Trips & Tours

The Kennet Horse Boat Company

In today's hectic environment there is little time to appreciate the beauty of the countryside and the slower pace of yesteryear. The Kennet Horse Boat Company's canal cruises offer an opportunity to do just that.

Choose between the slow meandering of the motor barge and the sedate drifting of the horse drawn barge. Whichever takes your fancy, they can offer you a great day out.

The Horse Drawn Barge operates from Kintbury, daytime only. The Motor Barge operates from Newbury Wharf, daytime/evening.

Set in the beautiful surroundings of Berkshire's countryside on the Kennet and Avon canal you can step aboard, sit back and watch the world go by.

Floating Sensations

Floating Sensations Ltd is one of the longest established Hot Air Balloon Operators in England and the United Kingdom.

Operating predominantly within the vicinity of Newbury and Hungerford in Berkshire, Floating Sensations is dedicated to giving passengers' the chance to experience breath-taking views over the spectacular Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire countryside.

Floating Sensations flies a variety of different balloons, from their smallest six passenger balloon to their largest eleven passenger balloon, the experience of a balloon flight is truly a breath-taking experience.

Their dedicated team are highly experienced and will make your adventure highly enjoyable, whether you are the lucky passenger or a relative spectating, everyone can become involved if they want to.

Highclere Castle

Privately owned by the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, Highclere Castle is a Grade I listed building set in 7,000 acres of parkland and built at the pinnacle of extravagance during the Victorian era. Generations of devoted owners together with the successive skills of architects, craftsmen and landscape gardeners have ensured that the castle stands as a lasting tribute to our national heritage.

Summer 2009 will see the launch of an exciting new Egyptian exhibition. The castle cellars have been redeveloped firstly to display the family’s collection of Egyptian antiquities and secondly to take visitors through the 5th Earl’s path to the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Shaw House

Experience learning, enjoyment and inspiration at West Berkshire’s newest attraction, Shaw House near Newbury.

Built in 1581 by Newbury clothier Thomas Dolman this fine Elizabethan building was home to successive Dolman families, the flamboyant Duke of Chandos and the Andrews and Farquhar families. Shaw House then began a new life as a school for generations of local children. However in 1985 Shaw House was evacuated due to concerns about the structure of the building.

The most recent chapter in the Grade I listed building’s history began in 2005 when building contractors began the £6 million restoration following grants made by the Heritage Lottery Fund, local company Vodafone and English Heritage.

The stories and characters from Shaw House’s varied past are bought to life in the new exhibition. In 2009 a special exhibition “Peeling Back the Years” focuses on historic wallpaper used at the house and explains the recreation of two stunning schemes from the late 1720s and the 1750s.

During your visit you will wander through the most significant historic rooms of the house. They are unfurnished as nothing remained after Shaw ceased to be a family home but as one of the most significant historic properties in the County there is still much to appreciate. Shaw House is ideal for families; the Wheelie Do activities are located throughout the open rooms, with activities from designing the gardens to playing the Civil War board game.

To complete your visit don’t miss the Café and the Gift Shop which stocks something for all visitors from nostalgic ex-pupils to younger visitors and those with a sweet tooth!

The main areas at Shaw House are accessible to wheelchair users and appropriate parking and toilet facilities are available.