: Reading
Population: just under 1 million
Borders: Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Greater London, Surrey, Hampshire and Wiltshire
Known for: Windsor Castle, Royal Ascot, Eton College, the Thames Valley tech industry
1It’s the “Royal County of Berkshire”.
In 1957, the Queen granted Berkshire the right to call itself a royal county because Windsor Castle lies within its borders. It is the only county in England with the title, and you will still see “Royal County of Berkshire” on road signs as you drive in.
2Windsor Castle is the oldest occupied castle in the world.
William the Conqueror built the first castle at Windsor in the years after 1066, and monarchs have lived there for more than 900 years. It is one of the King’s official residences, and the royal family took its surname, Windsor, from the castle in 1917.
3Windsor Great Park is nearly 5,000 acres.
The park stretches south from the castle and covers almost 4,800 acres, with ancient oaks, a herd of red deer and the Long Walk, a tree-lined avenue running nearly three miles straight to the castle gates. It was once a royal hunting forest.
4Reading keeps being refused city status.
Reading is Berkshire’s county town and one of the largest towns in the country, but it has applied for city status four times, most recently in 2022, and been turned down every time. Berkshire as a whole has no cities at all.
5Reading was famous for “beer, bulbs and biscuits”.
In the 19th century, Reading’s three great industries were Simonds’ brewery, Suttons Seeds and Huntley & Palmers biscuits. Huntley & Palmers became the world’s largest biscuit maker, shipping its tins across the British Empire.
6Royal Ascot is the most famous week in British racing.
Ascot Racecourse was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, and its June meeting, Royal Ascot, opens each day with a carriage procession of the royal family. Berkshire also has racecourses at Newbury and Windsor, and Lambourn, the “Valley of the Racehorse”, is the biggest racehorse training centre in Britain after Newmarket.
7The Berkshire pig is prized around the world.
One of England’s oldest pig breeds comes from the county. Black with white feet, snout and tail tip, the Berkshire is famous for its tender, marbled meat, and in Japan it is sold as luxury “kurobuta” pork.
8Eton College has produced 20 Prime Ministers.
Eton, the boarding school founded by Henry VI in 1440, sits across the River Thames from Windsor. Twenty British Prime Ministers were educated there, including David Cameron and Boris Johnson. When Cameron took office in 2010, he was the first Etonian Prime Minister since Sir Alec Douglas-Home left office in 1964.
9Eton mess is named after the school.
The pudding of strawberries, broken meringue and cream is said to have been served at Eton’s annual cricket match against Harrow. The county is also known for cheeses such as Barkham Blue and Wigmore.
10It’s at the heart of Britain’s “Silicon Valley”.
The towns along the M4 west of London are often called the Thames Valley or the M4 corridor because of the number of technology firms based there. Microsoft, Oracle and Cisco have offices in Reading, and companies such as Dell and Fujitsu have been based in Bracknell.
11A lot of famous people were born here.
Kate Winslet, Ricky Gervais, film director Sam Mendes and Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker were all born in Reading, and actor Nicholas Hoult was born in Wokingham. The Princess of Wales grew up in the Berkshire village of Bucklebury.
12The Forbury Lion is one of the largest cast-iron lions in the world.
The lion in Reading’s Forbury Gardens weighs about 16 tonnes and was unveiled in 1886. It honours the 329 men of the Berkshire Regiment (the 66th Regiment of Foot) who died in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, most of them at the Battle of Maiwand in 1880.
FAQs about Berkshire
Where is Berkshire?
In south-east England, just west of London, along the River Thames. Its main towns are Reading, Slough, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Windsor and Newbury.
What is Berkshire famous for?
Windsor Castle and the royal family, Royal Ascot, Eton College, the Berkshire pig, and the technology companies of the Thames Valley.
Is Berkshire a city?
No. Berkshire is a county, and it has no cities at all. Its largest town and county town, Reading, has applied for city status several times without success.
Why is Berkshire called a royal county?
Because Windsor Castle is in the county. The title was officially recognised in 1957.
How do you pronounce Berkshire?
“Bark-sher”. The same goes for Berkeley Square in London, which is “Bark-lee”.
Sources and further reading
Explore more: more facts about England.
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