What Is Living In Bracknell Like? A Guide To Bracknell

Last Updated: October 2024

Where is Bracknell?

Bracknell is a large town in Berkshire and the administrative centre of the borough of Bracknell Forest. It is located 11 miles of Reading, 9 miles away from Maidenhead and 10 Miles from Windsor. There are two rivers that run through Bracknell Forest; Blackwater and Cut and it is known for its exceptional wildlife. There is also easy access to London, with it being only 25 miles away.

Is Bracknell a Nice Place to Live?

Bracknell is known as a commuter town, which makes it a good place to live if you work in the city but don’t want to actually live there. If you’re asking “is Bradford a good place to live?” and if you have a family, then the answer is yes! There are plenty of family-friendly things to do there. There is the very popular Coral Reef Waterworld and South Hill Park that contains various attractions and leisure facilities all set in a fabulous mansion house. Not to forget that London is only 30 miles away, so you would have easy access to all the sights that London has to offer.

Bracknell Population

As of 2023, Bracknell has an estimated population of around 125,183.

Is Bracknell Safe?

Bracknell is quite a safe city, the overall crime rate in 2021 was 64 crimes per 1,000 people, this is 15% than Berkshire’s overall crime rate. There were 2,543 violence and sexual offences reported during 2021 which is 20% higher than 2020’s figures of 2,127 crimes.

Looking at an average month in Bracknell there are roughly around 370 crimes reported, the majority of which took place in the south and 140 taking place in the town centre. The most common crimes reported are violence and sexual offences, which made up 53 of the total crimes. The second most common is criminal damage and arson which made up 18 of the crimes reported.

Average House Prices in Bracknell

The average house cost over the past year is around £428,338. If you have a higher budget for your home. then with a house price average of £682,150 look at our Windsor area guide and you might find your dream home.

The following shows the average property cost in Bracknell:

House Pricing by Property Type

Detached- £696,235

Semi-detached- £443,910

Terraced-£354,265

Flats- £230,996

Renting in Bracknell

The following shows how much a rental property costs in Bracknell:

Room – £550

Flat – £1,378

House – £2,247

Average Property Rental Cost Per Room (PCM):

1 bed –  £1,300

2 beds – £1,455

3 beds – £1,859

4 beds – £2,566

History and Landmarks

Coral Reef Waterworld

Coral Reef Waterworld is one of the UKs largest interactive water facilities. There is a large range of activities to get involved in the water, as well as dry activities for those not wanting to get wet. There are waterslides, a pirate ship and even an erupting volcano! There is also an adult only spa for those looking to relax and unwind. The main pool has a host of ways to entertain you and the family, there are rapids, a bubble pool, as well as a little corals area for children. Older children can enjoy 5 waterslides, while the under 5s can enjoy smaller slides in the Coral pool. The pirate slide is also a popular attraction that features water cannons and slides.

South Hill Park Arts Centre

Set in a beautiful 18th century mansion house, South Hill Park Art Centre contains two theatres, a dance studio, creative spaces and a cinema. South Hill Parks hosts over 300 shows, events and films every year, as well as putting on 250 courses and workshops. There is something for everyone with a huge range of entertainment. Big-name comedians often do their warm up gigs here, so it’s a great place to catch your favourite names. The theatres are full of in-house dramas and the annual pantomime. There are also a number of food and musical festivals hosted in the grounds that you can attend for free and a craft fair in November.

Travelling in Bracknell

All the buses in Bracknell are fitted with tracking technology as they drive along their routes, this means you are able to access extremely accurate times, as to when they will arrive at your stop. You are also able to purchase a ‘PlusBus’ ticket, which combines bus and rail travel. It allows unlimited local bus travel around Bracknell on both ends of your train journey.

You can catch South West trains in Bracknell at the two local stations Bracknell and Martins Heron, trains go to Reading and London Waterloo and all the stations in-between.

Best Places to eat in Bracknell

The Old Hatchet Pub and Restaurant

This 16th century English country pub is perfect for those looking for a pub grub. There are flagstone floors and open fires, so you can enjoy your food in beautiful surroundings. They source all their meat and fish from local suppliers, so you can be sure all the food is as fresh as it comes. There is also changing daily specials and on a Sunday, you can treat yourself to a delicious roast with all the trimmings.

Blue’s Smokehouse

This isn’t your average restaurant, you will literally need to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in. This is one spectacular, messy, glorious American food fest. You’ll find all the smokehouse favourites inspired by flavours from Southern America. There is a traditional smoker on site, where your food will be cooked for hours over hickory wood. The atmosphere is laid back and relaxed, so it’s a great spot for families and friends looking for a good time.

Shopping in Bracknell

There are many shopping opportunities in Bracknell town. A great place for those looking for a retail fix, is The Lexicon, it has more than 100 fashion and beauty brands, as well as a cinema and restaurants and cafes. Stores include; Accessorise, Cath Kidston, Fenwick, H&M, New Look, Next as well as many more.

Hotels in Bracknell

Coppid Beech

This hotel is located 2 miles from the centre, just off the M4 motorway. The hotel features 2 bars, leisure facilities and luxury 4-star bedrooms. Your room will have free Wi-Fi, a seating area and a selection of rooms have a private terrace. There is a Wellness Fitness Club where you will find a gym, swimming pool, hot tub and sauna. For those looking for a party there is even a nightclub on site! The hotel eatery, Rowan’s Restaurant, serves a fun and varied menu, whereas as the other option is The Keller, which serves traditional pub grub.

Stirrups Hotel

Set in 10 acres of stunning grounds, in the heart of the Thames Valley, Stirrups hotel offers a traditional welcome. Its owned and run by a family and with this comes a personal touch. There are 30 luxury bedrooms that have all the mod cons, while still maintaining the traditional homey feel. You’ll find open fireplaces, exposed wood beams with low ceilings, as well as a lovely colourful garden. There is an on-site restaurant that offers modern as well as traditional food options and an expensive wine list.

Easthampstead Park

This hotel has a 24 hour front desk, so you can check in anytime of the day or night, as well as luggage storage and free Wi-Fi. Every room features a desk, flat-screen television and an en-suite bathroom. You are able to have a full English/Irish breakfast in the morning and the hotel has a terrace and a conference centre. The nearest airport is London Heathrow Airport, 26.7 miles from the hotel.

Top 10 Things to do in Bracknell

1. The Look Out Discovery Centre
2. South Hill Park Arts Centre & Wilde Theatre
3. Lily Hill Park
4. The Lexicon
5. Coral Reef Waterworld
6. Whoosh Play Centre
7. Bill Hill Ancient Monument
8. John Nike Leisuresport Complex
9. Mill Pond
10. Hedgehog Park

Need a Locksmith in Bracknell?

When moving into a new home changing the locks is vital as you never know how many keys are out there and risk the keys falling into the wrong hands. Arrange for a Locksmith to come and fit a new lock the day you get your keys to provide you with peace of mind. We at Keytek® Locksmiths Bracknell provide a professional local mobile Locksmith service complying with British Standard and Home Insurance policies to ensure your home is as secure as can be! What’s more is all our customers benefit from a FREE home security check on site to ensure your home is as secure as can be!

There are many other things you need to consider when moving home so check out our Moving Home Checklist to help you along the way! Once you’re in, consider improving the security of your home further still by checking out our Ultimate Guide to Home Security here!

View our Keytek® Locksmiths Bracknell page to find your local Locksmith today or call us on 01908 047885!

Check out some of our other local area guides including: Reading, Belfast, Deeside, Nayland and Whitworth!