Goring and Streatley

Goring and Streatley are twin villages in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the boundary of Berkshire and Oxfordshire respectively, in England. Goring (or Goring-on-Thames) is in Oxfordshire and Streatley in Berkshire, but as everything in these villages is within reasonably easy walking distance of everything else, it seems better to deal with them as one.

The two villages cluster around a bridge across the River Thames, with an adjacent lock and weir. Both villages have their fair share of quaint thatched cottages and pubs.

What distinguishes these villages from many others on the river Thames is their location in the 'Goring Gap', a geological feature where, during the last ice age, the river forced its way between the Chiltern Hills and the Berkshire Downs. As a result the valley is much narrower, with some spectacular views from the tops of the surrounding hills.

By car
The villages are about 8 miles north-west from Reading on the A329, or about 16 miles south of Oxford on the same road.

By plane
Reading is about 11 miles (18 km) away from Goring and has connections to London's main airports:


 * Heathrow Airport is the nearest and can take 40 minutes on the M40 by car. Alternatively, the RailAir and Heathrow Connect trains can be taken from Reading train station.
 * Luton Airport is the second nearest and can take 65 minutes on the M1, M25 and M4 motorways. Alternatively, take a train from Reading to London Paddington, then take a train from London Kings Cross to Luton Parkway.

Further information can be found in the 'Get in by plane' section of the Reading article, and then travel on from Reading as described above.

Get around
All locations in and around the villages are walkable or drivable.

See

 * The views from Lardon Chase, the Holies and Lough Down over the villages and Goring Gap. From the bridge, walk or drive uphill on the Streatley side to the Bull pub, and then continue down the side of the pub up the steep hill to the car park at the top. Lardon Chase opens out to the right; walk to the end for the best views.
 * The views from Lardon Chase, the Holies and Lough Down over the villages and Goring Gap. From the bridge, walk or drive uphill on the Streatley side to the Bull pub, and then continue down the side of the pub up the steep hill to the car park at the top. Lardon Chase opens out to the right; walk to the end for the best views.

Connect
The area code for Goring and Streatly is 01491 when dialled from within the UK or +44 1491 from outside the UK.

Go next

 * Oxford
 * Reading
 * Newbury
 * Hungerford