Places to visit on a foodie break in Berkshire

Pangbourne inspired writers such as D.H. Lawrence and The Wind in the Willows author Kenneth Grahame. Today it's a charming place to potter among independent boutiques, cafes and restaurants set around the ribbon of the River Thames, winding through the town.

Taste a slice of authentic Sri Lankan culture at this riverside restaurant in Reading, inspired by a blend of family recipes and Sri Lankan street food vendors. A must-order are hoppers – delicate savoury pancakes – and three small plates each, such as creamy kaju maluwa (cashew) coconut curry and hot, polenta-battered button mushrooms with spicy caramelised onions. Yum!

Take to the water aboard one of Hobbs of Henley’s sleek and fully electric launches. You won’t startle wildlife with this environmentally friendly cruise along Henley Reach. Each vessel seats up to six passengers and can be hired by the hour or the day. Some even come with Bluetooth sound systems. We suggest playing ‘Sail Away’ by David Gray…

One of the oldest wine producers in England, Stanlake Park Wine Estate is a sprawl of vineyards in Twyford near Reading. Here you can try romantic wine tastings for two in the Berkshire countryside and learn all about the wine making process, with a pit stop at the excitingly named ‘fizz’ room. You’ll taste six separate wines, including white, rosé, red and sparkling. What’s not to like?

One of the best Michelin-starred restaurants in Berkshire, Alain Roux's Waterside Inn has a whopping three stars with, you guessed it, a dreamy waterside setting. It ain’t cheap but you’ll dine decadently on French fine-dining classics such as seared Orkney scallops with lime and sweetcorn, or golden plum soufflé. Twelve bright rooms above mean you can toddle upstairs when sated. We’re inn…

After a Continental buttery-pastry-filled breakfast at the Waterside, served in the comfort of your room, you’ll need to build up an appetite for today’s fine-dining mission. We’ve got the solution in the form of a gentle walk around Bray Lake. Follow the 2.5km route around the water’s edge, soaking up the scenic, tree-lined views of what must be one of the sweetest spots in Berkshire.

Now for another three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Berkshire. Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck has been a famous local landmark since it opened in a 16th-century building in 1995. Once known for dishes such as snail porridge, creative menus at this eccentric Berkshire gastro pub now include the likes of Topsy Turvy, which begins with a caramel ‘edible wrapper’, and ends with nitro-poached aperitifs. Look out, Willy Wonka.

Explore Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world and one of King Charles’ official residences. We’ve all seen the crowd-pleasing royal weddings at St George’s Chapel – then there are the regal State Rooms and Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House. Don’t miss the Changing of the Guard ceremony!

Keep things regal with a trip to The Savill Garden at the heart of Windsor Great Park in Egham. One of Britain's greatest ornamental gardens, this inspiring collection of gardens and woodland was commissioned by George V in 1932. Stop by the Queen Elizabeth Temperate House, the Golden Jubilee Garden and the Rose Garden, opened by Queen Elizabeth II in July 2010. We love the year-round blooms, from Himalayan flowers to fragrant roses.

Founded in 1711, Ascot racecourse is rich in history and heritage. It’s famed for horse-racing events throughout the year, particularly Royal Ascot each June. Keeping Berkshire’s culinary standards, dining ranges from menus by Michelin-starred chefs to less formal – but still fancy – three-course menus on an Ascot race day.