Ascot, Berkshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ascot |
|
|---|---|
| Town | |
 High Street, Ascot |
|
 Ascot
|
|
| Population | 11,603 (2001 census; with Sunninghill) |
| OS grid reference | SU925685 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority |
|
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Ascot |
| Postcode district | SL5 |
| Dialling code | 01344 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Royal Berkshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
|
Ascot is a town in Berkshire, England. It's part of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Ascot is about 6 miles (10 km) south of Windsor and 25 miles (40 km) west of London.
Ascot is famous for the Ascot Racecourse, where the exciting Royal Ascot horse racing event takes place. The town is known for having some of the most expensive homes in England. Ascot is divided into three main areas: Ascot, North Ascot, and South Ascot.
Contents
What's in a Name? The History of Ascot
The name 'Ascot' comes from old English words. It means 'east cottage'. Other places like Ascott and Eastcote have similar names for the same reason.
How Ascot is Governed
Ascot is managed by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. This is a local government body that makes decisions for the area. Most of Ascot is in a local area called the civil parish of Sunninghill and Ascot. A small part of North Ascot is in the Winkfield civil parish.
Places of Worship in Ascot
Ascot has several historic churches. They are important parts of the town's history and community.
Church of England Churches
All Saints' Church in Ascot Heath was built in 1864. It has a beautiful design called Gothic Revival. This style looks like old medieval churches. The church has a special window called a Jesse window made in 1907.
Another Church of England church is All Souls in South Ascot. It was built later, in 1896–97. This church has a unique central tower. All Souls' Church is a very important historical building, listed as Grade II*.
Roman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic church of St Francis was built in 1889. It also has a Gothic Revival style. It features a rounded end section called an apsidal chancel.
Schools in the Ascot Area
Ascot has many schools, including several independent (private) schools.
- Heathfield School is a boarding school just for girls.
- The Marist School is a private Catholic school for girls aged 2 to 18. It also has a nursery for younger children.
- St. George's School is another private girls' school. Princess Beatrice of York attended this school.
- St Mary's School is a Catholic boarding school for girls in South Ascot.
- The Licensed Victuallers' School is near Ascot Racecourse.
- Papplewick School is also located in Ascot.
The main state secondary school for the Ascot area is Charters School in nearby Sunningdale.
What You Can Find in Ascot
Ascot has many shops and services for its residents. The main street has a variety of stores. You can find a supermarket, a petrol station, and many cafes. There are also popular food places like Subway. For groceries, there's a Tesco Express and a Sainsbury's Local.
Ascot has a railway station. It's on a line that connects London Waterloo to Reading. This makes Ascot a good place for people who travel for work. They can easily get to London or Reading by train.
Royal Ascot Week: A Special Event
The most exciting time in Ascot is in June. This is when Royal Ascot takes place. It's one of the most famous horse racing events in the world. It has been happening since 1711.
The British royal family attends this event every year. They arrive in horse-drawn carriages from Windsor Castle. This procession goes through Windsor Great Park. Royal Ascot is a very important social event in Britain. The racecourse is still owned by the Crown, which means it belongs to the Royal Family.
Ascot's Economy
The Ascot Racecourse is a big employer in the town. It has over 70 full-time staff. During Royal Ascot week, this number grows to 6,000 temporary workers!
Ascot also has a business park that opened in 2008. Many companies are located there. For example, the UK office of the toy company Jakks Pacific is in Ascot. There are also many smaller businesses. The Chartered Institute of Building, a group for people in the construction industry, is also based here.
Sports and Fun in Ascot
Ascot offers different sports and leisure activities.
- Ascot United F.C. is a local football club.
- The Royal Ascot Cricket Club plays at the racecourse.
- Royal Ascot Golf Club is also located next to the racecourse.
Army Cadet Force in Ascot
Ascot has an Army Cadet Force (ACF) unit. It's called 4 Platoon Ascot. The cadets in this unit are linked to the Irish Guards. This means they get to take part in special events with the Irish Guards. They also compete in skills challenges. The unit welcomes young people from Ascot and the surrounding areas.
Famous People from Ascot
Many interesting people have lived in Ascot over the years.
- Jake Ball (born 1991) is a Welsh rugby player.
- Boris Berezovsky (1946–2013), a Russian businessman, lived in Ascot.
- Josh Cuthbert (born 1992) is a singer from the band Union J.
- Chris Evans (born 1966) is a famous English TV and radio presenter.
- Sarah Harding (1981–2021), a singer from Girls Aloud, was born in Ascot.
- Nick Hendrix (born 1985), an actor, was born in Ascot.
- John Lennon (1940–1980) and Ringo Starr (1940–), members of the Beatles, both lived in Ascot at different times.
- Camilla Luddington (born 1983), an actress, was born and grew up in Ascot.
- Marti Pellow (born 1965), the singer of Wet Wet Wet, lives in Ascot.
- Adam Roberts (born 1965), a science fiction author, lives in North Ascot.
- Noahfinnce (born 1999), a singer-songwriter and Youtuber, was born and lived in Ascot.
See also
In Spanish: Ascot para niños
