Bray (England)

village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire

Bray or Bray on Thames is a village in Berkshire, England. It is notable for being the home of two of Britain's best restaurants.

St. Michael's church, something to look at on your post-meal stroll

Bray Studios was also where a number of Hammer Films' horror genre classics were filmed.

Get in

Bray is very close to Maidenhead. Windsor and Eton are also nearby.

By car

Head on the M4 and exit at junction 8, the A308(M) then leads to Bray.

By train and bus

Maidenhead is the nearest railway station, about 3 km from Bray. Windsor is also an option. Taxis are easy to find in either town.

Buses 6 and 6A run from Maidenhead Town Centre (Frascati Way, Stop S1), via Bray, to Windsor (Castle Hill, Stop C). Maidenhead to Bray takes 10 min; Windsor to Bray takes 40 min.

Get around

Bray is small and easily explored on foot.

See

🌍 Jesus Hospital, 1923 High St, Bray, SL6 2AN. Grade I almshouses and chapel founded by William Goddard 1609 with his statue above the entrance (updated Dec 2020)

🌍 St Michael's Church. Dates from 1293, contains several brasses from the 14th to 16th centuries (updated Oct 2016)

Do

Visit 🌍 Bray Lock, SL6 2BJ. Although it is smaller than its nearast counterpart, Boulter's Lock, it is sited in a picturesque area, perfect for walking along the river. (updated Apr 2021)

Buy

Eat

Bray is home to two of the UK's four three-Michelin-star restaurants. It has been a centre of high dining since the establishment of The Waterside Inn in the 1970s, later Britain's second three-Michelin-star restaurant (1985–present). Bray was put firmly on the gastronome's map by Heston Blumenthal and the molecular gastronomy he practices at The Fat Duck, also a three-Michelin-star restaurant (2004–present). The other two restaurants that hold three stars are in London.

🌍 The Fat Duck, 1 High Street, ☏ +44 1628 580333. Tu-Sa noon-2PM (last orders), 7PM-9PM (last orders). Run by molecular gastronomy pioneer Heston Blumenthal and famous for its inventively bizarre dishes including "snail porridge", "sardine on toast sorbet", and "salmon poached with liquorice". Reservations essential. Menus £95/125, plus optional wines £90/145/295. 

🌍 The Waterside Inn, Ferry Road (by the river), ☏ +44 1628 620691. W–Su noon - 2PM, 7PM-10PM; closed Jan. First 3-star Michelin restaurant serving French food of the highest order by established leaders of French cuisine in the UK. Reservations essential. Also offers accommodation from £220 per room per night. £45-160, excluding wine. 

Drink

🌍 The Hind's Head, High St, SL6 2AB, ☏ +44 1628 626 151. Gastropub (updated Apr 2021)

Sleep

🌍 Monkey Island Hotel (Monkey Island Estate), ☏ +44 1628 623400, . Modern rooms enclosed in a facade dating back to the 18th century. 

Connect

Go next

East along the Thames River or follow the A308 to Windsor 5 mi (8.0 km).

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