Summary
Bracknell, once a modest village within the Windsor Forest, transformed to meet England’s housing demands post-Second World War, evolving into a designated “New Town.” After several years of gradual decline, the town center has revitalized itself as “The Lexicon.” This transformation involved a substantial regeneration initiative, introducing high-end retail outlets and dining establishments with outdoor seating, while enhancing various local landmarks.
In Bracknell’s parks, one can appreciate the historical significance of being on land once frequented by royalty, with Ascot Racecourse situated on the town’s eastern side, representing the epitome of regal activity.
Cultural engagements can be experienced at South Hill Park, a comprehensive arts hub, while adventure awaits in the Swinley Forest. This area features a high ropes course, a science center for children, and the remnants of an Iron Age hill fort.
Let’s delve into the top attractions in Bracknell:
1. Lily Hill Park
Lily Hill Park, a Green Flag Park spanning 56 acres to the northeast of Bracknell, is a former country estate characterized by restored Victorian landscaping.
Detailed information regarding the park can be found on the Bracknell Forest website, where a leaflet is available for download. Historically, this area was part of the Windsor Forest.
Within the park, one can find English oaks that are up to 500 years old, remnants from a bygone era.
The park also showcases Victorian-era ornamental planting amidst ancient woodlands, a mature tree collection, wildflower meadows, and hardy-hybrid rhododendrons and azaleas that were planted in the 1920s.
As you stroll through Lily Hill Park, you will discover a community orchard, a yew walk, an Edwardian water garden, a pond with a boardwalk, and Lily Hill House, which currently serves as private office space.
2. The Look Out Discovery Centre
Located in the southern part of the town near the expansive 2,500-acre Swinley Forest, the Look Out Discovery Centre serves as a hands-on science attraction for children.
The facility features more than 90 interactive activities, exploring themes such as Light and Colour, Woodland and Water, Body and Perception, and Forces and Movement.
Children can engage in various activities, such as creating music with laser beams, capturing their silhouettes, designing unique artworks, launching a hydrogen rocket, and observing an inflatable globe suspended by a Bernoulli blower.
In the outdoor “Build It” section, young visitors can construct their own houses using dumper trucks, wheelbarrows, and a rubble chute.
3. Stanlake Park Wine Estate
Situated approximately ten minutes from Bracknell’s town center, Berkshire’s largest vineyard lies outside the village of Twyford.
Established in 1979, the winery is located on a historic estate surrounding a beautiful 16th-century Elizabethan manor house.
Stanlake Park’s 25 acres cultivate over 10 grape varieties, which visitors can discover during guided tours.
These tours, designed to be enjoyable and engaging, typically occur on weekends.
Advance planning is recommended as tours tend to fill weeks ahead.
Participants will explore the vineyard area, view the pressing facilities, fermentation tanks, barrel room, fizz room, and the bottling line.
At each stage, guests are invited to sample various wines—up to eight in total (three whites, two rosés, two sparkling wines, and one red).
4. Ascot Racecourse
A mere few miles east of Bracknell is one of the premier racecourses in the nation.
Hosting National Hunt “jump” racing and flat races, Ascot remains busy throughout the year.
To emphasize Ascot’s significance in UK horse racing, it is noteworthy that 13 of the country’s 36 annual Grade I horse races take place here, representing the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standard-bred stakes.
However, one particularly noteworthy week in June is designated for Royal Ascot, which has a rich history dating back to 1711. Each year, this event is attended by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family.
For generations, Royal Ascot has been a highlight of the British social calendar, attracting considerable media attention, particularly in the tabloids.
This week features eight of the track’s Group 1 races, including the coveted Gold Cup on Ladies’ Day, which takes place on Thursday.
5. South Hill Park
The historic Birch Hill estate located in the southern part of Bracknell is another picturesque Green Flag park.
The estate’s stunning 18th-century Italianate mansion still stands and currently houses the South Hill Park Arts Centre.
The manicured parkland features a rose garden, an elegant Italian formal garden, a toddler-friendly garden, a variety of sculptures, and expansive oak, sweet chestnut, lime, and birch woodlands.
Visitors can explore four marked trails within the estate, including an educational nature trail adorned with whimsical wood carvings.
6. South Hill Park Arts Centre
Over the past 35 years, South Hill Park has matured into a celebrated performing arts center, welcoming notable patrons such as Kate Winslet and Kenneth Branagh.
This evolution commenced with the establishment of the Wilde Theatre, while the mansion underwent extensive renovations in the early 2000s, enhancing it with arts and crafts studios, an additional performance stage, galleries, a cinema, a dance studio, and a recital room complete with a bar in the mansion’s atrium.
The center hosts over 300 events, shows, and films annually alongside more than 250 workshops and courses.
South Hill Park is home to seven artists in residence who specialize in printmaking, jewellery design/silversmithing, and ceramics.
7. The Lexicon
By the 2000s, Bracknell’s post-war town center began to exhibit signs of aging. However, over the last decade, it has undergone one of the most significant urban regeneration efforts in the UK. Approximately £240 million has been invested in this initiative, resulting in 70 new shops and dining options, alongside the restoration of the town’s high street and various buildings, including the charming old timber-framed pub, the Bull.
