Discussion
If it is the weekend, and you are into modelling and what the area used to look like, i would recommend Pendon Museum at Long Whittenham, Been an ongoing project by volunteers for the best part of 40years and the detail is fantastic. ts like flying over the Vale of the White horse in the 1920's. There is a website https://www.pendonmuseum.com
The obvious one is Highclere castle, home of Downton Abbey I believe - https://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/ (check you can get in though, it's tickets in advance!)
Shaw House: http://www.westberkshireheritage.org/shaw-house
Living Rain Forest: http://www.livingrainforest.org/
Newbury sits on the Kennet & Avon Canal - easy walking!
Restaurant (advise to book!): http://crabandboar.com/
Pub: http://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/rowbarge/ (you can walk if feeling energetic, or get the train from Newbury a couple of stops to Midgham)
Shaw House: http://www.westberkshireheritage.org/shaw-house
Living Rain Forest: http://www.livingrainforest.org/
Newbury sits on the Kennet & Avon Canal - easy walking!
Restaurant (advise to book!): http://crabandboar.com/
Pub: http://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/rowbarge/ (you can walk if feeling energetic, or get the train from Newbury a couple of stops to Midgham)
I live in Newbury! Have done all my life..25 years 
There's Beacon Hill, Downton Abbey/Highclere Castle, The Living Rainforest. Some nice bits of countryside if you head over towards Andover. Plenty of different food places in Northbrook Street... park in Parkway underground, it's the cheapest around... PS you always need to pay to park in Council Car Parks irrespective of time / date. Some high street parking is free for 30 minutes or an hour. Read signs. They are policed even at odd hours.
A short-ish (hour or so) drive away is Gaydon Motor Museum up the A34/M40 if you fancied a short drive away.
If you want any other little tips or hints let me know.
There's Beacon Hill, Downton Abbey/Highclere Castle, The Living Rainforest. Some nice bits of countryside if you head over towards Andover. Plenty of different food places in Northbrook Street... park in Parkway underground, it's the cheapest around... PS you always need to pay to park in Council Car Parks irrespective of time / date. Some high street parking is free for 30 minutes or an hour. Read signs. They are policed even at odd hours.
A short-ish (hour or so) drive away is Gaydon Motor Museum up the A34/M40 if you fancied a short drive away.
If you want any other little tips or hints let me know.
Edited by xjay1337 on Wednesday 27th July 12:00
Puggit said:
Pub: http://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/rowbarge/ (you can walk if feeling energetic, or get the train from Newbury a couple of stops to Midgham)
I'll second this, the food's cracking. Otherwise if you want to stay in Newbury for food Bill's is good (https://bills-website.co.uk/menu/) as is The Newbury (http://www.thenewburypub.co.uk/).I like the living rainforest but it's expensive for what it is if you're only going to go once as a ticket gives entry for a year.
Highclere Castle is good if that's your kind of thing as is the Discovery Centre in Thatcham (http://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-discovery-centre) if the weather's good and you like a walk around the lake and down the canal. Could spend an hour or so here and combine it with some of the things suggested possibly as none of them will take a full day.
I hate Highclere Castle.
Yeah, sure, it's a nice house, famous for being in Downtown Abbey and has an interesting collection of artefacts related to Tutankhamen, BUT, they have (or had) massive great metal blocks to close their gates onto and one once crushed and holed the sump on my Marcos!!!!!
Bloody horrible place!
There are some nice pubs in the villages off the A34, as you head north from the M4. I can't remember the names now, but it's racing stable areas.
M
Yeah, sure, it's a nice house, famous for being in Downtown Abbey and has an interesting collection of artefacts related to Tutankhamen, BUT, they have (or had) massive great metal blocks to close their gates onto and one once crushed and holed the sump on my Marcos!!!!!
Bloody horrible place!
There are some nice pubs in the villages off the A34, as you head north from the M4. I can't remember the names now, but it's racing stable areas.
M
If you're out in the car the A4 drive down to Calne to see the standing stones or bomb up to stone henge and a stop in Marlborough can be quite pleasant, wonder at the lay lines and what prehistoric man was on about.
