18 Fun Things To Do in Berkshire for Adults
There are so many exciting things to do in Berkshire - indoor activities such as escape rooms or a brewery tour, and outdoor activities set in the beautiful Berkshire countryside, such as bungee jumping and falconry experiences.
So if you're looking for something different to do in Berkshire with your friends, read on...
Puzzalogical Escape Rooms
You can choose between physical escape rooms and two different sorts of virtual experiences at Puzzalogical in Bracknell.They have three great physical escape rooms - Pharoah's Mystery, Prison Break and The Secret of the Vault (with another one coming soon).
These rooms are made for groups of 2 to 6 people, and if your group is bigger than 6, Puzzalogical can run multiple rooms at the same time, so everyone can play!
If you'd prefer to be whisked away to exotic locations in a VR headset, Puzzlogical have 6 VR escape adventures to choose from including: the Depths of Osiris, Space Station Siberia, and Pirates Plague.
Alternatively, if you'd like a traditional shoot-em-up-style VR game rather than an escape room, Puzzlogical have 4 to choose from: Arrow Song (bows and arrows), Dead Ahead (zombie apocalypse), Laserbots (for younger players) and Quantum Arena (lasertag).You'll find Puzzlogical in the Town Square right in the heart of Bracknell.
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot is famous for the glamour and prestige of "Royal Ascot", but it has lots of other exciting horse race meetings throughout the year.
Ascot holds both jump racing days and flat racing days, so you can sample either depending on which meeting you choose.There are elevated viewing stands, with associated catering options, or you can choose to watch the racing from the trackside lawn viewing areas.
Royal Ascot in June is the jewel in the crown of the Ascot racing season - five days of some of the best racing in the country!Skate (or Climb!) at the Slough Ice Arena
The Slough Ice Arena is great for all types of ice skating, but it's also great if you want to climb with your friends!
The full-size ice rink is available for group lessons or public skating sessions - and if you're an experienced skater, you can even book advanced figure skating lessons.There are two different climbing walls at the Slough Ice Arena - the Clip 'n Climb area for beginner climbers, and the new top-rope wall for those who want more of a challenge.https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/slough-ice-arena/
Top of the Pots
You can show your inner creativity with your friends at a fun pottery decorating session at Top of the Pots.
All you need to do is book a table at the studio, and Laura and her staff will help you choose which of their pottery items to paint. You just pay for the item you choose - no extra costs involved.Once you have decorated your pottery, it will be glazed and fired in the kiln by Top of the Pots, ready for collection around 7 days later.
Top of the Pots can be found in the Moss End Garden Village near Warfield - there's plenty of parking and a coffee shop nearby, so you can make a great morning or afternoon of it.https://www.topofthepots.co.uk/
Cineworld Cinema Bracknell
You can see all of the latest movie blockbusters in the latest formats at the state-of-the-art Cineworld Cinema in Bracknell.
There are 12 screens - all of which are fully accessible - so you will have a huge array of films to choose from! They have many different formats - 2D, HFR, Real 3D and 4DX.The latest 4DX screen gives you a fully immersive experience, with the addition of synchronised real-world effects such as moving chairs, rain, wind, fog, scent and more! You'll really feel that you're in the centre of the action.
The Bracknell Cineworld is in the Lexicon Shopping Centre in Bracknell, just off the M3 and M4. It's easy to get to from Slough, Reading, Windsor and Wokingham, with easy-to-find parking a short walk away.https://www.cineworld.co.uk/cinemas/bracknell/107#/
Windsor and Eton Brewery Tour
If you'd like to find out how beer is made (and get a chance to sample it!), book on to the Duke Street Experience tour at the Windsor and Eton Brewery.
The tour runs every Saturday at 12:30 and 15:00 and lasts for around 90 minutes.You'll learn about the history of beer making in Windsor, and you'll take a walk around the brewery to observe the machines and equipment in action.
