Newbury

Travel Guide

Newbury which includes a church or cathedral and heritage architecture
Donnington Castle featuring building ruins, a sunset and landscape views
Highclere Castle which includes heritage elements, interior views and art
Newbury
West Berkshire Museum showing interior views

Experience the charm of an English market town that’s small in size but offers big attractions, including a famous castle and racecourse, and stunning countryside.

Although it is a relatively small town, Newbury is one of the most prominent urban centers in Berkshire. It offers rich culture and history alongside contemporary conveniences. Discover the delights of this pretty town and use it as a base to explore the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, located on Newbury’s doorstep.

The River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal wind their way through the town, creating a scenic backdrop. Enjoy a canal boat cruise through the English landscape or take a leisurely walk or cycle. Find more natural beauty at the indoor Living Rainforest, a unique and vast conservation project housed under glass. It is home to many rare and endangered plants.

Visit Newbury’s historic attractions too. Shaw House, which played important roles in the Civil War and World War II, is a fabulous example of an Elizabethan manor and is open to the public. The crumbling remains and towering gate house of the mighty 14th-century Donnington Castle offer the romance of bygone years.

It is Highclere Castle, however, that is the most well-known historic attraction in the area. It’s the seat of the Earl of Carnarvon and the set for the television drama Downton Abbey. Take the opportunity to visit this wonderful estate when it is open to the public.

Enjoy a shopping trip to Newbury’s modern malls and independent local stores. The Kennet Shopping Centre offers high street brands and plenty of eating options. Parkway is an open-air shopping development in the heart of town.

When it comes to sport and the arts, Newbury doesn’t disappoint. The Corn Exchange is the town’s main arts center and provides a varied program. Newbury also hosts an impressive line-up of music and arts festivals throughout the year. Head to the Newbury Racecourse, famed across the world for its horse racing events, for a memorable day out.

Newbury is about a 1.5-hour drive from London. The journey by train takes from 1.5 to 2 hours. The town itself is small enough to walk around. There is also public transportation and plenty of parking available.

ORIDA Hotels Newbury
ORIDA Hotels Newbury
4 out of 5
M4 Junction 13 Oxford Road, Newbury, England
The price is ¥10,814 per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
¥10,814
¥12,977 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Newbury. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,002 reviews)
Great hotel great staff
"All excellent, clean room comfortable bed, quiet. Staff are great, very friendly . Particular thanks to Vincent on reception and Andreea in the restaurant. They all seem happy in their work which comes over to guests. Breakfast is excellent, loads of choice both hot and cold food. We would definitely ..."

Reviewed on Jun 29, 2025

ORIDA Hotels Newbury
Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa
Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa
4 out of 5
Old Oxford Road, Donnington, Newbury, England
The price is ¥19,189 per night from Aug 4 to Aug 5
¥19,189
¥23,026 total
Aug 4 - Aug 5
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Newbury. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (547 reviews)
Highly recommend
"Staff are very polite and helpful, and the restaurant and outside bar area do nice food and great cocktails. EV charging spaces is also a bonus."

Reviewed on Jun 24, 2025

Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa
Hare & Hounds Newbury
Hare & Hounds Newbury
3 out of 5
Bath Road, Speen, Newbury, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ¥16,755 per night from Jul 13 to Jul 14
¥16,755
¥20,106 total
Jul 13 - Jul 14
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hostal in Newbury. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (237 reviews)
"Lovely place. Staff super friendly and hard working. It was an overnight stay as we were dining nearby. Room was a bit too warm and, even though we had a fan, it didn’t do much to keep us cool. Not much you can do about a heatwave though. Breakfast was lovely."

Reviewed on Jun 30, 2025

Hare & Hounds Newbury
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Central Gate Apartments by House of Fisher
Central Gate Apartments by House of Fisher
3.5 out of 5
41 West Street, Newbury, England
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Newbury. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Highclere Castle and West Berkshire ...
"Great position in Newbury, very close to the main shopping street. Parking nearby was cheaper than onsite so we used that. Entry was easy with good instructions. It was very warm inside, we had to open the windows and turn off the heating. Nice and quiet in the building, we hardly saw or heard anyone ..."

Reviewed on Dec 1, 2024

Central Gate Apartments by House of Fisher
The Lakes By YOO
The Lakes By YOO
4.5 out of 5
Coln Park, Claydon Pike, Lechlade, England
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in Lechlade. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Cotswold Wildlife Park and Sailing ...
9/10 Wonderful! (19 reviews)
"We had a wonderful stay at the Lakes. It’s such a beautiful setting with so many activities on offer including a spa. We ate in the restaurant and it really is an experience- the food and service were outstanding. Bedrooms are beautiful - decor and furnishings. Guest services were very helpful both ..."

Reviewed on May 18, 2025

The Lakes By YOO
PREMIER SUITES Reading
PREMIER SUITES Reading
4 out of 5
Minster Court, Minster Street, Reading, England
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Reading. Enjoy free WiFi, free bicycles on site, and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Nirvana Spa and Minster Church ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (141 reviews)
Good location
"Superb communication prior to stay - Alena as usual was superb"

Reviewed on Jun 17, 2025

PREMIER SUITES Reading
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Reviews of Newbury

4.4
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
7
5 - Excellent 54%
4 - Good
4
4 - Good 31%
3 - Okay
2
3 - Okay 15%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
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1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Great area

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Make sure to do a horse drawn boat ride!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Very friendly people. Short train ride from London (a little over an hour by train from Paddington Station...a few stops beyond Slough-the stop for Windsor Castle .

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