The Andover road is a good drive as well and you can go to Highclere Castle that way (not my kind of thing).
Legoland Windsor is not far away, it's s
t though and will be full of kids this time of year.
If you like Roman History and stuff the common between Tadley, Silchester and Pamber Heath is nice walking and you can see the Roman remains at Silchester which are oft forgotten but in Roman times Silchester was a big deal,
Don't underestimate the value of a trip to Reading, it's horrible whilst you're there but the feeling of relief you get as you leave is palpable and very memorable.
The Andover road is a good drive as well and you can go to Highclere Castle that way (not my kind of thing).
Legoland Windsor is not far away, it's s
t though and will be full of kids this time of year.If you like Roman History and stuff the common between Tadley, Silchester and Pamber Heath is nice walking and you can see the Roman remains at Silchester which are oft forgotten but in Roman times Silchester was a big deal,
Don't underestimate the value of a trip to Reading, it's horrible whilst you're there but the feeling of relief you get as you leave is palpable and very memorable.
I live 2 or 3 miles outside of Newbury.
Most good places to eat are in the villages surrounding the town. Some recommendations:
The Wellington Arms, Baughurst (my local favourite)
The Yew Tree, Highclere
Crab and Boar, Chievely
The Pot Kiln, Yattendon
The Royal Oak, Ecchinswell (my local)
Bel and the Dragon, Kingsclere (can be a little hit and miss)
Things to do:
Plenty of shopping round the area of you fancy.
Most good places to eat are in the villages surrounding the town. Some recommendations:
The Wellington Arms, Baughurst (my local favourite)
The Yew Tree, Highclere
Crab and Boar, Chievely
The Pot Kiln, Yattendon
The Royal Oak, Ecchinswell (my local)
Bel and the Dragon, Kingsclere (can be a little hit and miss)
Things to do:
- I'd give the Living Rainforest a miss to be honest.
- There's always the racecourse if you fancy a flutter and something's on
- Take the car out to Sydmonton and go for a walk up Watership Down
- Take a walk along the Kennet Canal
- Highclere Castle is OK if you're a fan of Downton. Otherwise it's just a big house
Plenty of shopping round the area of you fancy.
Puggit said:
schmalex said:
The Pot Kiln, Yattendon
Mike Robinson is trying to sell it and move away to a different part of the country (first hand information)SunsetZed said:
Also whilst the quality's excellent I always feel hungry when I leave so depends on if you want upper class poncy or proper portions (but still good quality), more information on your food habits required OP!
Damn right - it's a proper wood fired Italian pizza on a Sunday night, but the food sprinkled on the pizza is very sparse!FredClogs said:
Don't underestimate the value of a trip to Reading, it's horrible whilst you're there but the feeling of relief you get as you leave is palpable and very memorable.
Reading's not that bad. (Said she who used to live halfway between Slough and Uxbridge...) It's okay for shopping. My brother's wife keeps wanting to visit us because she loves the shops! There's a nice little shop in the Harris Arcade that sells old military memorabilia, next door to one that sells old 60s and 70s toys and kids' books and things. And a couple of record shops selling second-hand records! What's not to like? 
SGirl said:
Reading's not that bad. (Said she who used to live halfway between Slough and Uxbridge...) It's okay for shopping. My brother's wife keeps wanting to visit us because she loves the shops! There's a nice little shop in the Harris Arcade that sells old military memorabilia, next door to one that sells old 60s and 70s toys and kids' books and things. And a couple of record shops selling second-hand records! What's not to like?
You forgot the cheese and ale shop and the sweet shop! This is great thanks!
Food wise we are just looking to grab some lunch and possibly an evening meal, all mid week.
Thanks for the great replies I have plenty yo look at now.
The wife wants to look at some shops in a quaint/nice location. Is Marlborough good for this, for reference we are staying right near Highclere.
Food wise we are just looking to grab some lunch and possibly an evening meal, all mid week.
Thanks for the great replies I have plenty yo look at now.
The wife wants to look at some shops in a quaint/nice location. Is Marlborough good for this, for reference we are staying right near Highclere.
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