Enhancements include a new 12-screen Cineworld cinema and an array of outdoor dining terraces, especially vibrant during summer under the canopies at Pizza Express, Nando’s, Wagamama, and Prezzo.
The Lexicon has also been designed to function as a community hub, hosting live outdoor music, exhibitions, children’s activities, and seasonal celebrations during Halloween, Christmas, and Easter.
8. Swinley Forest
Swinley Forest, a remnant of the Windsor Forest, forms the southern boundary of Bracknell.
This expansive woodland is primarily characterized by modern Scots pine plantations and is still overseen by the Crown Estate.
The forest features gently rolling hills, alongside a few artificial mounds created as training grounds prior to the Napoleonic Wars.
Notably, a scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part I was filmed in Swinley Forest, necessitating the removal of 160 trees.
Sawinley Forest includes basic visitor amenities, such as the Look Out Discovery Centre, and is recognized as one of the premier locations in Southeast England for mountain biking.
9. Tally Ho Stables
There is a unique sensation that arises from taking the reins in an area historically used by royalty for hunting for centuries.
Tally Ho Stables provides riding lessons and hacks suitable for individuals of all proficiency levels, with the expansive Windsor Great Park serving as an ideal backdrop.
All necessary equipment is supplied, and guests will be matched with well-trained horses for traversing the picturesque and sometimes challenging terrain.
Special evening rides present an engaging way to enjoy summer evenings, and those unsure of their capabilities will be accompanied by an experienced and qualified guide.
10. Go Ape Bracknell
The towering pines of Swinley Forest provide a perfect setting for a high ropes course, developed by the renowned Go Ape organization.
The primary “Tree Top Adventure” course is designed to challenge endurance and skills, often requiring up to three hours to complete.
Among the more demanding obstacles are the Swinley Swing and Pendulum Pass bridges, which necessitate traversing sideways over a 13-meter drop.
The exhilarating Alpine Zip-Wire extends 160 meters! Additionally, children measuring between 1 and 1.4 meters can participate in “Tree Top Junior,” a scaled-down version of the adult course. Go Ape also provides Segways for off-road adventures through Swinley Forest.
11. Caesar’s Camp
A 20-minute stroll through the Swinley Forest from the Look Out Discovery Centre leads to an Iron Age hill fort spanning 17 acres, encircled by a mile-long ditch.
Named Caesar’s Camp, this site is one of many Iron Age locations across the country, though it holds no evident connection to the Romans.
This ancient site, over 2,500 years old, remains fascinating. The steep earthwork ramparts defining the fortifications are clearly visible, and the local council has installed interpretation panels detailing Iron Age society and potential political and commercial activities that may have taken place here.
Bird species such as nightjars and woodlarks inhabit the area, while visitors at the highest vantage points can gaze across central Bracknell to the north.
12. Museum of Berkshire Aviation
This museum is an excellent destination for aviation enthusiasts and is located just ten minutes from Bracknell on the A329.
The Museum of Berkshire Aviation is situated at the former Woodley Aerodrome, the former headquarters of Miles Aircraft from 1932 to 1947. The museum showcases several aircraft manufactured by Miles, including the Miles Student, a two-seat trainer, and the Miles Martinet, both of which are among the last of their kind in the world.
Among the unique exhibits is the Fairey Jet Gyrodyne, a rare hybrid between a helicopter and an autogiro.
Miles Aircraft was acquired in the late 1940s by Handley Page, which used a Miles design to construct the Handley Page airliner displayed outside the museum.
13. Dinton Pastures Country Park
Located near the Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Dinton Pastures Country Park is an exemplary venue for active summer excursions.
This park encompasses seven lakes and offers boat rentals from March to September, alongside wildlife meadows, two cafes, an award-winning play park inaugurated in 2014, and an 18-hole adventure golf course.
Available rental options include canoes, kata-kanus, kayaks, and sailing dinghies for those with prior experience.
During summer, open water swimming sessions occur on Wednesday evenings.
Year-round, visitors can explore the area by walking or biking, encountering diverse wildlife ranging from roe and muntjac deer to owls, as well as a variety of migratory and resident birds.
14. Coral Reef Water World
The main aquatic facility in Bracknell resembles a vibrant waterpark rather than a standard public pool.
Attractions include an erupting volcano, five water slides, a pirate ship, rapids, and a bubble pool tailored for younger children in the Little Corals zone.
For adults seeking tranquility, the Coral Spa provides a peaceful retreat away from the energetic pool environment.
This spa features a spa pool, a cooling pool, heated sun loungers, three saunas, and a Japanese steam room, ensuring ample opportunities for relaxation.
15. Golf
Within a ten-minute drive from Bracknell town center, there are seven different golf facilities.
Importantly, these are not all ultra-exclusive venues. For instance, Lavender Park Golf Centre features a nine-hole par 3 course, ideal for beginners, while the 18-hole par 72 at Bird Hills offers green fees starting at just £16 during off-peak weekday mornings.
Bilingbear Park and Downshire provide affordable pay-and-play opportunities on well-maintained parkland courses.
At the higher end of the spectrum, one can find The Berkshire (£150 on weekdays) and the Royal Ascot Golf Club, whereas Mill Ride offers a more economical option with its championship course, created in 1990 by esteemed architect Donald Steel.
