Pictures of Bray

a Picturesque Village in the county of Berkshire

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About Bray

Bray is a pretty place lying on a bend of the Thames a short distance from Monkey Island where there was once a fishing lodge belonging to the Dukes of Marlborough.

This delightful place was made famous by the "Singing Vicar" of the 17th and early 18th century who declared vocally "Whatsoever King shall reign, I'll be the Vicar of Bray, Sir" and he was. The Vicar was quite probably Simon Aleyn, who survived several reigns and changed from Catholic to Protestant twice. He held the living in the 16th century and lies buried in the churchyard.

The church is well worth seeing, it is quite picturesque with a 15th century gatehouse and a churchyard littered with the graves and tombs of several centuries. Its history is thought to date back to the 11th or 12th century, when it was in the ownership of the Abbot of Cirencester.

Bray is a pleasant, very pleasurable little place with a delightful mix of attractive properties. Further upstream close to Bray Lock visitors to the village will note charming expensive properties belonging to noted wealthy people, this stretch is sometimes referred to as "Millionaire's Row".

The Fishing Lodge on nearby Monkey Island was once inhabited by George III who was banished here during one of his mad rages, but since 1840 the building has been a luxury hotel popular with the aristocracy and high society. Edward VII and Queen Alexandra visited, and H.G.Wells and Rebecca West were frequent guests, it was here that Miss West set her first novel - The Return of the Soldier.

At nearby Cookham is one of the loveliest reaches of the River Thames, this is overlooked by Cliveden, a magnificent three hundred year old mansion which was the home of the famous Astor family and the setting for 20th century scandal and intrigue.

In 2005 Bray won the Small Village award in the Britain in Bloom competition.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Bray

Dorney Court	(1.4 miles, 2.2 km, direction E)	Pictures
Cliveden	(3.5 miles, 5.6 km, direction N)	Pictures
Legoland, Windsor	(3.6 miles, 5.8 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Bisham Abbey N.S.C	(4.8 miles, 7.8 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Windsor Castle	(4.9 miles, 7.8 km, direction E)	Pictures
Bekonscot Model Village	(7.7 miles, 12.3 km, direction N)	Pictures
Virginia Water Lake	(7.7 miles, 12.3 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Valley Gardens	(7.7 miles, 12.4 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Dinton Pastures Country Park	(8.9 miles, 14.2 km, direction SW)	Pictures
The Chantry House	(8.9 miles, 14.4 km, direction W)	Pictures
Fawley Court	(9.0 miles, 14.5 km, direction W)	Pictures
Denham Country Park	(10.2 miles, 16.4 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Hughenden Manor	(10.3 miles, 16.6 km, direction N)	Pictures
Thorpe Park	(10.7 miles, 17.3 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Lightwater Country Park	(10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction S)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Bray

Burnham in the county of Buckinghamshire (2.6 miles, 4.2 km, direction NE)
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Windsor in the county of Berkshire (4.2 miles, 6.7 km, direction SE)
Windsor, or rather Royal Windsor, is a seductive mix of history and romance with a unique atmosphere. It is a place where the...
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Eton in the county of Berkshire (4.3 miles, 6.9 km, direction E)
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Marlow in the county of Buckinghamshire (5.6 miles, 8.9 km, direction NW)
Marlow developed into a thriving town from a small community situated at the side of the River Thames.
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Stoke Poges in the county of Buckinghamshire (5.8 miles, 9.4 km, direction NE)
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Beaconsfield in the county of Buckinghamshire (7.0 miles, 11.3 km, direction N)
On arrival in Beaconsfield you are immediately struck by the spaciousness of its wide streets and the wonderful show of Victorian buildings and houses in the main street.
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Hambleden in the county of Buckinghamshire (8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction NW)
Hambleden is an attractive village set in the valley of the Chilterns, close to the River Thames. It has a "Picture-Postcard" image with pretty flint and stone cottages spread out around the church.
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High Wycombe in the county of Buckinghamshire (8.6 miles, 13.9 km, direction N)
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Henley on Thames in the county of Oxfordshire (8.7 miles, 14.0 km, direction W)
Henley held the very first regatta in 1839 and in the year 1851 Prince Albert became Patron of the Regatta, thus giving the event the pretigious title of Royal Henley Regatta.
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Woodley in the county of Berkshire (8.9 miles, 14.2 km, direction SW)
There is much to do with England's great aviation history in the County of Berkshire, and at Woodley visitors will find the...
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Sonning on Thames in the county of Berkshire (9.5 miles, 15.3 km, direction W)
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Denham in the county of Buckinghamshire (9.9 miles, 16.0 km, direction NE)
This picturesque village is set in rich wooded countryside. It was mentioned in the Doomsday Book, and it has many attractive...
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Amersham in the county of Buckinghamshire (12.3 miles, 19.8 km, direction N)
Amersham is one of those towns where with one cast of the eye, you immediately know that this is a place with a long history for...
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Reading in the county of Berkshire (12.4 miles, 19.9 km, direction W)
This town lies on the extremities of the Berkshire Downs and the Chiltern Hills at a point where the waters of the rivers Thames and Kennet meet making the River Thames a major river for the rest of its journey to the sea.
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Rickmansworth in the county of Hertfordshire (13.3 miles, 21.5 km, direction NE)
This is a lovely old town where three rivers meet, it has lakes and watermeadows, and during the 20th-century was known for...
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Nearby travel help

M5 Junction 8/9	(1.1 miles, 1.8 km, direction SW)
Maidenhead Station	(1.2 miles, 1.9 km, direction NW)
Taplow Station	(1.4 miles, 2.2 km, direction NE)
A404(M) Junction 9A	(1.6 miles, 2.6 km, direction W)
London Heathrow Airport	(11.1 miles, 17.8 km, direction E)
Bray to London	(24.8 miles, 39.9 km, direction E)
London Luton Airport	(29.1 miles, 46.8 km, direction NE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Bray

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Bray center
Monkey Island Hotel	(0.6 miles, 0.9 km)
The Thames Riviera	(1.1 miles, 1.8 km)
Holiday Inn Maidenhead Windsor	(1.3 miles, 2.0 km, direction W)
The Thames Hotel	(1.3 miles, 2.1 km, direction N)
Taplow House Hotel & Restaurant	(1.5 miles, 2.4 km, direction N)
Kingswood Hotel And Restaurant	(1.6 miles, 2.6 km, direction NW)
Elva Lodge Hotel	(1.6 miles, 2.6 km, direction NW)
Walton Cottage Hotel	(1.6 miles, 2.6 km, direction NW)
Grovefield House Hotel	(2.6 miles, 4.3 km, direction NE)
Copthorne Hotel Slough Windsor	(3.8 miles, 6.1 km, direction E)
All hotels in Bray