The historic market town of Wokingham sits in the heart of Berkshire, only 33 miles from central London and a short distance south-east of Reading. It’s an area full of character, where historic architecture is met with scenic woodlands and picturesque villages. Coupled with the excellent transport links and local attractions, Wokingham is highly sought-after amongst families and those commuting to the capital.
Wokingham, a market town
For such an impressive town, the community atmosphere is more akin to a small village. This is partly thanks to the several general markets which take place throughout the week, as well as the independent businesses which showcase local produce on the High Street. The town is still home to all the major retailers, while entertainment and sports complexes could rival those of a large city.
Transportation in Wokingham
Wokingham is popular as a commuting destination for those travelling to both London and the many large industries located on the ‘silicon corridor’ of the M4. This motorway is easily reached, while the M3 is only a short distance south of the town. Thanks to these major transport links, Wokingham is only 55 minutes away from London via car, and 26 minutes to Heathrow International Airport.
The local train station is just as convenient for a speedy commute. Trains depart along the Waterloo to Reading line, reaching the capital in 50 minutes and Reading in 21 minutes. Frequent services also travel direct to Gatwick Airport, which is reached in approximately 79 minutes.
Things to Do in Wokingham
Few towns in the south boast such a wide array of local amenities. As such, it’s no surprise that Wokingham has been voted among the best places in the UK to raise a family. From sports clubs and country parks to luxury spas and an indoor ski slope, here are some of the highlights:
- Dinton Pastures Country Park
- Nirvana Spa
- Showcase Cinemas
- Skiplex Indoor Ski Slopes
- Wokingham Superbowl
- Big Apple Wokingham
- Oakwood Youth Challenge
- Billingbear Park Golf Course
- St Crispin’s Leisure Centre
- Carnival Pool
- Wokingham Theatre
- California Country Park
What is Wokingham Like?
Wokingham is a historic market town in Berkshire which is situated less than 40 miles from London, 8 miles north of Camberley, 4 miles west of Bracknell and just ten miles south-east of Reading.
Wokingham is within easy reach of the likes of Basingstoke, Guildford, Maidenhead and Farnborough too.
A very highly regarded town, Wokingham frequently features in surveys as one of the best places to live in the UK. It has been named as the ‘healthiest place in the UK’ by Public Health England and best for general quality of life in a survey which was carried out by Halifax.
Wokingham is a great town for families too who are looking for a family-oriented area to put down roots. There is a tight knit community here, which only adds to the town’s desirability. Wokingham is also surrounded by fabulous countryside with acres of woodlands and meadows to explore.
Transport Links
Wokingham is blessed with excellent and reliable transport links and great road connections, particularly for commuters looking to connect to central London.
Wokingham train station provides services to all the major towns, villages and cities nearby. A train from Wokingham to London Paddington takes less than an hour, and you can reach London Waterloo in just over an hour and 15 minutes. A direct train to Reading takes just over 20 minutes.
Drivers can quickly access the M3 and M4 motorways, taking advantage of easy links to the likes of Cardiff, Swindon, Bristol and Reading from the M3, and through Hampshire and on to London from the M4.
For those looking to jet away, Heathrow Airport is a 30-minute drive away from the town. Alternatively, you could catch one of the frequent train services from Wokingham train station to Gatwick Airport.
Schools in the Area
Wokingham is home to a selection of excellent schools, with many holding Ofsted’s “outstanding” status. Waverley Prep is a particularly highly regarded school which has a superb academic record and consistently features in the Sunday Times Top 100 schools.
Other schools in the Wokingham area include:
Shopping and Dining in Wokingham
Wokingham boasts a sizeable selection of independent and small-chain shops. There is a boutique vibe here, which is perhaps most evident with the two stunning jewellers located on Bush Walk: Rocco Jewellery and Strange The Jewellers. The highly regarded Maison Rustic is an independent interior décor and design shop which is also located on Bush Walk.
Holme Grange Craft Village, which sits in beautiful countryside between Wokingham and Crowthorne, offers a unique shopping experience with independent traders and artisan crafters working in a collection of converted barns. The Lexicon is a large retail and leisure complex located less than five miles away in Bracknell, which is generally regarded as Berkshire’s leading shopping destination.
Wokingham has many excellent restaurants with the likes of Rossini Restaurant, a highly regarded Italian and L’Ortolan, in nearby Shinfield, which is a Michelin-starred restaurant offering exceptional French fine dining experiences.
Events and Leisure Activities
Wokingham Theatre is a thriving community theatre which hosts regular events throughout the year, including eight ‘main-season’ shows per year. There are also classic car shows and sport events which are routinely held in the town and the nearby villages too.
Wokingham Festival is a fantastic annual festival run by the community, which is held in August. The festival runs for three days, with live music, delicious food and drink and a wide range of other activities to keep everyone entertained.
Wokingham Market is located right in the heart of the town centre every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9am to 4pm. The stalls at the market offer a variety of fresh food and local produce, as well as crafts and plants.
The highly regarded Nirvana Spa is a luxurious pure water, state-of-the-art spa, offering a wide range of treatments and facilities. Sand Martins Golf Club is a wonderful, first-class golf club known for its community feel and unique golf course.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the Swinley Forest is nearby. With over 2,600 acres of woodland, the Swinley Forest offers the perfect outdoor escape. Dinton Pastures Country Park is within easy reach too. This tranquil country park has 335 acres of meadows, woodland, lakes and rivers.