Berkshire


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



<p>Breathe in the peace and quiet. This canal-side village is a picture of tranquility with winding country lanes and unspoilt views of the Kennet plus Avon Canal running through the centre. Thought to date back to the 10th century, the place is teeming with history from Jane Austen (big fan of the apples here, apparently) to the 1830s Swing Riots. Conveniently sandwiched between Hungerford and Newbury, you are never far from the action.</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="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/thumbnail_crown-garter-2.jpg" alt="crown and garter inkpen is kintbury a nice place to live" class="wp-image-54256" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/thumbnail_crown-garter-2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/thumbnail_crown-garter-2-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/thumbnail_crown-garter-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/thumbnail_crown-garter-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/thumbnail_crown-garter-2-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://butcombe.com/the-dundas-arms-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Dundas Arms</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Blue-Ball-Kintbury/61574478733722/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Blue Ball</a> are the two village pubs loved by locals and with cracking outdoor spaces. The former is marooned on its own slice of land slap bang on the canal, boasting unbeatable waterside views. Bliss.</p>



<p>Venture a bit further and get your chops around <a href="https://www.the-halfway-inn.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Halfway Inn</a>, <a href="https://www.audleyrestaurants.co.uk/blandys-berkshire" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blandy&#8217;s Bar and Bistro</a>, and the <a href="https://www.crownandgarter.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crown &amp; Garter</a> in pretty Inkpen – a foodie pub with rooms and an adjoining Honesty Café for cakes, sarnies, and good coffee. Five star, <a href="https://retreatelcotpark.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Retreat at Elcot Park</a> boasts two lovely restaurants too. That&#8217;s before mentioning the heaps of pubs, restaurants and cafés in <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/8-best-restaurants-in-newbury/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Newbury</a> and Hungerford themselves.</p>



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



<p>Shop local at the village shop, Kintbury Corner Stores, stocking all your essentials. There&#8217;s a pint-sized coffee and farm shop up the road at The Retreat at Elcot Park, aka <a href="https://retreatelcotpark.com/the-stores/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Signet Stores</a>, or travel a little further for your meat and veg (well worth the journey) at <a href="https://www.cobbsfarmshops.co.uk/cobbs-hungerford" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cobbs Farm Shop</a> in Hungerford. <a href="https://www.dobbies.com/hungerford" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dobbies Garden Centre</a> would be your nearest place to unleash your green fingers, and when it comes to indie high street shopping, you&#8217;re spoilt for choice. </p>



<p>Make West and browse the shelves of <a href="https://hungerfordbookshop.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hungerford Bookshop</a>, <a href="https://whitecoco.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">White Coco</a> and <a href="https://www.roxtons.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roxtons</a> for fashion and gifts. Newbury is your best bet for more of the high street bigwigs, sprinkled with plenty of boutiques.</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="1500" height="1131" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/retreat-elcot-spa.png" alt="retreat at elcot spa" class="wp-image-70075" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/retreat-elcot-spa.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/retreat-elcot-spa-800x603.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/retreat-elcot-spa-1000x754.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/retreat-elcot-spa-400x302.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/retreat-elcot-spa-768x579.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://retreatelcotpark.com/spa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Retreat at Elcot Park</a> and <a href="https://www.naturaspa.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Natura Spa</a> are your nearest Hail Mary spa days with indulgent treatments and luxe facilities. Luxury bolthole <a href="https://www.the-vineyard.co.uk/spa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Vineyard</a> isn&#8217;t far either and worth the splurge. In the village itself, there&#8217;s an active <a href="https://www.kintburyjubileecentre.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">leisure centre</a>, plus tennis and lawn bowls clubs. Make a little further for the brilliant <a href="https://bridgestreetskinclinic.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bridge Street Skin Clinic</a>, and in Hungerford itself there&#8217;s plenty of salons to choose from. We love <a href="https://thepinkdoorhungerford.com/hair-beauty/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Pink Door</a> for its hair, beauty, and aesthetics. There&#8217;s also a GP in the village, plus dentists, opticians, vets, pilates and yoga studios, and physiotherapists are all in striking distance.</p>



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



<p>Close knit and thriving! This is a community that loves to come together. An absolute dead cert in the village calender is the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KintburyOrienteering/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ray Boxshall Orienteering Fun Day Kintbury</a>&nbsp;– an annual event in October attracting participants from all around to take part in a seven-mile walk and solve clues along the way. It&#8217;s all in memory of the late Ray Boxshall and helps maintain local footpaths and raise money for charity.&nbsp;Seems like fitness is the theme here. There&#8217;s also the five-mile annual run known as the <a href="https://kintburyrunningrace.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kintbury 5</a> to get involved in, as well as festive markets and carols in the square, summer fairs, and craft markets.</p>



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



<p>Break for the Kintbury borders and travel 7 miles up the road to <a href="https://www.watermill.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Watermill Theatre</a> for award-winning productions in a gorgeous, boutique setting. The <a href="https://cornexchangenew.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Corn Exchange Newbury</a> attracts a glitterati of top comedians, as well as touring productions and music. Meanwhile, the exhibitions, arty courses, and craft workshops at <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-base-greenham-common/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Base in Greenham</a> are Muddy Award winning for a reason. </p>



