Berkshire


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



<p>It has a village life that&#8217;s got more going for it than your average rural idyll and a celeb count that could rival Chipping Norton. Cookham&#8217;s managed to swerve the blue rinse brigade and become a hub for families, urban exiles, and TV stars. What&#8217;s not to love about home turf festivals, indie shops, brilliant local pubs, and a community vibe? Err, the property price tag (sorry!)</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="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/white-oak-.jpg" alt="White Oak Cookham dining area" class="wp-image-67026" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/white-oak-.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/white-oak--800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/white-oak--400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/white-oak--768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The White Oak Cookham</figcaption></figure>



<p>What do you fancy? The village offers a tastebud traveller&#8217;s dream of Thai, Indian, modern British gastropub fare, and excellent pub grub. We love <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/review-the-white-oak-cookham/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The White Oak</a> (recently taken over by Brucan Pubs) and <a href="https://www.belandthedragon-cookham.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bel and The Dragon</a>. <a aria-label="Maliks (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.maliks.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Malik&#8217;s</a>, an Indian restaurant that&#8217;s a favourite with ex-PM Theresa May, is also in the &#8216;hood. For posh nosh, head to nearby Bray for Michelin star gazing. <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/the-crown-at-bray-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Crown at Bray</a>, Heston&#8217;s <a aria-label="Fat Duck (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.thefatduck.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fat Duck</a> and <a aria-label="The Hind's Head (opens in a new tab)" href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-hinds-head/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hind&#8217;s Head</a>, the Roux&#8217;s <a aria-label="Waterside Inn (opens in a new tab)" href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-waterside-inn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waterside Inn</a>, plus <a href="https://www.clivedenhouse.co.uk/dine-with-us/the-cliveden-dining-room/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cliveden Dining Room</a> is pretty spesh and only a couple of miles down the road.</p>



<p>For casual café hopping (or somewhere different to perch when working from home), there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pareadelisserie/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parea Artisan Café &amp; Delisserie</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/teapotteashop" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Teapot Tea Shop</a>, and <a href="https://www.deliciouslyfrench.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deliciously French</a> &#8211; a family-run deli that does wine nights, sandwiches, and coffee. Equally, Marlow is just a 10 min drive for even more choice of eateries. Try <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-oarsman-marlow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Oarsman</a>, newly opened Italian <a href="https://piccolinorestaurants.com/locations/marlow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Piccolino</a>, or <a href="https://www.satollo.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Satollo</a>. Culinary heeeaven. </p>



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



<p>A pretty high street packed with independents. <a aria-label="The Old Butcher's Wine Cellar (opens in a new tab)" href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/old-butchers-wine-cellar-cookham/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Old Butcher&#8217;s Wine Cellar</a> is a cracking wine shop. If you get there early enough they have freshly baked sourdough loaves, plus come Thu &#8211; Sun, the place turns into a <a href="https://oldbutcherswinecellar.co.uk/wine-bar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wine bar</a>. Who needs Amazon, when you have <a aria-label="The Little Book Shop (opens in a new tab)" href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-little-bookshop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Little Bookshop</a>? The cool, big name author events tend to draw a big crowd. Put boutique party store <a aria-label="Sweet Marie's (opens in a new tab)" href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/sweet-maries-cookham/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sweet Marie&#8217;s</a> on your must-shop – great gifts, partyware, and a balloon bar. Everyone&#8217;s got into cycling since lockdown and <a aria-label="Flat Harry's (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.flatharrys.cc/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flat Harry&#8217;s</a> is a fab bike shop.</p>



