A picturesque river village so magical it inspired a literary classic has been named one of the top places to live in the UK – a member of the royal family was also raised there
Just a 45 minute commute from London lies a charming village where residents are blessed with picture perfect views, boutique shops and a thriving community atmosphere.
Pangbourne in rural Berkshire sits on the banks of the River Thames, with the River Pang flowing through the village centre. The beautiful waterside scenery gives the small residential area its unique character and appeal which has attracted the well-heeled, celebrities and even a royal over the years.
It is the place where authors DH Lawrence and Kenneth Grahame lived, with the latter choosing to see out his days there before his death in 1932.
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The famous illustrations by E H Shepherd in his classic novel The Wind in the Willows were said to have been heavily influenced by the pretty landscape, with the character of Ratty apparently based on the river water voles.
English rock band Led Zeppelin was also born there after guitarist Jimmy Page moved to Pangbourne in the 1960s. He met Robert Plant in the village and they would rehearse in Page’s Victorian boathouse home, which you can still visit today.
It seems that the village certainly hasn’t lost any of its lure either. It is often named as one of the best places in the UK to live thanks to its amenities. There are plenty of cafes and pubs that take advantage of the unique location.
The newly refurbished Swan sits at the edge of the river and has plenty of outside seating for customers to enjoy the views. When it comes to restaurants, The Cross Keys offers gastropub style grub while The Herd at The Elephant Hotel receives top reviews.
When it comes to retail therapy, Pangbourne has some unique, independent, boutique style shops to peruse as well as an artisan bakery, an award-winning butchers and specialty cheese shop. Larger high street stores and supermarkets can be found in the nearby town of Reading which is just a short car journey or train ride away.
This is also where residents head when the mercury rises to cool off in the water at the Thames Lido in its 25m outdoor pool. There are saunas and a hot tub for those who want a more relaxing experience, as well as massages in the spa and a poolside restaurant serving seasonal, locally sourced produce. Reading is also the home of The Hexagon Theatre where you can catch West End shows and big name comedians.
Other nearby attractions are the National Trust Basildon Park, which you may recognise from Downton Abbey, Bridgerton or Pride and Prejudice and Beale Wildlife Park, which is a few miles outside the village.
It’s home to over 160 species of birds and animals from lemurs to lynx. For those wanting to make the most of the water, Adventure Dolphin offers lessons in paddle boarding and kayaking.
Community is important in Pangbourne and its population of just under 3,000 are close knit. The parish council puts on plenty of local events, including sports clubs for children, an annual fireworks display, village fete and weekly market.
The schools in the area are a mixture of state and private and have excellent academic results. Princess Kate attended the local prep, St Andrews School for nine years and described her time there as “the happiest years of my life”.
If after all that you’re thinking you may fancy relocating to Pangbourne, which also benefits from a low crime rate, you’ll need a fair amount of capital behind you. According to Rightmove, the average house price over the last year was £770,891.
The majority of properties sold were detached with an average price of £1,380,727. Terraced properties sold for an average of £446,944, with semi-detached properties fetching £495,143.
