About Newbury

One of Newbury's major attractions is its world famous racecourse, which has hosted both flat and National Hunt horse racing for over a century. Most renowned for being the venue for the annual Hennessy Gold Cup race, Newbury Racecourse is one of the country's most prestigious courses, even boasting its own railway station and light aircraft landing strip.

Of the many fine green open spaces around the town, perhaps the best and certainly the most frequented by the public is Victoria Park. Featuring many attractions such as a large boating lake, tennis courts, a busy skate-park and a traditional Victoria bandstand, the park plays host to several major events and festivals throughout the summer months, the best known of which is the Keep Off The Grass music festival that draws in thousands of music lovers.

Among the many historic buildings and churches in and around Newbury, one of particular note is Donnington Castle just outside the town. This ruined medieval castle is a fine example of fourteenth century fortifications even though only a part of the original structure remains. Situated on top of a hill overlooking the Kennet Valley, the views of the surrounding Berkshire countryside from the summit of the castle's towers are spectacular.

The town is home to one of the country's few remaining lidos, which has been operational since the late nineteenth century and is capable of accommodating up to one thousand visitors a day and is immensely popular during the summer months.