Maidenhead

United_Kingdom

Maidenhead is a large riverside town in the county of Berkshire in the South East of England. It has a population of just under 75,000 people.

The constituency of Maidenhead and Windsor is the most affluent area of the UK, with house prices often exceeding those of Central London. Its position on the River Thames, surrounded by beautiful countryside, and close proximity to the capital, Oxford and Windsor is unrivalled making it a gold-mine for commuters. It is one of the safest Conservative seats in the UK (its Member of Parliament is the Prime Minister, Theresa May).

Like many towns, Maidenhead has lost some of its historic charm, and the town centre is a little uninspiring and overdeveloped in some parts. It does however retain some handsome 18th- and 19th-century buildings. The area near the river, locally known as Maidenhead Riverside, however, is a picturesque contrast to this, offering stunning views of the Thames and Chiltern Hills, along with scenic walks towards the villages of Cookham, Marlow, Bray and Windsor and Eton.

File:Maidenhead Railway Bridge

  • Maidenhead Railway Bridge. The famous railway bridge designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
  • Boulter's Lock and Boulters Island. A great spot for walks amongst relatively tame squirrels and views of Maidenhead Weir. There is also a small hotel/restaurant on the island.
  • Maidenhead United Football Club, York Road. It is the oldest continuously used senior football ground in the world.

Maidenhead Railway Bridge. The famous railway bridge designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Boulter's Lock and Boulters Island. A great spot for walks amongst relatively tame squirrels and views of Maidenhead Weir. There is also a small hotel/restaurant on the island.

Maidenhead United Football Club, York Road. It is the oldest continuously used senior football ground in the world.

  • Maidenhead Heritage Centre, 18 Park St, Maidenhead, SL6 1SL, +44 1628 780555. Visit the heritage centre to discover the town's fascinating history.
  • Norden Farm Arts Centre, Altwood Rd, SL6 4PF, +44 1628 788997. Investigate the arts centre, which contains a theatre and arthouse cinema.
  • Odeon, 42-44 King St, SL6 1DY, +44 333 014 4501. There is a mainstream cinema in the town centre.
  • The Magnet Leisure Centre, Holmanleaze, SL6 8AW, +44 1628 685333.
  • David Lloyd Fitness Centre, Grenfell Place, SL6 1HJ, +44 345 129 6804.

Maidenhead Heritage Centre, 18 Park St, Maidenhead, SL6 1SL, +44 1628 780555. Visit the heritage centre to discover the town's fascinating history.

Norden Farm Arts Centre, Altwood Rd, SL6 4PF, +44 1628 788997. Investigate the arts centre, which contains a theatre and arthouse cinema.

Odeon, 42-44 King St, SL6 1DY, +44 333 014 4501. There is a mainstream cinema in the town centre.

The Magnet Leisure Centre, Holmanleaze, SL6 8AW, +44 1628 685333.

David Lloyd Fitness Centre, Grenfell Place, SL6 1HJ, +44 345 129 6804.

The town centre is a fairly typical one, containing most high street shops, including Next, Virgin Megastore, Boots, Superdrug, Marks and Spencer, and TopShop.

Nicholsons’s Shopping Centre, Nicholsons Ln, SL6 1LB, +441628 783746.

Robert Dyas, 24 Kings Walk, SL6 1LB, +44 844 567 2537. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM, Su 11AM-5PM.

Indian restaurants are well recommended. There are also decent Thai and Chinese restaurants.

  • Emperor of India, 5 Windsor Rd, SL6 1UZ, +44 1628 624100. One of Britain's culinary capitals, the village of Bray, is a very short distance away.
  • Waterside Inn, Ferry Rd, Bray, SL6 2AT, +44 1628 620691. A 3-star Michelin restaurant - the first outside of France.
  • Fat Duck, High St, Bray, SL6 2AQ, +44 1628 580333. At one time, the second best restaurant in the world according to Caterer magazine.

Emperor of India, 5 Windsor Rd, SL6 1UZ, +44 1628 624100.

Waterside Inn, Ferry Rd, Bray, SL6 2AT, +44 1628 620691. A 3-star Michelin restaurant - the first outside of France.

Fat Duck, High St, Bray, SL6 2AQ, +44 1628 580333. At one time, the second best restaurant in the world according to Caterer magazine.

Surrounding villages and suburbs have some excellent ancient pubs. Non-chain bars include Phatz Bar, good for live music, as well as Coco bar.

  • Cookham — a picturesque village between Maidenhead and Marlow. It is a traditional English country village with a hugely popular gallery and excellent but expensive restaurants. Trains link Cookham with Maidenhead every hour. Or walk there along the river, about 1 hour.
  • Marlow — an attractive town at the NW.