| The local area / The River Thames / Cookham / Marlow / Windsor / Henley / Oxford / London / Local RestaurantsThe local areaThe immediate area around Riverbank Cottage offers a wealth of scenic beauty, standing as it does on the edge of National Trust land and a nature reserve. In addition, there are many charming villages and riverside towns offering the visitor not only interesting shops, but a variety of pubs, restaurant and cafés to suit every taste and every pocket.The River ThamesNot only the most famous of England’s rivers, but also the most beautiful. Steeped in history, this part of the Thames has been described as the most picturesque of the whole river. Riverbank Cottage is ideally situated for walking the Thames Path – www.visitthames.co.uk Cookham( www.cookham.com) is a picturesque Berkshire village just 2 miles from Riverbank Cottage, famous for being the birthplace of the celebrated artist Sir Stanley Spencer who lived in the village for most of his life until his death in 1959. In addition to the gallery devoted to his paintings, Cookham has a host of excellent pubs and restaurants, together with many independently-run small shops offering everything from fashions to wines. Go 2 miles in the opposite direction to Cookham from Riverbank Cottage and you’ll come to the pleasing A town rich in over 1000 years of history where the home of Queen Elizabeth ll dominates the skyline. Windsor (www.windsor.gov.uk) offers fine dining, contemporary shopping and a long established theatre. Visitors can enjoy events such as the changing of the guard and the Windsor Arts Festival. Legoland is situated nearby as is the Ten miles from Spade Oak Reach lies the charming market town of Henley-on-Thames The ‘city of dreaming spires’ (www.oxfordcity.co.uk), world famous for over 800 years for its university and just 40 minutes drive away. It’s a bustling cosmopolitan city, with a mixture of the ancient and modern, and plenty for the The United Kingdom’s capital city with origins going back past the Romans to even earlier times. London (www.visitlondon.com) offers so much to the visitor – sightseeing, art galleries, opera, ballet, music and, of course, sport of all kinds from Premier Division football to the London Marathon. There is easy access into London by road from Spade Oak Reach, or if you prefer to go by train, then there are fast rail links from nearby Maidenhead or Cookham stations. | ||
| Local RestaurantsBel & the Dragon, Cookham – Modern British Cuisine 01628 521263The Ferry, Cookham (on the river) – Gastropub with meals and light snacks 01628 525123The King’s Arms, Cookham – Pub Restaurant serving good English food 01628 530667OTT Restaurant, Bourne End (on the river) – Fine English Cuisine 01628 531111 The Chequers, Cookham – Modern British Cuisine The Crown, Cookham – Traditional Pub Food The Jolly Farmer, Cookham Dean – Traditional, home-cooked food | ||