County Dossier
Berkshire
A royal county of hills, kings, and ancient roots.
Berkshire is a Royal County in southern England, with the River Thames forming its entire northern boundary. The north-west is dominated by the Berkshire Downs, along which runs the prehistoric Ridgeway, while between the Downs and the Thames lies the Vale of White Horse, overlooked by the famous White Horse of Uffington.
At a glance
Berkshire at a glance
A royal county of hills, kings, and ancient roots.
- c.860 = 'Bearrocscir'
- Birthplace of King Alfred
- Home to Windsor Castle
- Area 722 sq mi 1,870 km²
- Population: 842,804
- County top: Walbury Hill 965 ft / 294 m
County Geography
The Thames forms Berkshire’s whole northern boundary. To the south lie Hampshire, Surrey, and Wiltshire, while Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire stand across the river to the north and Gloucestershire meets Berkshire at the county’s north-western corner.
The Thames gives Berkshire one of the clearest county lines in England, while the Downs and vale reinforce its internal shape.
Map Reference
View Berkshire on the map
Berkshire is the county. The map also shows lieutenancies and council areas that use the county name.
The county.
The lieutenancy.
Council areas.
Places and routes
Wantage, Abingdon, Newbury, Reading, Wokingham, Sandhurst, Ascot, Maidenhead, and Windsor show the county’s range from market-town, abbey, and racecourse landscape to royal and riverside settlement. The White Horse of Uffington and Windsor Castle stand among its defining landmarks.
Connections
The Thames and Kennet corridors, together with the Ridgeway and the roads crossing the downs and vale, have long organised movement across Berkshire. The county’s history is reinforced by those practical lines of travel.
Names
- Berkshire
- Royal Berkshire
- Berks
Royal Berkshire is the county’s recognised public style. Berkshire also appears in early forms such as Bearrocscir and was already a settled shire by the age of Alfred.