"Finchampstead - Berkshire" Finchampstead by easyoar

Finchampstead Travel Guide: 14 reviews and 15 photos

Finchampstead Playing Fields - Finchampstead

Over the years Finchampstead seems to have got bigger and bigger, and these days it is hard to identify exactly where it starts and where it finishes. Around 25 years ago Finchampstead was little more than "the village", which was little more than the row of houses by the playing fields and playground, and around to Finchampstead church which is on top of the hill overlooking the playing fields, and possibly as far as Gorse Ride. Then around 20 years ago a largish estate of houses got built outside of this area, and this became North Finchampstead. These days North Finchampstead seems to have stretched all the way to the Queensmere Roundabout on the A321 and Nine Mile Ride Roads, although some of this area is Finchampstead Wokingham as the distinction between the two towns becomes vaguer. This latter area is also know as Wokingham Without (a historical name), but has more recently been interpreted as being the part of Wokingham without any shops, playgrounds or amenities of any sort - even a local pub got turned into apartments around 2002-2003.

A fairly recent phenomena is the emergence of the Finchampstead Large Cat - on the internet it is also known as the Wokingham Big Cat, see:
http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/story.asp?intid=2070

However never having seen any evidence of this despite knowing the local woodland quite well, I will stay neutral as to the existence of this cat!

Sites well worth seeing in the area (see my tips for more details) are The Fichampstead Ridges, St James' Church, Wellingtonia Avenue with the Californian Redwood Giants, Simons Wood and Heath Lake and Finchampstead Playing Fields, where you can watch a game of cricket on a summer evening.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Largely peaceful and sleepy
Cons:Very few amenities. Is there a big cat?
In a nutshell:A peaceful place to live

Intro Updated Oct 31, 2004
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Reviews (14)

Corus Hotel in Bracknell, ahem Crowthorne actually - Finchampstead

Probably the nearest good hotel to... Hotels (2)

To my knowledge, there are no hotels in Finchampstead. This is probably the nearest decent hotel. It claims to be in... more travel advice

Entrance to the Caravan and Campsite - Finchampstead

Camping/Caravaning Hotels (2)

I have been thinking long and hard as to whether there is even a hotel in Finchampstead. So far I have drawn a... more travel advice

Robin Off The Beaten Path (3)

This is the European species of Robin. This stays in England all they way through the winter and does not migrate. It is... more travel advice

Coot Off The Beaten Path (3)

This coot was at California Country park in Finchampstead. I have seen them on several lakes in the area, and they tend... more travel advice

Things to Do (8)
See All Heathlake - a manmade sanctuary

Restaurants (1)
Friendly Old Pub with a Great Beer...

Comments (16)

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JeffBoughton Oct 13, 2010 at 12:13 PM

The pub is The Queens Oak; and is the only one in the UK with that name. I live in the village and can recommend it for good beer and excellent food.
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johncudw Feb 3, 2008 at 7:51 AM

Nice photos and tips of a nice English village. Greetings from John and Gail Cudworth in NJ
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AnitaJRT Jan 22, 2006 at 11:06 AM

Lovely photo -- you have a great "eye" -- thanks for sharing!
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evaanna Jul 18, 2005 at 10:23 AM

Charming place and beautiful pictures of nature.
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LoriPori Jun 28, 2005 at 5:04 AM

Another lovely town. Love the Robin picture - very different from our Robins.
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craic Jun 16, 2005 at 6:09 PM

So one tit is all right but two are a no go. Great page.
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tiger9090a May 8, 2005 at 2:31 AM

I love those small towns in the UK! Great job!
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matcrazy1 Apr 25, 2005 at 1:47 PM

It looks like little, empty, charming and sleepy destination.
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Dabs Apr 15, 2005 at 1:31 PM

I can easily say you have the best page on VT on Finchampstead ;-)
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b1bob Mar 13, 2005 at 10:06 AM

Nice small town page. You'll have to show me around there some time.