<p>For your everyday essentials, there&#8217;s a <a href="https://www.budgens.co.uk/our-stores/cookham" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Budgens</a>, <a href="http://www.cowderysofcookham.co.uk/">Cowdery&#8217;s of Cookham</a> butchers, and <a href="https://www.deliciouslyfrench.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deliciously French</a> sells all the deli classics like cheese, cold meats, wines, beers, and ciders. Fashionistas will want to hit up Marlow (four miles) where <a href="https://scampanddude.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scamp &amp; Dude</a>, <a href="https://www.mybestfriendswardrobe.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">My Best Friend&#8217;s Wardrobe</a>, and <a href="https://www.moochboutique.com/">Mooch Boutique</a> are brilliant. There&#8217;s also <a href="https://www.vickibond.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vicki Bond</a> on Cookham&#8217;s high street.</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="668" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/cliveden-spa-indoor-pool.jpg" alt="cliveden house spa" class="wp-image-57191" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/cliveden-spa-indoor-pool.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/cliveden-spa-indoor-pool-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/cliveden-spa-indoor-pool-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/cliveden-spa-indoor-pool-768x513.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/cliveden-spa-indoor-pool-786x525.jpg 786w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cliveden Spa</figcaption></figure>



<p>For quality R&amp;R, strip like a Sixties showgirl because <a href="https://www.clivedenhouse.co.uk/spa-wellness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cliveden House&#8217;s</a> luxury spa is just 2.5 miles down the road. <a href="https://www.taplowhouse.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taplow House Hotel &amp; Spa</a> is also in striking distance and stylish <a href="https://cecilymarlow.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cecily Medi Spa</a> in Marlow is well worth a visit. Get your barnet under control at <a href="https://rosspoole.com/salons/hair-nails-beauty-salon-cookham-berkshire/">Ross Poole Hairdressing</a> or <a href="https://www.thesaloneuphoria.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salon Euphoria</a>. There&#8217;s also a local GP surgery and pharmacy, plus a dental practice for your full body MOT needs.</p>



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



<p>Community is everything here and the social calendar is stacked. At Christmas, it&#8217;s Hallmark movie type stuff. There&#8217;s usually a Christmas Market in Pinder Hall, Christmas carols around the tree, plus they put on an annual panto. Cuteee. The village hall host a variety of events such as opera nights, plus there&#8217;s Cookham bonfire night celebrations and an annual and enchantingly traditional <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CDFETE2019/?locale=en_GB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Village Fete</a> that takes place in September. For dog owners, the Cookham Dog Walkers community group on Facebook is very active.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</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/5/2020/07/1.jpg" alt="Cookham Gravity Grand Prix" class="wp-image-46724" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/07/1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/07/1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/07/1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/07/1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/07/1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/07/1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gravity Grand Prix</figcaption></figure>



<p>The social big hitters include 80s pop festival <a href="https://letsrockthemoor.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Let&#8217;s Rock The Moor</a> – a celebration of puff balls, pencil mics and terrible hair. The <a href="https://www.gravitygrandprix.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gravity Grand Prix</a> soapbox race is epic with people coming from all over Berkshire to watch this display of speed, engineering and comedy. This year, Cookham even held its very first <a href="https://www.wingdaycookham.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEHYy5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHc3vDcnrMsPfHNTOV48arSQwBy7Dl4huzQU5gaYIkd8qsviwAQ6RoRD5HA_aem_iNzZsrcF3PErzj_dHWqLHg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicken Wing Festival</a> featuring DJ Pat Sharp and of course, lots of chicken wings. Additionally, there&#8217;s the annual <a href="https://www.cookhamfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cookham Festival</a> which is a two week long celebration of culture and the arts, and often draws some pretty big names.</p>



<p>Arty types will love <a href="https://stanleyspencer.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanley Spencer Gallery</a> (opposite The Bel and The Dragon pub) which is a celebration of his work. Stanley lived most of his life in Cookham and many of his paintings are inspired by the local people and landscapes. He&#8217;s a big deal and the gallery holds regular exhibitions. You can also see his work hanging in the National Portrait Gallery. Down the road, the <a href="https://clivedenliteraryfestival.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cliveden Literary Festival</a> pops up every Autumn and usually features a starry line-up of the literature elite.</p>



