Berkshire
Berkshire is a fairly small county in the South of England, on the South bank of the River Thames. It is often known as Royal Berkshire.
There are very beautiful stretches of the Thames, and the countryside includes the edge of the Chilterns, the Vale of White Horse and the beginnings of the Cotswolds.
Abingdon is an old market town on the Thames.
Didcot, where there is a massive power station, is also a popular steam railway centre.
Harwell has an Atomic Energy Research station.
Hungerford is another pleasant Thames-side town, with a cluster of antique shops.
Maidenhead is also situated on the Thames, and has an impressive railway viaduct built by Brunel.
Newbury, once notorious for its lack of a bypass, has fine almshouses and a cloth museum.
Reading is a large town on the Thames with plenty of 20th century industry, but was once dominated by its great abbey, founded by Henry I, who was buried there.
Windsor is one of the most visited towns in England, especially for the world famous Windsor Castle, still used as a home by Royalty.
As well as the Thames, other Berkshire rivers include the Kennet, the Lambourn and the Ock.