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Windsor Castle, Windsor

Companionship careBerkshire

Days out in Berkshire for an older parent

Eight places in Berkshire that make a good day out for an older parent, from Windsor Castle to Hungerford. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated October 2026

Windsor Castle. Photo: Diliff, CC BY 2.5

Eight days out across six towns

The best places to take an older parent in Berkshire

Five of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for three describes a step-free route, and three confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Windsor Castle, Windsor

Photo: Diliff, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Windsor

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and a working royal residence, with the State Apartments, St George's Chapel and Queen Mary's Dolls' House open to visitors. The Changing of the Guard takes place on set days in the castle precincts.

The walk up from the town and within the grounds is uphill with limited seating, but there are platform lifts and ramps for step-free routes, and access companions get a free ticket.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry, access companions free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Windsor

Museum of English Rural Life, Reading

Photo: The Museum of English Rural Life, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Reading

Museum of English Rural Life

The Museum of English Rural Life, run by the University of Reading, tells the story of farming and country life in England through wagons, tools, crafts and everyday objects. There is a garden, a shop and a café in the Victorian building on Redlands Road.

The main entrance is step-free with a push-button door, there are lifts and level access to all public spaces including the café, and disabled parking bays sit in front of the museum.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free, suggested donation

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Reading

Reading Museum, Reading

Photo: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Reading

Reading Museum

Reading Museum is in the Victorian Town Hall in the centre of Reading and tells the story of the town, including Reading Abbey and the Huntley and Palmers biscuit factory. It also holds a full-size Victorian copy of the Bayeux Tapestry.

The galleries are accessible for wheelchair users with a lift to the upper floors, seating throughout and portable stools to borrow, and there is an accessible toilet behind reception.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Admission is free

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Reading

Dinton Pastures Country Park, Hurst

Photo: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Hurst

Dinton Pastures Country Park

Dinton Pastures is a large country park near Wokingham made up of lakes, meadows and woodland around the River Loddon, with bird hides and waymarked walks. There is a café by the main car park.

The park runs a free mobility scooter scheme for visitors who find walking hard, and there are public and accessible toilets near the main car park and activity centre.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Hurst

Shaw House, Newbury

Photo: Dave.Dunford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Newbury

Shaw House

Shaw House is an Elizabethan mansion on the edge of Newbury, built in 1581 and later used as a school, now run by West Berkshire Heritage. Its rooms tell the story of the house and its owners, and it sits in open grounds with free parking.

The house is accessible for wheelchair users with a lift to all floors, accessible toilets inside and marked disabled bays in front of the building.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry, free parking

What their access information confirms

  • Blue Badge parking

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Newbury

Donnington Castle, Newbury

Photo: Tabletop123, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Newbury

Donnington Castle

Donnington Castle is the ruin of a 14th century castle just north of Newbury, of which the tall twin-towered gatehouse survives. The earthworks around it were built to defend the castle during the Civil War siege.

It is free, but the castle is up a fairly steep gravel path from the car park and the ground is uneven, so it suits a parent who is steady on their feet, or a view from the bottom of the hill.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Newbury

Stanley Spencer Gallery, Cookham

Photo: Lagosman, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gallery · Cookham

Stanley Spencer Gallery

The Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham village shows paintings and drawings by the artist, who lived in Cookham and painted it throughout his life. The gallery is in a former chapel on the High Street, a short walk from the Thames.

The gallery says all areas are accessible to disabled visitors, and it is small enough to see in an hour before lunch in the village.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Cookham

Hungerford, Hungerford

Photo: David Purchase, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Market town · Hungerford

Hungerford

Hungerford is a small market town in West Berkshire known for its antique shops, a weekly Wednesday charter market and independent shops along the High Street. The Kennet and Avon Canal runs through the town, with a towpath and wharf close to the centre.

The High Street and canal wharf are close together, so a carer can plan a short browse and a sit-down in a café without long walks.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Hungerford

Regular groups and events in Berkshire

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Berkshire.

  • Gardening · NewburySnowdrop season at Welford ParkWelford Park opens its grounds for a few weeks in late winter when the snowdrops are out under the beech trees. A carer can book ahead, take the visit slowly and add tea at the house afterwards.Details
  • Music · NewburyNewbury Spring FestivalA long-running annual festival each May, with classical, jazz and world music concerts in Newbury and in churches and country houses around west Berkshire. A carer can pick a single daytime or church concert, book early for accessible seating and handle the driving.Details
  • Fishing · NewburyNewbury Angling AssociationA club of around 700 members holding river and lake waters around Newbury, with annual membership rather than day tickets for non-guests. A carer can carry the tackle, set up the seat and keep a flask going through a few hours at the waterside.Details
  • Photography · MaidenheadMaidenhead Camera ClubA long-established club with evening meetings, talks from visiting photographers and print competitions through the season. A carer can drive to meetings, help load images for competitions and take notes from the talks.Details
  • Painting · ReadingReading Guild of ArtistsA local artists' guild running an annual exhibition that has now passed its ninetieth year, along with members' events. A carer can help with getting work framed and delivered, or simply take the person to see the show.Details
  • Reading · ReadingReading Home Library ServiceA borough library service that delivers books and audiobooks to residents who cannot get to a branch themselves. A carer can help set up the service, talk through what to request next and read aloud when eyesight or concentration is tiring.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Berkshire

At a glance

The eight places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
Windsor CastleWindsorhalf a dayPaid entryAskAskAsk
Museum of English Rural LifeReadingan hour or twoFreeYesYesYes
Reading MuseumReadingan hour or twoFreeYesYesAsk
Dinton Pastures Country ParkHursthalf a dayFreeAskYesYes
Shaw HouseNewburyan hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
Donnington CastleNewburyan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Stanley Spencer GalleryCookhaman hour or twoPaid entryYesAskAsk
HungerfordHungerfordhalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Berkshire

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

AscotLambournThatchamMaidenheadSandhurstSloughWokingham12345678
  1. 1Windsor Castle, Windsor
  2. 2Museum of English Rural Life, Reading
  3. 3Reading Museum, Reading
  4. 4Dinton Pastures Country Park, Hurst
  5. 5Shaw House, Newbury
  6. 6Donnington Castle, Newbury
  7. 7Stanley Spencer Gallery, Cookham
  8. 8Hungerford, Hungerford

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Berkshire

Carers in Berkshire charge £19 to £24 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £20, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £80 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Berkshire has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Berkshire

Windsor Castle in Windsor, Museum of English Rural Life in Reading, Reading Museum in Reading, Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst, Shaw House in Newbury, Donnington Castle in Newbury, Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham and Hungerford in Hungerford. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for Museum of English Rural Life, Reading Museum and Stanley Spencer Gallery describes a step-free route. Museum of English Rural Life, Reading Museum and Dinton Pastures Country Park have an accessible toilet. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Museum of English Rural Life, Reading Museum, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Donnington Castle and Hungerford. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 30 of the carers with a rate near Berkshire drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Berkshire shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Berkshire

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Berkshire

Days out in the areas around Berkshire

Companionship care by town in Berkshire

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in Berkshire

See carers near Berkshire who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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