You'll be able to sample the raw materials and the finished product!The tour includes a generous range of beers to sample, so it looks like great value at only £25 per person.
https://www.webrew.co.uk/brewery-tours/
BCA Zoo
A trip to the BCA Zoo near Maidenhead is a zoo visit with a difference! It's not a normal zoo where you wander around the whole site - at the BCA Zoo you choose your animal encounter, and you concentrate on the animals you want to see!
There are three main encounters to choose from: the Meerkat Encounter (sit in the Meerkat enclosure and let them encounter you, and come face to face with the resident porcupine!), the Mini-primate Encounter and the Reptile Encounter.More generalised encounters are also available, such as the three-hour Zookeeper Experience and the 45-minute Zoo Tour.
BCA Zoo is part of the Berkshire College of Agriculture, so experiences are only available at weekends and holidays - students are studying at the Zoo the rest of the time.https://zoo.bca.ac.uk/encounters/
SUP tours with Paddleboard Maidenhead
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced paddleboarder, Paddleboard Maidenhead will have the ideal activity for you.
You can simply hire a paddleboard from their base on the Thames, in Maidenhead, or you can join one of their classes led by their experienced instructors.Ranging from a 2-hour absolute beginners session to a 4-hour yoga and river "retreat" (2 hours of paddleboarding interspersed with 2 hours of yoga), you're bound to find a session to suit you.
Just book online, or contact the club for more details first.
You never know, you might like it so much you decide to join the Paddleboard Maidenhead SUP club if you're a resident in the area!https://www.paddleboardmaidenhead.uk/
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts
There's so much going on at Norden Farm that you'll need to study the What's On feature on their website to see what you fancy the most!
There are two theatres which show a mixture of many different live shows (comedy, drama, gigs etc.) and many sorts of films. There are lots of different workshops and classes such as jewellery making, guitar groups, mindfulness and a choir.At the heart of Norden Farm is the cafe bar (with an outside terrace) which is open throughout the day and evening, serving coffees and teas, snacks, lunch and dinner.
If you live in the Berkshire area, Norden Farm runs regular exercise classes such as Zumba, Bollybhangra Dance Fit, Salsa, Pilates and Yoga.Thames River Cruise
You can explore the beauty of the River Thames on one of the cruises offered by Thames River Cruises based in Caversham, Reading.
The one which appeals to me the most is the Cruise from Caversham to Goring, passing through beautiful countryside, and passing through the Mapeldurham Lock.The boat leaves Caversham at 10:30, arriving in Goring around 13:00 - giving you plenty of time for lunch in Goring before boarding the return cruise which leaves at 15:30. A perfect day on the river!
Alternatively, you could take a 3-hour cream tea cruise from Caversham downriver towards Shiplake, which passes through Sonning Lock and the picturesque Sonning Bridge (great photo opportunity at the bridge on the way back).You'll have your own table allocated on the boat, and cream tea, with freshly baked scones, will be served during the cruise.
https://www.thamesrivercruise.co.uk/
Thames Valley Local Wine School
You can learn everything there is to know about fine wines at the Thames Valley Local Wine School.
From beginner wine tastings to weekly wine courses and sessions on how to pair wine and cheese, the emphasis is on having fun whilst tasting different wines side-by-side.Guided by the friendly tutors at the Thames Valley Local Wine School you'll learn which are your favourite wines. You might even want to branch out and join in one of their beer-tasting events!https://www.localwineschool.com/thames-valley/events/
Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre
A half-day falconry experience at the Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre is one you won't forget in a hurry.
Over the course of three hours, you will be introduced to and taught how to handle a wide variety of birds including the Barn Owl, the European Eagle Owl, the Tawny Owl, the Peregrine Falcon, the Kestrel, the Buzzard, and the Harris Hawk!
There is a tea and coffee break included in the session.Don't forget to take your camera - they say the birds are very photogenic!
https://feathersandfur.co.uk/shop/half-day-bird-of-prey-experience/
Make a Dragon at the Anvil Forge
If you've ever wanted your own metal dragon or fancied being a blacksmith, you can enrol on the Dragon Making Weekend at the Anvil Forge near Wokingham.