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



<p>Cock Marsh and Cookham Common is a 45-acre biological Site of Special Scientific Interest. Lots of flora and fauna to look clueless at and you&#8217;ll also stumble across Bronze Age burial mounds. Wander around the stonking Cliveden <a aria-label="National Trust (opens in a new tab)" href="http://nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Trust</a> grounds. The <a href="https://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/about/who-we-are/heritage-centre.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John Lewis Heritage Centre</a> is well worth a visit just to see its 30,000 piece textile collection dating back to 1799, which even includes dust sheets from a Royal residence and fabric supplied for the Titanic. In the summer months, the <a href="https://www.thefruitfields.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Copas Farms PYO</a> is a great activity with the kids, stacked with asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, peas, beans, and cherries.</p>



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



<p>You won&#8217;t get much change from £920,705. Although average house prices are down 4% this year with detached houses selling for an average £1,561,003, semis going for £714,900, and terraced properties are fetching £543,053.</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="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/cookham.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-71983" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/cookham.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/cookham-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/cookham-400x266.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/cookham-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A breathtaking <a href="https://www.ballards-uk.com/Details?id=0002_MLW240103" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">four-bed Edwardian mansion</a> in striking distance of the river. A view like that comes with a hefty price though. £2,795,000 to be exact.</figcaption></figure>



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



<p>Fans of child-led pre-school education with lots of outdoorsy play? <a href="https://cookhammontessori.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cookham Montessori School</a> will tick that box. <a href="https://www.herries.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Herries Nursery</a> has a polished, homely vibe where the children sit like a family for lunch and roll their sleeves up and join in, whether it is for arts and crafts or Forest School. If you need all year childcare that fits around work, check out <a href="https://www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk/nursery/maidenhead-cookham-road" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Busy Bees</a> on Cookham Road, set in the church grounds.</p>



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



<p>For a nearby private option, <a href="https://www.clairescourt.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Claire&#8217;s Court</a> is an all-through diamond shaped school that is co-ed in Nursery and Sixth Form, then single sex for Juniors and Seniors. Alternatively, take a look at impressive <a href="https://highfieldprep.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Highfield Prep</a> and nurturing <a aria-label="Herries School (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.herries.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Herries School</a>. Senior options include Eton College and <a aria-label="Reddam House (opens in a new tab)" href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/reddam-house-wokingham/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reddam House</a>. If you don&#8217;t mind a bit of travel <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/heathfield-school-ascot-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Heathfield School</a>, <a aria-label="The Marist (opens in a new tab)" href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/the-marist-schools-ascot/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Marist</a>, and <a aria-label="LVS Ascot (opens in a new tab)" href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/lvs-ascot/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LVS Ascot</a> could be good options. But there are some cracking state schools too – Cookham&#8217;s <a href="https://www.holytrinitysch.co.uk">Holy Trinity Primary School</a> and the <a href="https://www.swbgs.com">Sir William Borlase&#8217;s Grammar</a> is in nearby Marlow.</p>



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



<p>Love spotting celebs? You&#8217;re in the right place. Ross Kemp and Timmy Mallet are locals. And if you&#8217;re in The Bel &amp; The Dragon, you could bump into Steve Backshall (<em>Deadly 60</em>), and his wife, Olympian Helen Glover, plus rugby greats Sir Clive Woodward and Will Greenwood are regulars. Hollywood hot stuff Tom Hiddleston has been spotted and DJ Chris Evans too. </p>



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



<p>It&#8217;s a mere 28 miles to London. There&#8217;s a train station in Cookham, but to get to London Paddington you need to change at Maidenhead, taking the journey time to 33 mins. Go from Maidenhead and fast trains take just 18 mins. The Elizabeth Line has been a game-changer for speedy travel into the big smoke. A season train ticket starts at £4,843.20. Driving to London takes 40 mins, traffic permitting. </p>



<p><em>View the full <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 300 Best Places to Live</a></em>.</p>


Cookham

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