<p>If you fancy yourself a bookworm, <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/hungerford-bookshop-bookstore-near-me/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hungerford Bookshop</a> get an incredible roster of best-selling authors (Anton Du Beke,&nbsp;Sebastian Faulks, and Jeffrey Archer) to drop by for talks and signings. There&#8217;s of course the nearby <a href="https://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Highclere Castle</a> and home of <em>The Great British Bake Off</em> <a href="https://www.welfordpark.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Welford Park</a> who do a fantastic outdoor light trail and al fresco theatre in the summer.</p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="745" height="745" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/04/newbury-races-ladies.jpg" alt="newbury racecourse is kintbury a good place to live" class="wp-image-78372" style="aspect-ratio:1;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/04/newbury-races-ladies.jpg 745w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/04/newbury-races-ladies-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/04/newbury-races-ladies-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Newbury Racecourse</figcaption></figure>



<p>Fancy a flutter? Crack out the stilettos and trot over to <a href="https://newburyracecourse.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Newbury Racecourse</a> (the late Queen&#8217;s favourite racecourse FYI). During the summer months, prepare to get down to Sophie Ellis-Bextor or Dizzee Rascal dropping some tunes on the main stage after the racing action is done and dusted. A total blast!</p>



<p>If you fancy staying closer to home, Kintbury is renowned for its proximity to the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.&nbsp;Naturally, you&#8217;ll never run short of unspoiled countryside stomps. Take a strut up and around Walbury Hill where you&#8217;ll be rewarded with views over both the Kennet Valley and Hampshire Downs. Pretty uniquely, you can do <a href="https://kennet-horse-boat.co.uk/horse-drawn-boat-trips/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">horse-drawn canal cruises</a> from the village, plus of course the regular sort with direct routes to Newbury and Hungerford. </p>



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



<p>With house prices down 9% this year, could it possibly be time to take the leap? On average you won&#8217;t get much change from £524,447, but a detached property will set you back around £936,667. Get yourself a semi for £353,250 or a terraced property is around £314,167.</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="1500" height="999" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/kintbury.jpg" alt="A 5-bed family home stacked with potential. This lovely pad comes with 2.2 acres in the centre of Kintbury village. Yours for £975,000." class="wp-image-82626" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/kintbury.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/kintbury-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/kintbury-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/kintbury-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/kintbury-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A 5-bed family home stacked with potential. This <a href="https://www.jonesrobinson.co.uk/properties/20884213/sales#/property-slideshow" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lovely pad</a> comes with 2.2 acres in the centre of Kintbury village. Yours for £975,000.</figcaption></figure>



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



<p>The closest Ofsted outstanding nursery is <a href="https://www.hungerfordnurseryschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hungerford Nursery School Centre for Children</a>, and there&#8217;s also <a href="https://www.inkpenprimaryschool.co.uk/page/?title=Inkspots&amp;pid=14" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inkspots Early Years</a> and <a href="https://rainbowschildcare.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rainbows Childcare in Hungerford</a> too (both rated Ofsted: Good).</p>



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



<p>Staying local, there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.kintbury.w-berks.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kintbury St Mary’s Primary School</a> or <a href="https://www.hungerfordprimaryschool.co.uk/westberks/primary/hungerford" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hungerford Primary School</a> isn&#8217;t far (both rated Ofsted: Good). For state secondaries, you&#8217;re are looking at a commute into Newbury, but you won&#8217;t struggle to find a cracking private option. <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/cheam-school-newbury-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cheam</a>, <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/horris-hill-prep-newbury/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Horris Hill</a>, <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/brockhurst-marlston-house-hermitage-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brockhurst &amp; Marlston House</a>, <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/downe-house-school-cold-ash-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Downe House</a>, and <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/st-gabriels-senior-school-newbury-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St Gabriel&#8217;s</a> are all in very easy reach. Each offer something a little unique, and vary from co-ed all-through day schools to boarding, preps, and all-girls.</p>



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



<p>Don&#8217;t be surprised if you find yourself bumping into Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews (brother of Spencer) &#8211; they reside in the £15 million country pile, Barton Court, just outside the village (previously owned by British design mogul Sir Terence Conran, don&#8217;t you know). However, seems they won&#8217;t be winning a popularity contest anytime soon. The couple currently find themselves amid an ongoing <a href="https://www.tatler.com/article/james-pippa-matthews-backlash-blocking-off-public-footpath-berkshire-estate" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spat</a> with residents after putting up &#8220;No Trespassing&#8221; signs on a riverside path within their estate that&#8217;s loved by locals. Eeeek!</p>



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



<p>The easy peasy transport links are a huge part of the appeal here. Within minutes find yourself on the A34 and M4 with straight links to London. Kintbury also has its very own train station making for a breezy commute direct into London Paddington and Reading. Grab a season ticket from £6524.</p>



<p><em>View the full&nbsp;<a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/">Top 260 Best Places to Live</a></em>.</p>


Kintbury

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