Over two days you will be guided by the blacksmith instructors in creating a metal dragon with a 2-metre wingspan using traditional blacksmithing tools and techniques.The dragon is designed so that you could potentially convert it to breathe fire or smoke, once you've taken it home!
A ploughman's lunch is provided on both days, and tea, coffee and biscuits are in constant supply.
If you have a different blacksmithing project in mind, the Anvil Forge runs many different courses, including a 2-day Chef's Knife course, a single-day Viking Knife Course, and a "Day in the Life of a Blacksmith" Experience.
https://www.anvilforge.net/dragon-making-weekend
Delta Force Paintball
The Berkshire Delta Force Paintball Centre is right next to the M4 near to Maidenhead, so it's really easy to find.
It is set in 100 acres of woodland, with no less than six paintball gaming zones with their different mission scenarios.
The most exciting game zone at Berkshire Delta Force Paintball Centre is the Zombie's Crypt which has a three-storey church, and all the usual zombie props - coffins, tombstones and pews - to hide behind.You can book your paintballing session on the Delta Force website with the live chat agents, or alternatively, you can phone them.
Prices start from £9.99 per person for basic equipment hire for a session - extra paintballs and upgraded equipment can be purchased as bundles.
https://www.paintballgames.co.uk/centre/berkshire-paintball/
Jump with the UK Bungee Club
If a bungee jump is on your bucket list, the UK Bungee Club are the people to help out. They have a great location at Bray Lake in Windsor - people travel from all over the country to take part in their 160ft or 300ft crane over water jumps.
You'll get fantastic views of the surrounding Berkshire countryside from the top of the crane.
In fact, Bray Lake Windsor is one of the few places in the country to offer the extra thrill of the 300ft bungee jump!Jumps are arranged for weekend dates, and tandem jumps are available for the 160ft jump if you want to take your partner or BFF along!
https://ukbungee.co.uk/locations/windsor-bray-lake-watersports
Bray Lake Watersports
Bray Lake Watersports have all the water-based activities you can imagine! The list includes sailing, windsurfing, wingsurfing, open-water swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking and canoeing!
You can take your own equipment to the lake (you just need to book a launch slot) or you can hire what you need from the centre (book in advance).The lake is open 7 days a week with longer opening hours on some evenings in the summer. There are scheduled open-water swimming sessions each week that you can join.
If you want to try a new watersport, there are lots of different courses available at different levels - check on the website for a course in your chosen water activities.
The 50 acre lake is set in beautiful countryside, and the Monkey Bar Cafe is open all year round - you can enjoy hot and cold light snacks with hot and cold drinks whilst drinking in the scenery and watching the action on the lake.
Absolutely Karting
Absolutely Karting is a karting centre with a difference: it is run by a charity, with all of the profits donated to help families who have children and young adults with additional needs.
The Absolutely Karting Maidenhead karting track is one of the best around. The track is built on two levels, has 800m of high-speed straights with lots of tricky bends, chicanes and ramps.The karts can reach 45mph so you'll be guaranteed a thrilling drive!
You can book an adult 25-minute session if you just want to experience the thrills of the track at your own pace, but if you want to compete with other karters you can join in the adult Race Experience sessions.
https://absolutely-karting.co.uk/venues/maidenhead/
Bust Out 360
You've four different escape rooms to choose from at Bust Out 360 in Slough. They each have their own theme and difficulty level - Enhanced, Hijacked, Cursed and Taken.
Taken is the easiest room to try with a difficulty rating of 3 out of 5. You find yourself in a dark and dingy basement (you have no idea how you got there!) and your mission is to escape before your kidnapper returns in 60 minutes. The only clues are from the previous victims!Enhanced (where you develop your super powers!) is the most challenging with a difficulty of 4.5 out of 5, and Hijacked (you're trapped in a hijacked tube train) and Cursed (you prevent an apocalypse by stealing a mysterious artefact) both have a rating of 4 out of 5.
I hope you've enjoyed our selection of exciting things to do in Berkshire, and discovered a new fun activity or two that you can try next time you are in Berkshire.