Berkshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-nbsp">WHY?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>A little bit of town, a little bit of country, and a whole lotta rock &#8216;n&#8217; roll. Arborfield is a leafy dream attracting families and young professionals alike, all hoping to cop a taste of the idyllic suburban life. Nestled between Reading and Wokingham, it boasts great schools, a pick &#8216;n&#8217; mix of housing, new and old, and is stacked with a host of modern conveniences. </p>



<p>Oh, and it&#8217;s only set to get bigger (and better!) Recently announced, Arborfield Green will be getting 200 new homes, a pub, community centre, and supermarket. There&#8217;s every reason to lay down roots in this ever growing locale.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="995" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Stables.png" alt="stables cafe arborfield Best Places to Live in Berkshire: Arborfield" class="wp-image-69245" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Stables.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Stables-800x796.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Stables-400x398.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Stables-768x764.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stables Café</figcaption></figure>



<p>Unleash the indies! For your traditional pub grub, try <a href="https://www.thebullarborfieldcross.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bull Inn</a> and The Bull at Barkham. In nearby Finchampstead, you&#8217;ll want to check out the gastro beauty that is <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/review-brunch-the-greyhound-finchampstead-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Greyhound</a>. The café at <a href="https://www.henrystreet.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Henry Street Garden Centre</a> is always a good shout, as is newbie <a href="https://stablesarborfield.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stables</a> &#8211; our Muddy Award Winner 2024 for Best Café in Berkshire. Just saying. New pizza spot <a href="https://www.sulapizzeria.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sula Café</a> at Lockey Farm is family-run and serves authentic Italian fare at penny saving prices.</p>



<p>Heading 8 mins up the road, <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/review-the-george-dragon-swallowfield/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The George &amp; Dragon</a> in Swallowfield is a very decent traditional pub with a true local feel. In Wokingham, the new and swanky <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/fare-eatery-wokingham/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FARE Eatery</a> is making waves, and we&#8217;re big fans of modern Indian kitchen <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/review-bombay-story-indian-kitchen-wokingham/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bombay Story</a> too. Love craft beer? Hoppy heaven awaits at Finchampstead&#8217;s Hogwood Industrial Estate which is home to both <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/siren-tap-yard-finchampstead/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Siren Craft Brew&#8217;s tap yard</a> and brewery, and <a href="https://www.elusivebrewing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elusive Brewing</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<p>Tick the weekly food shop off the list at several local grocery shops. There&#8217;s no big supermarket. <em>Yet</em>. But for fresher than fresh local produce, you&#8217;ll want to head to <a href="https://www.lockeyfarm.co.uk/en-gb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lockey Farm</a> shop which sells all your usual suspects including veg, cheeses (an award-winning Barkham Blue), booze, and everyday essentials, plus there&#8217;s a butchers. Artisan cheese fan? Welcome to heaven. Local cheese god <a href="https://www.villagemaidcheese.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Village Maid</a> isn&#8217;t far. <a href="https://www.henrystreet.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Henry Street Garden Centre</a> is a greenfingered paradise. But for fashionistas, Arborfield isn&#8217;t your boutiquey type. Cruise 13 mins by car to Wokingham for shopping &#8217;til dropping. Reading and Bracknell also have all your big high street heavyweights.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/nirvana-fitnes-copy.jpg" alt="Nirvana spa and fitness spin bikes" class="wp-image-59583" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/nirvana-fitnes-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/nirvana-fitnes-copy-800x450.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/nirvana-fitnes-copy-400x225.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/nirvana-fitnes-copy-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/nirvana-fitnes-copy-900x507.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nirvana Spa </figcaption></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re not getting your 10,000 steps in a day on one of the many scenic walks on the doorstep, <a href="https://www.placesleisure.org/centres/arborfield-green-leisure-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arborfield Green Leisure Centre</a> is your best bet for your fitness all in one with the swimming pool, gym, badminton, football, and exercise classes. Go swinging (not that kind!) at beautiful <a href="https://www.bearwoodlakes.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bearwood Lakes Golf Club</a>. You won&#8217;t have to trek far for your nearest GP. There&#8217;s also a pharmacy in Finchampstead, and your nearest hospital is Reading. Spa breakers will love the fact <a href="https://nirvanaspa.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nirvana Spa</a>, aka the mother of all spa days, is just 5 mins down the road with a state-of-the-art gym and spin studio to boot. Cowshed Health &amp; Beauty isn&#8217;t far for treatments like facials, waxing, and nails.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>In <a href="https://www.arborfieldgreen.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arborfield Green</a>, community is a big deal. There&#8217;s an annual summer fete, at Christmas there&#8217;s Santa meet and greets, a market, and carols, plus, they even throw their very own Oktoberfest on the cricket green. It&#8217;s the kind of place the barista at your local coffee haunt knows you by name. Yep, people here say hello in the street. It&#8217;s the small things, people. Residents can also enjoy things like treasure hunts, picnics, family fun days, discos, Easter egg hunts, and lots more throughout the year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Finchampstead-Ridges.jpg" alt="Finchampstead Ridges" class="wp-image-49401" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Finchampstead-Ridges.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Finchampstead-Ridges-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Finchampstead-Ridges-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Finchampstead-Ridges-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Finchampstead-Ridges-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Finchampstead-Ridges-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Finchampstead Ridges</figcaption></figure>



<p>If there&#8217;s anything Arborfield isn&#8217;t short of, it&#8217;s green spaces. <a href="https://www.wokinghamcountryside.co.uk/california-country-park" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California Country Park</a> has over 100 acres of ancient bogland and lowland health to stretch your legs in. It&#8217;s a haven for walkers, wildlife nuts, and fishing. And there&#8217;s a fantastic play park too. Another local beauty is The Coombs. A bit further down the road you&#8217;ll also find the lovely <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/runnymede-and-ankerwycke/visit-finchampstead-ridges" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Finchampstead Ridges</a>.</p>



<p>Old McDonald would have a field day at Lockey Farm where you can meet the resident sheep, goats, alpacas, chicken and geese, plus there&#8217;s an assault course and zip line. Kids will love life in the high ropes at indoor climbing centre Clip ‘n Climb Reading, and nearby <a href="https://wellingtoncountrypark.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wellington Country Park</a> is the ultimate family day out. Your nearest stables for lessons and hacking is <a href="https://litchfieldequestrian.wixsite.com/gemma-litchfield" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Litchfield Equestrian</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="724" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/mindset-unlimited-24-copy.jpg" alt="mindset unlimited wellbeing festival wokingham Best Places to Live in Berkshire: Arborfield" class="wp-image-69641" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/mindset-unlimited-24-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/mindset-unlimited-24-copy-800x579.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/mindset-unlimited-24-copy-400x290.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/mindset-unlimited-24-copy-768x556.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>You don&#8217;t have to travel far to get your culture fix. Hoof it to <a href="https://whatsonreading.com/hexagon/whats-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hexagon</a> in Reading for your big name touring theatre productions, comedy, and shows. Boutiquey <a href="https://www.readingrep.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reading Rep</a> is a lovely place to catch high quality entertainment, as is <a href="https://rabbletheatre.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rabble Theatre</a> and <a href="https://millatsonning.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Mill at Sonning</a>. Wokingham also has its own small indie <a href="https://www.wokinghamtheatre.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">theatre</a> with regular comedy nights and variety shows, plus there&#8217;s an <a href="https://www.everymancinema.com/venues-list/x11nv-everyman-wokingham/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Everyman Cinema</a> for popcorn stuffing in style.</p>



<p>Whip out the neon lycra, you&#8217;re in striking distance of a number of fabulously fun festivals. Nearby Dinton Pastures hosts <a href="https://www.marvellousfestivals.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marvellous Festival</a> every July &#8211; the UK&#8217;s biggest and longest running tribute fest. This year the <a href="https://greatbritishfoodfestival.com/dinton-pastures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Great British Food Festival</a> was also held there. Find your zen at Wokingham&#8217;s wellbeing answer to Coachella. <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/whats-on/press-zen-why-mindset-unlimited-festival-is-the-wellbeing-reset-you-need/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mindset Unlimited Festival</a> happens in September time. Teens in tow? They won&#8217;t be able to resist the muddy allure of <a href="https://www.readingfestival.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reading Festival</a> each August, attracting the likes of Lana Del Rey, Noel Gallagher, and Stormzy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-price">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE</h2>



<p>Show me the moneeeey! Putting down roots in Arborfield is slightly kinder on the purse strings than other towns in Berkshire, with an average price of £550,412. The most popular housing type is detached which go on average for £819,247. Semis sell for around £513,667, and flats fetch £239,556.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="661" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/arborfield.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-71981" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/arborfield.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/arborfield-800x529.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/arborfield-400x264.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/arborfield-768x508.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Deceivingly spacious, make this <a href="https://davidcliff.com/property/school-road-arborfield-cross-reading-rg2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">five-bed family home</a> with one gorgeous garden yours for £1,125m.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p>In the village itself you&#8217;ll find three preschool and day nurseries &#8211; <a href="https://www.completechildcare.co.uk/hazebrouck-day-nursery" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hazebrouck</a>, <a href="https://poperinghe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Poperinghe</a>, and <a href="https://arborfieldvillagemontessori.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arborfield Village Montessori Nursery</a>. Heading slightly further out, there&#8217;s well-regarded <a href="https://orchardhousenurseries.co.uk/nurseries/oak-tree-day-nursery-and-preschool" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oak Tree Day Nursery and Preschool</a> and <a href="https://www.happytrailsplay.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Happy Trails Play</a>, with the latter focusing on development through whimsical play and nourishment. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>Arborfield has brilliant schools for children of all ages in close proximity. For primary, there&#8217;s Farley Hill in the village itself, plus Abacus Belsize Primary School and Abbey CofE Infant School, although competition for places can be fierce. There&#8217;s also The Coombes CE Primary School&nbsp;and for secondary, Bohunt Wokingham School is a good state option. For great private schools, check out <a href="https://www.waverleyschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waverley Prep</a>, <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/luckley-house-school-wokingham-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luckley House</a>, <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/holme-grange-school-wokingham-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Holme Grange</a>, and <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/crosfields-school-reading-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crosfields</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>Did you know the now flashy Arborfield Green housing site was originally used to supply the military with horses for operational use? In fact, 100,000 horses are said to have passed through its doors, all the way through to the end of WW2. Since then, Hollywood has rolled in, with one of the old army barracks in the village having been turned into a well regarded film studio. Arborfield Studios has been used to film Disney’s&nbsp;<em>Aladdin</em> as well as Netflix&#8217;s <em>The Witcher: Blood Origin</em>. Nope, no Henry Cavill in sight. Yet&#8230;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>Arborfield is well-connected to its surrounding cities by the M3, M4 and A327. Your closest train station is Wokingham just 10 mins by car which zips commuters into London Paddington via Reading, taking just 49 mins. A 5-day season ticket including zone 1-6 Travelcard will currently set you back £6,648. Jetsetters will love the fact London Heathrow is just 30 miles away.</p>



<p><em>View the full&nbsp;<a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live">Top 300 Best Places to Live</a></em>.</p>


Arborfield

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